Harrie Smolders & Cassandra Kahle Cap Off the HITS Ocala Winter Circuit with Top Finishes

Over the past ten weeks HITS has awarded $4 Million in Prize Money and celebrated its 40^th Anniversary in the Horse Capital of the World®.  From Grand Prix Veterans to Lead Line Champions, HITS Ocala has awarded and lauded winners at every level. With the goal of 'Making Million Dollar Dreams Come True,’ judging from all the smiles and excitement, this year’s Circuit was a great success.

As it has every year, the final week of the HITS Ocala Winter Circuit featured outstanding prize money in the Children’s/Adult and Junior/ Amateur Jumper Classics. Hunters were in the spotlight again with a $25,000 USHJA International Hunter Derby and $5,000 Platinum Performance Hunter Prix, and riders earning the most points in over 100 divisions throughout the circuit were recognized in the Tack Shack of Ocala 2nd-Half Circuit and Adeptus Overall Circuit Parade of Champions. The seventh Great American $1 Million Grand Prix, the richest class in the world so far in 2020 and 2021 closed out the Circuit in the Grand Prix Stadium. Tune in LIVE at ShowHorseTV to see who will be crowned Champion of the 22^nd HITS $1 Million Grand Prix.

Kicking-off the Ocala Championship (X) with a win in the $5,000 Open Welcome was Cassandra Kahle and HH MESSENGER, owned by Double H Farm. Kahle was the final rider to compete in Wednesday's featured class and topped the field in a time of 32.917.

2^nd Place: Devin Ryan & IRSELINE VD HAGENHORST [33.421]
3^rd Place: Declan Egan & FOLLOW ME [33.482]

Thursday welcomed Aaron Vale and CAMIRO BLUE PS, owned by April Miller, into the Winner's Circle to accept the blue ribbon in the $10,000 HITS Open Prix in a time of 32.968.

2^nd Place: Eduardo Menezes & CALYPSO DES MATIS [33.764]
3^rd Place: Conor Swail & GAMBLE [34.947]

Securing first place in Friday's $25,000 SmartPak Grand Prix was Harrie Smolders and MONACO for Evergate Stables, LLC. Fence 14 in the jump-off proved to be the toughest challenge for riders, but Smolders cleared the course in 36.441 to claim the blue ribbon.
 
2^nd Place: Sam Walker & EVITA [37.941]
3^rd Place: Andre Thieme & CRAZY GIRL [38.054]

Saturday featured an exciting day of competition in the Grand Prix Stadium at HITS Post Time Farm with tremendous prize money offered for junior and amateur jumper riders. Leading the way in the 23^rd Annual $25,000 M&S Children's/Adult Jumper Classic - High was Sophia Ayers aboard her own FOR FASHION. Ayers stuck to her plan in the jump-off, topping the field with a clean round in 27.726, to secure the win in the richest Children’s/Adult Jumper Class in the country.

2^nd Place: Claire Campbell & ADOCTRO [29.252]
3^rd Place: Bailey Schram & HIGHLANDER D'HOF TEN BOS [29.584]

Next up was the $10,000 Jr/A-O/Am 1.35m Jumper Classic where Amy Shafmaster claimed another victory, finishing her Circuit on a high note aboard CARLOS in a time of 30.503.

2^nd Place: Laura Linback & SKAT 15 [32.862]
3^rd Place: Mira Korber & PATENT PENDING 3E [4-Faults, 32.318]

Open Jumpers took the ring next, where it was evident that it would take a quick jump-off ride to be in the top placings of Saturday’s $15,000 HITS 1.40m Classic. With the top three riders separated by less than a second, it was Menezes and his own HAIRO who rose to the top as they laid down a clear round in 34.060.

2^nd Place: Kahle & HH MESSENGER [34.546]
3^rd Place: Harold Chopping & GERONIMO SCF [34.966]

Competition in the Stadium came to a close on Saturday afternoon with another high-stakes class, the $25,000 U-Dump Jr/A-O/Am 1.45m Jumper Classic. What a nail biter it was as just two riders jumped a clear first round and returned for the short course. Taking home first place was Tori Corts aboard her own BON JOVI, posting a time of 36.899.

2^nd Place: Vanessa Mannix & KITTING DES HAUSSEURS [38.642]
3^rd Place: Shafmaster & UMBRELLA TER WILGEN Z