OCALA, FL (February 11, 2013) – Shachine Belle and INXS are quickly climbing the ranks of the Diamond Mills $500,000 Hunter Prix Final preliminary riding standings with another win in the $5,000 Devoucoux Hunter Prix this weekend at HITS Ocala. Belle of Old Lyme, Connecticut and INXS, owned by her best friend Robin Swinderman of Morriston, Florida bested 45 over a course designed by Tucker Williams of Houston Texas.
After the popularity of his courses in last week’s HITS and Devoucoux Hunter Prix on the all-new Outside Course at HITS Ocala, Williams again incorporated the use of the versatile bank into his course plan. “This week I used the elements in an entirely different fashion,” he said. “We jumped up the bank from the side table.” Williams will be designing at HITS Ocala and HITS Thermal this winter while showcasing his inventory of CCI Jumps at both shows.
“We have seen great success so far with the newly constructed parts of the Outside Course. I included the bank ramps in both hunter prix this weekend and the competitors continue to rave about it,” added Williams. “You could see the confidence level of all 200 rounds being boosted as they achieved success over the new parts of the course.”
Belle and INXS excelled on the new parts of the course and posted the high score in both rounds on Sunday. They earned an 89 in the first round and captured a 90 in the second to clinch the win.
Belle is hoping to qualify for the Diamond Mills Hunter Prix Final and she and Swinderman look forward to heading north for HITS Championship Weekend in Saugerties, New York this September. “He is always dependable,” said Belle of the 10-year-old Warmblood gelding whose main job, until now, was to carry Swinderman in the amateur-owner hunter divisions. “It’s great to see him performing so well with me, because he usually works his best with Robin. We switched things up a little on him this year, and it seems to be going really well.”
After riding to a Devoucoux Hunter Prix win earlier in the season, Amanda Steege of Bedminster, New Jersey returned to the ribbons with a second-place finish this weekend. She and Susan Darragh’s Zidane boasted a two-round total of 177. Jennifer Alfano of Buffalo, New York piloted Sharon O’Neill’s Rose Hill to a total score of 175 and third.
Rounding out the top five was Greg Crolick of Auburn Hills, Michigan on Adrienne Marciano’s Grey St in fourth with a 173, and Mary Lisa Leffler of Lincoln Park, New Jersey aboard Kiana Fiore’s Zivago in fifth with a 164.
Devoucoux, the makers of fine French saddles, will continue to present weekly hunter prix, which represent the only way for hunter riders to punch their ticket to the prestigious Diamond Mills Hunter Prix Final during HITS Championship Weekend in Saugerties in September.
$1,500 HITS Hunter Prix
Steege coached her way to another win when her student Charlene Graham rode to the blue in the $1,500 HITS Hunter Prix. Saturday’s win marked two weeks in a row at the top of the HITS Hunter Prix from Graham and her own Only You. The pair posted an 86 in the first round and an 84 in the second. Graham of Fairport, New York has her sights set on an appearance in the HITS $250,000 Hunter Prix Final, which will crown the best of 3’ riders during HITS Championship Weekend.
Amy Zettler of Aldie, Virginia was second with her own Glad Rags after a two-round total of 167. Jacquelyn Maggiore of Winchester, Massachusetts and her own Contina rounded out the top three with a final score of 164. Fourth went to Holly French of Dover, Massachusetts on Claybrook Farms’ Wizardy CBF with a 163.25 total. Alexa Riccio of Cheshire, Connecticut capped the top five with her own Alejandro and a total score of 162.
Weekly 3’ Hunter Prix will continue to offer qualifying opportunities for the HITS Hunter Prix Final throughout the HITS Ocala Winter Circuit.
About Devoucoux
Devoucoux, makers 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. The Devoucoux Hunter Prix will be a featured event at all HITS horse shows this season as riders from around the country set out to qualify for the third-annual Diamond Mills Hunter Prix Final, which will take place September 7-8 at HITS-on-the-Hudson in Saugerties, New York.
About Diamond Mills Hotel & Tavern
Just 100 miles outside of New York City, nestled in the Village of Saugerties, Diamond Mills is a 30-room luxury hotel featuring stellar accommodations, fine dining at The Tavern and full-service events at a state-of-the art Special Events Center. Diamond Mills is a proud member of the Small Luxury Hotels of the World, an unsurpassed collection of over 520 luxury hotels around the world. Saugerties’ newest luxury hotel is also the proud sponsor of the Diamond Mills $500,000 Hunter Prix Final, which will take place at HITS-on-the-Hudson as part of the HITS Championship Weekend. For more information about Diamond Mills or the special VIP packages available to HITS-on-the-Hudson exhibitors, please visit DiamondMillsHotel.com or call 845.247.0700.
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