The 2025 HITS Ocala Winter Circuit kept its momentum rolling as top equestrians returned to HITS Post Time Farm for another week of elite show jumping. With high stakes and top-tier talent, the competition culminated in the highly anticipated $80,000 HITS Grand Prix on Saturday, February 8. The class featured electrifying performances, but it was Todd Minikus (USA) with Kiekeboe Spirit who delivered the winning ride.
It was a truly international field of athletes as eight countries were represented by the 27 horse-and-rider pairs that tackled the challenging track designed by Ivan Tagle (ARG). From those, only three advanced to the high-stakes jump-off. Minikus was the first to take on the shortened course, setting the standard with a blazing time of 35.473 seconds and the rails intact, putting the pressure on those who followed.
“Going first, I really didn’t know what to expect in the jump-off,” admitted Minikus. “I thought I should try to lay down something that could force some mistakes for the ones to follow me by putting the pressure on. ‘Kiekeboe’ was right on the game today, and it worked out well.”
Minikus has been partnered with Kiekeboe Spirit, the Spirit Group’s 10-year-old Warmblood gelding (Darius x Game Boy), for about a year and a half. In that time, they have competed through the four-star level together, but with a big win in the $80,000 HITS Grand Prix, Minikus feels like the duo are hitting their stride.
“You know, I would always like some more success,” he said with a laugh. “We’ve had some success along the way, but we’ve changed some things, and I think we have the recipe for success right now.”
A longtime supporter of HITS, Minikus praised the event’s evolution.
“This year, with all the prize money HITS is offering and the A-team organizing things, they have done a fantastic job,” he enthused. “It has been a pleasure coming here. I’ve always been a fan of HITS, but this has just been super.”
Just behind Minikus, Jenni McAllister (USA) and Escada V S, an 18-year-old Swedish Warmblood mare (Escudo 19 x For Feeling) owned by Viksberg Sateri, secured second place with a time of 37.580 seconds. Rounding out the podium was Sharn Wordley (NZL) aboard Conto Blanco 4, Della Wordley’s 10-year-old Warmblood gelding (Cellestial x Kolibri).
The week kicked off with the $2,500 Adequan Open Welcome on Wednesday, February 5, where MaryLisa Leffler and Zaza Z, Rolling Acres’s 15-year-old Zangershiede mare (Zandor x Caretano Z), secured the win with a commanding double-clear round in 39.045 seconds. Linda Radigan and her 17-year-old Zangersheide gelding (Balougran Z x Voltigeur du Bois), Balveneur Z, claimed second in 40.041 seconds, while McAllister and Escada V S earned their first top placing of the week, taking third with a time of 43.061 seconds.
Thursday’s highlight event, the $25,000 Alliant Private Client Cup, saw a masterful performance by François Lamontagne (CAN), who delivered the only double-clear round aboard Lacros VDL, a nine-year-old Dutch Warmblood gelding (Kannan x Indorado) owned by Groupe Zacar, Inc. Haley Waters Wear (USA) and Chuck Waters’s Over Lux, a 13-year-old Irish Sport Horse gelding (Lux Z x Cruising), posted the fastest four-fault effort in the jump-off to take second. Dorothy Douglas (USA) and MTM Pablo, a 12-year-old Hanoverian gelding (Perigueux x Contendro I) owned by Davenport Farms, rounded out the top three.
Friday’s $15,000 STX Open Speed Class was a thrilling showcase of precision and speed, with Sharn Wordley and Valentine Car, Della Wordley’s 16-year-old Warmblood gelding (Son Of A Juan Car x Galiani Ch), blazing through the course to secure victory in an impressive 61.205 seconds. Robert Blanchette (IRL) and Abra Kadabra vd Heide Z, Whitney Woo’s 11-year-old Zangersheide mare (Asca Z x Clintissimo Z), delivered a strong performance to claim second place with a time of 63.955 seconds. Rounding out the podium was Madison Kondracki (USA) aboard her own E Storm Cat, a nine-year-old Hanoverian gelding by Escudo I, stopping the clock at 64.045 seconds to take third.
Sunday’s competition concluded with the thrilling $24,500 HorseFlight Jumper Classic, where Sharn Wordley once again soared to victory aboard Valentine Car, stopping the clock at an impressive 35.445 seconds. Tracy Fenney showcased her dominance with a stellar one-two finish, claiming second place with MTM Farm’s My Life Be Like, an eight-year-old KWPN mare (VDL Zirocco Blue N.O.P. x Cartano), in 36.937 seconds. She also secured third aboard MTM Farm’s Can Talk To Me TD MTM, a nine-year-old Holsteiner mare (Catoki x Gabor), in 37.252 seconds, rounding out an exciting podium.
With another exciting week in the books, riders now turn their focus to the upcoming Ocala Winter Classic, set to begin on Wednesday, February 12.
