(C) ESI Photography. Louisa Brackett and King Bee.
Culpeper, VA (August 22, 2016): Hunter riders gathered at HITS Commonwealth Park for a prestigious hunter victory in the $5,000 Devoucoux Hunter Prix and the $1,500 Platinum Performance Hunter Prix. The classes served as Virginia’s fourth qualifying opportunities for the $500,000 Diamond Mills Hunter Prix and the $250,000 Platinum Performance Hunter Prix at the HITS Championship in September.
$5,000 Devoucoux Hunter Prix
The blue ribbon went home with Louisa Brackett of Grayslake, Illinois aboard King Bee. They scored an 83 in the first round, and an 82 in the second round, garnering the win with a total score of 165. The victory at HITS Culpeper marks Brackett’s first $5,000 Devoucoux win.
Ocala, Florida equestrian Rachael Bebb was second in the ribbons. She and Lion, owned by Sarah Jo Scott, brought in a first-round score of 77. In the second round of the classic, Bebb and Lion received a 79.5, totaling 156.5 for their efforts.
Third place was awarded to Odds Are, owned by Twin Oaks Farm, LLC, and ridden by Jill Wilson of Louisa, Virginia. They received a first-round score of 78, followed by a second-round score of 77 for a total of 155.
Shannan Gossman of Mitchells, Virginia took fourth with Castanio, owned by Turning Pointe Ventures, LLC, with scores of 75 and 79 respectively for a total of 154. Gossman has showed in the Platinum Performance Hunter Prix this season, placing consistently in the top five. This week, the equestrian leveled up to join the competition in the Devoucoux Hunter Prix.
Rounding out the top five was Kate Phillips of Montpelier, Virginia and Chino, owned by Derek Reed. They brought in a first-round score of 75.5, and received a second-round score of 78 for a total of 153.5, claiming fifth place for their efforts. Philips and Chino also competed in the Platinum Performance Hunter Prix at HITS Culpeper and moved up to compete in the Devoucoux Hunter Prix.
$1,500 Platinum Performance Hunter Prix
Pittsburg, Pennsylvania equestrian Sara Ladley stole away with the blue-ribbon victory in the $1,500 Platinum Performance Hunter Prix during Week IV at HITS Culpeper. Ladley rode her own Skara Glen’s Intense to a first-round score of 79, improving to an 84 in the second round for a total of 163.
Second in the ribbons was Victoria Walton of Hampstead, Maryland and Iberia, owned by Patricia Walton. Walton and her bay mount were awarded consistent scores of 80 in both rounds to total 160.
The yellow ribbon went to Peyton Ruddy of Midlothian, Virginia and her mount Clair de Lune. They brought in third place with a score of 73 in the first round, with a major improvement to a score of 83 in the second round — they totaled 156 for their efforts.
Kirsten Good of Washington, DC was fourth piloting Chenin Noir. They earned a 72 in the first round, followed by a 71 in the second for a total of 143.
The top five closed out with Virginia Frediani of Richmond, Virginia aboard Silvio. They earned a 68 in the first round, improving to a 74 in the second round to total 142, just behind Ruddy, for fifth place.
HITS, Inc. • 319 Main Street • Saugerties, NY 12477-1330
845.246.8833 Tel • info@HitsShows.com • HitsShows.com