Saugerties Hunter Prix: Michael Desiderio and Zero Tolerance win Devoucoux; Meredith Combs and Honor top Platinum Performance

SAUGERTIES, New York (May 23, 2015): Hunters had their moment in the sun this Memorial Day weekend, as competitors showed off the talents of their sleek mounts in beautiful spring weather. On Saturday, Michael Desiderio and Zero Tolerance rode fluidly through the Outside Ring at HITS-on-the-Hudson to earn the top score in the first $5,000 Devoucoux Hunter Prix of the HITS Saugerties Series.

“My horse jumped a great first round,” said Desiderio, who added that it was his first time competing in a Devoucoux prix, and Zero Tolerance’s first time in that particular ring. Apparently, the judge thought they did well, too, as Desiderio and Zero Tolerance earned the highest score, an 87, in round one, and came back in Round 2 to once again dazzle the judge – earning a score of 90.

“I saw a couple of people get caught on the number of strides; I just rode what I had,” said Desiderio, who rode Zero Tolerance for owner  Dru Cederberg, who stables the 12-year-old mare at Desiderio’s Tranquillity Farm in Chester, New Jersey.

During the class, other riders and spectators watched from a grassy berm near the Outside Course as the field of competitors each took a turn about the course, which included a bank with two obstacles.

Second-place finisher Gabriella Fournier, on Cinderella Man, owned by GDF Equine, LLC, earned an 84 in Round 1 and an 85 in Round 2 to take second place. Hannah Isop, on Tracy Freels, Red Ryder, was not far behind with a total score of 168, after an 83 in the first round and an 85 in Round 2.

Devoucoux Hunter Prix is held weekly at HITS-on-the-Hudson. During weeks three through six, the prize increases to a $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
Michael Desiderio and Zero Tolerance win the $5,000 Devoucoux Hunter Prix at HITS-on-the-Hudson I, on Saturday, May 23, 2015.

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

Place	Horse	Owner	Rider	Prize	Rd. 1/2	Total
1	Zero Tolerance	Dru Cederberg	Michael Desiderio	$1,500	87/90	177
2	Cinderella Man	GDF Equine, LLC	Gabriella Fournier	$1,000	84/85	169
3	Red Ryder	Tracy Freels	Hannah Isop	$700	83/85	168
4	Waterfall	Jennifer Combs	Caitlin Venezia	$500	86.5/80	166.5
5	Emerson Hill	Libby Mewbourne	Hillary Rheinheimer	$400	81/83	164
6	Uniek	Samantha Rice	Hillary Rheinheimer	$350	79/82	161
7	Glenlivet	Royal "T" Sales	Shane Powell	$275	85/69	154
8	Aramis Z	Niffer Cancian	Hannah Lavin	$275	68/79	147

Meredith Combs and Honor Win $1,500 Platinum Performance Hunter Prix 

On Sunday, hunters once again took to the Outside Course for the $1,500 Platinum Performance Hunter Prix, in beautiful summer-like weather. Leading the pack was 20-year-old Meredith Combs of Harvard, Massachusetts, on Honor, owned by her mother, Jennifer Combs.

“He’s just a really fun horse,” Meredith Combs said, of the 7-year-old first-year-green horse. “He takes really good care of me. He’s very calm and collected, and he wasn’t fazed by any of the challenges, like the bank, which was new to him.”

Combs, who will be a junior this fall at Brandeis University, studying Art History and Anthropology, said she was happy after the first round, both with her ride, and with her score. “It was a great way to finish the day because we were champions of the 3’3” Amateur-Owner Hunter Division earlier that day, so it was exciting to be able to continue the great ride.”

Second-place finisher Lena Rae Reeb riding Private Ryan, owned by, Jamie Ringel, had the fourth-highest score in round one, an 83, and with a 78 in round two – the highest score that time – she and Private Ryan earned the red ribbon. Rounding out third was Lindsey Mohr on Redfield Farm’s Paddington. The pair had the third highest score in Round 1, an 84, coupled that with a 69 in Round 2.

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
Jenifer Combs and Honor, owned by Meredith Combs, win the $1,500 Platinum Performance Hunter Prix at HITS-on-the-Hudson I, on Sunday, May 24, 2015.

$1,500 Platinum Performance Hunter Prix

Place	Horse	Owner	Rider	Prize	Rd. 1/2	Total
1	Honor	Jennifer Combs	Meredith Combs	$450	85/77	162
2	Private Ryan	Jamie Ringel	Lena Rae Reeb	$300	83/78	161
3	Paddington	Redfield Farm	Lindsey Mohr	$200	84/69	153
4	Blue Shamrock	Monica Hunt	Alexa Bayko	$150	81/70	151
5	Smitten 57	Raleigh Hiler	Raleigh Hiler	$125	86/64	150
6	Simply Amazing	Julianne Marklin	Julianne Marklin	$100	75/71	146
7	All In	Amanda Wise	Sara Vozeolas	$100	70/75	145
8	Hello Kitty	Jennifer Combs	Meredith Combs	$75	69.5/72	141.5

 

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.