Ocala, FL (January 22, 2017): The first week of qualifying opportunities for the Diamond Mills Hunter Final and the Platinum Performance Hunter Final, which takes place at the HITS Championship in Saugerties each September, commenced this weekend at HITS Post Time Farm. Horses and riders descended on the Ocala Horse Properties Stadium for a chance to qualify in the $5,000 Devoucoux Hunter Prix and the $1,500 Platinum Performance Hunter Prix.
$5,000 Devoucoux Hunter Prix
Dorothy Douglas of Flower Mound, Texas, took home the first Devoucoux Hunter Prix win of the season aboard S&L Just A Cobbler, owned by S&L Farms. They were rewarded with the highest scores in both rounds of the Prix, 85 and 87 respectively, for a winning total of 172.
Second through fifth place were each separated by only one point, proving how high the talent level was in Saturday’s event.
The red ribbon went to Brian Moggre riding MTM Inquisitive, owned by Girling Farm, LLC. Moggre is known best for his success in the Jumper ring, having won the $250,000 Black Barn Junior/Amateur-Owner Jumper Prix at the HITS Championship last September. He and MTM Inquisitive scored an 81 in the first round, improving to an 86 in the second round for a total of 167.
Amanda Steege garnered both third and fourth place. Third place came aboard Zidane, owned by Susan Darragh, with a final score of 166. Fourth place was with Loxley, owned by Finale Partners, LLC— they earned a final score of 165.
Rounding out the Top Five was Sarah Barge riding Danturano, owned by Sydney Degrazia, scoring an 83 in the first round and an 81 in the second round for a total of 164.
(C) ESI PHOTOGRAPHY
Dorothy Douglas and S&L Just A Cobbler on their way to a $5,000 Devoucoux Hunter Prix win
(C) ESI Photography
Dorothy Douglas winning the $5,000 Devoucoux Hunter Prix
$1,500 Platinum Performance Hunter Prix
The team to beat in the Platinum Performance Hunter Prix was Taylor Masters and Paisley, owned by Redfield Farm. They scored a consistent 83 in both rounds to take home the win with a total of 166.
Alexa Bayko earned second place piloting Carero. They came in behind Masters with a total score of 163, combined by their scores of 84 and 79, respectively.
Third in the ribbons was Jacquelyn Maggiore and Contina. They received an 80 in the first round and a 78 in the second round for total of 158.
Sydney Degrazia took home fourth place among her peers with Reveille Z. Their combined scores of 85, the highest in the first round, and 72 gave them a total of 156.
Rounding out the Top Five was Maeve O’Donovan aboard India. They received consistent scores of 78 for a total of 155 and the fifth-place prize.
(C) ESI Photography
Taylor Masters and Paisley on their way to a $1,500 Platinum Performance Hunter Prix win.
(C) ESI Photography
Taylor Masters and Paisley winning the $1,500 Platinum Performance Hunter Prix.
$5,000 Devoucoux Hunter Prix Final Results:
1. S&L JUST A COBBLER
DOROTHY DOUGLAS, S&L Farms: 85/87/172
2. MTM INQUISITIVE
BRIAN MOGGRE, Girling Farm, LLC: 81/86/167
3. ZIDANE
AMANDA STEEGE, Susan Darragh: 82/84/166
4. LOXLEY
AMANDA STEEGE, Finale Partners LC: 80.5/85/165.5
5. DANTURANO
SARAH BARGE, Sydney Degrazia: 83/81/164
6. CHESTNUT HILL
JENNIFER RITUCCI, Marissa Dolan: 81.5/82/163.5
7. GOLD RUSH
HAROLD CHOPPING, Doreen Schlicht: 79/80/159
8. KALIFORNIA DREAMIN
KRISTEN MALACARNE, Kelley Norton: 80/78/158
$1,500 Platinum Performance Hunter Prix Final Results:
1. PAISLEY
TAYLOR MASTERS, Redfield Farm: 83/83/165
2. CARERO
ALEXA BAYKO, Alexa Bayko: 84/79/163
3. CONTINA
JACQUELYN MAGGIORE, Jacquelyn Maggiore: 80/78/158
4. REVEILLE Z
SYDNEY DEGRAZIA, Sydney Degrazia: 80/78/158
5. INDIANA
MAEVE O’DONOVAN, Maeve O’Donovan: 78/78/156
6. PARAMOUNT
AMY LLOYD THOMPSON, Amy Lloyd Thompson: 76/79/155
7. VALIANT
MELISSA MARSHALL, Melissa Marshall: 79/74/153
8. QUANTONIUS
MELANIE ALLISON, Nicole Peterson: 71/77/148