Patricia Griffith and Bellagio Win $5,000 Devoucoux Hunter Prix; Lena Rae Reeb and Private Ryan Top $1,500 Platinum Performance Hunter Prix

SAUGERTIES, New York (June 2, 2015): Wrapping up an exciting week, Patricia Griffith and Bellagio, owned by Zoe Ganek, won the $5,000 Devoucoux Hunter Prix on Saturday, topping a large field of 36 competitors.

"That was a fun class," she said. "Bellagio is a very experienced horse."

At the end of the first round, Griffith was behind second place finisher Jeffery Welles by one point, with a score of 87 to his 88. Griffith and Bellagio earned an 87 again in round two to top Welles and Millcreek Golden Time, owned by Millcreek Stables, by just one point, 174 to 173.

Rounding out third place was McKayla Langmeier on Ilyana, owned by Linda Langmeier. The pair finished both rounds with a total 169.5.

Bellagio, a 10-year-old 16.2 hand gelding, stables at Heritage Farm in Katonah, New York, where Griffith trains and rides. "He's done hunters and equitation," Griffith said. "I normally don’t get to show him but he was fun and easy and the course flowed nice."

Griffith attributed the win to Bellagio’s no-nonsense style. "He lets you ride him with a loose rein; he's so pretty. You can ride him with very little hand, you basically just steer him around," she said.

The Devoucoux Hunter Prix is held weekly at HITS-on-the-Hudson. In weeks three and six, the prize increases to $10,000. The Devoucoux Hunter Prix is a qualifier for the Diamond Mills $500,000 Hunter Prix Final held here on September 4-6 during the HITS Championship.

 

(c) ESI Photography
Patricia Griffith and Bellagio, owned by Zoe Ganek, are presented with the blue ribbon after winning the $5,000 Devoucoux Hunter Prix at HITS-on-the-Hudson II, Saturday, May 30, 2015.

$5,000 Devoucoux Hunter Prix - HITS-on-the-Hudson II

Place	Horse	Owner	Rider	Prize	Rd. 1/2	Total
1	Bellagio	Zoe Ganek	Patricia Griffith	$1,500	87/87	174
2	Millcreek Golden Time	Millcreek Stables	Jeffery Welles	$1,000	88/85	173
3	Ilyana	Linda Langmeier	McKayla Langmeier	$700	84.5/85	169.5
4	The Graduate	Nancy Van Inwegen	Jenny Fischer	$500	85.5/83	168.5
5	Levland	The Levland Group	Peter Wylde	$400	85/81	166
6	Zandor	Emily Sun	Dottie Areson	$350	81/81	162
7	Cascor's Splendor	Maria Moalli	David Oliynyk	$275	79/81	160
8	Chiquita	Louisa Kania	Kristen Bumpus	$275	78.5/80	158.5

 

Lena Rae Reeb and Private Ryan Win $1,500 Platinum Performance Hunter Prix

Coming out on top, after a second place finish in week one, Lena Rae Reeb and Private Ryan won first place in Sunday's $1,500 Platinum Performance Hunter Prix, over a field of 32 comeptitors.

"I think my consistent hard work at home and at the show attributed to my success," said 15-year-old Reeb, who trains with Michelle West and her mother, Leslie Kogos. "We also had a strategic plan for my course which included choosing the options that best suited Ryan...he was very consistent and gave me two great rounds."

Reeb and Private Ryan, a 17-year-old, 16.1 hand gelding, was behind second place finisher Kiara Rusconi on her Grand Gru by two points in round one, with an 86 to Rusconi's 88, but a strong finish in round two put Reeb in first place with a total score of 171 to Rusconi's 168. Carly McInerney finished a close third on Kinsale, owned by Ronnie Beard, with a 167.

The $1,500 Platinum Performance Hunter Prix is held weekly at HITS-on-the-Hudson and is a qualifier for the Platinum Performance $250,000 Hunter Prix Final on September 4-5 at the HITS Championship.

 

(c) ESI Photography
Lena Rae Reeb and Private Ryan owned by Jamie Ringel, are presented with the blue ribbon after winning the $1,500 Platinum Performance Hunter Prix at HITS-on-the-Hudson II, on Sunday, May 31, 2015.

 $1,500 Platinum Performance Hunter Prix

Place	Horse	Owner	Rider	Prize	Rd. 1/2	Total
1	Private Ryan	Jamie Ringel	Lena Rae Reeb	$450	86/85	171
2	Grand Cru	Kiara Rusconi	Kiara Rusconi	$300	88/80	168
3	Kinsale	Ronnie Beard	Carley McInerney	$200	84/83	167
4	US Marshall	Kiki Hopkins	Rachael Hopkins	$150	81/82	163
5	Herrold	Mindy Whitman	Mindy Whitman	$125	80/80	160
6	Sahara B	Claudia Tarrant	Mariel Saccucci	$100	83/76.5	159.5
7	Coritaan	Wendy Wood	Wendy Wood	$100	79/77	156
8	Claudio	Volo Farm, Inc.	Emily Noble	$75	76/78	154

 

About Devoucoux
Devoucoux, maker of fine French saddles, is proud to be the title sponsor of each and every qualifying Hunter Prix leading up to the phenomenal Diamond Mills $500,000 Hunter Prix Final. Devoucoux offers a wide range of saddles in many colors and sizes and matching accessories. Devoucoux craftsmen are devoted to creating beautiful products that reflect their obsession with quality and lovingly finished work. For more information on Devoucoux, visit devoucoux.com.

About Platinum Performance
Platinum Performance provides more than 10 supplements essential to your horse’s health and conditioning in just one scoop. Platinum Performance® Equine addresses a horse's total body health from joint and hoof care to athletic performance and coat health, and is the 2014 sponsor of the $250,000 Hunter Prix Final and all qualifiers. For more information on Platinum Performance, visit platinumperformance.com.

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About HITS, Inc.
HITS, Inc. produces high quality, international-level hunter/jumper horse shows. Based in upstate New York in the Village of Saugerties, HITS has been producing shows since 1982 and is now a nationwide company with world-class circuits in California, Florida, Arizona, New York, and Virginia.

While hosting the richest weekend in show jumping at HITS-on-the-Hudson, HITS also formed the Triple Crown of Show Jumping. This includes the AIG $1 Million Grand Prix, presented by Mortgage Call, in Thermal, California, the Great American $1 Million Grand Prix in Ocala, Florida, and Saugerties $1 Million Grand Prix, presented by Wells Fargo, in Saugerties, New York.

For more information and a complete schedule of classes and events, visit www.HitsShows.com. Stay connected with HITS, join us on Facebook or follow us on Twitter.

Media should contact the HITS Media Team at 845.246.8833 or e-mail Media_Info@HitsShows.com.