The Ocala Winter Classic Wraps Up Another Week of Non-Stop Hunter/Jumper Action as the 2012 Winter Circuit Rolls On

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©ESI Photography. Andre Thieme and his own Cesar on their way to a victory in last week’s $25,000 SmartPak Grand Prix

OCALA, FL (February 16, 2012) – Last week’s HITS Ocala Winter Classic was another exciting serving of show jumping competition at Post Time Farm as hunter and Grand Prix riders alike made big strides towards the 2012 HITS Championship Weekend.

Grand Prix action paves the way on the road to the Pfizer Million

Germany’s own Andre Thieme returned to HITS Ocala in style during week II, riding to victory aboard his own Cesar in the $25,000 SmartPak Grand Prix, presented by Pfizer Animal Health. The reigning Pfizer $1 Million Grand Prix Champion is now well on his way to banking the necessary qualifying classes and is $7,500 closer to earning a spot on the Pfizer Million Rider Rankings to find himself at HITS-on-the-Hudson this fall.

Thieme topped the 18 pairs who challenged Bernardo Cabral’s course, and met three other riders in the jump-off. Megan Edrick of Agoura, California finished in second with Procedures, Inc.’s Cadence and Hasbrouck Donovan of Gainesville, Florida posted a third place finish in the irons of DerbyPie, LLC’s Delilah. Rounding out the top five was Harold Chopping and Penelope Strait & Jenna Hoy’s Little Glen’s Valentino in fourth and Derek Petersen, riding his own Via Dolorosa dropped a rail at the third fence of the first round to keep him out of the jump-off, finished in fifth place.

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©ESI Photography. Andre Thieme and his own Cesar on their way to a victory in last week’s $25,000 SmartPak Grand Prix

Edrick celebrated an exciting week at HITS Ocala as she piloted Procedures, Inc.’s Cadence to a win in the $50,000 Chartis Grand Prix, presented by Pfizer Animal Health, and was engaged to boyfriend Dr. Larry Wexler. Edrick beat out 27 starters to capture her first Grand Prix victory of the year with her sights firmly set on returning to HITS-on-the-Hudson this fall for the Pfizer Million.

Thanks to her victory, Edrick now sits in the number five spot of the preliminary Pfizer Million Rider Rankings with four of the eight Grand Prix needed to become eligible and $22,500 in prize money won. Texas’ Tracy Fenney is currently second in the preliminary rankings with five Grand Prix and nearly $30,000 in prize money won aboard her leading mount, MTM Centano. Other Ocala riders in the top 10 of the rankings include Petersen with six Grand Prix and $21,250 in prize money on his leading mount as well as Pennsylvania’s Patty Stovel who has a hold on the number 10 spot with four Grand Prix and more than $17,000 in prize money won.

Hunters find a home in the spotlight at HITS Ocala

Daniel Geitner and Robin Hughes’ Living Color put on a show in hunter ring at HITS Ocala, posting a pair of 87s to win the $5,000 Devoucoux Hunter Prix at HITS Post Time Farm on their way to the second-annual Diamond Mills $500,000 Hunter Prix Final.

Geitner was joined in the second round by the top eleven pairs and it was Greg Crolick who boasted the top score of 88 in the irons of Clover Lane Farm, LLC’s Imagine to ultimately finished in second. Mary Lisa Leffler joined the top three win Rolling Acres’ Gerona 92.

Rounding out the top five was Amanda Steege in fourth, who posted an overall score of 168 on Michelle Barber’s Harvard and defending Diamond Mills Hunter Prix Champion Samantha Schaefer aboard Four Winds Farm’s Naturally with a score of 167.75 to finish fifth.

With the halfway mark of the season approaching, the preliminary Rider Rankings for the second annual Diamond Mills $500,000 Hunter Prix Final are beginning to take shape. Geitner sits just outside the top 10 at number 14 on the list with just one qualifying class in the bag and 87 points. Other Ocala riders topping the charts include Crolick of Auburn Hills, Michigan in the number two spot with three qualifying classes and 152 points, Chris Nelson of Northlake, Texas with four qualifying classes and 119 points tied for fifth place with California’s Hope Glynn. Rounding out the top 10 from the Ocala contingent are New Jersey’s Amanda Steege in seventh place with four qualifying classes and 114 points, and Kansas’ own Brandie Holloway in the number 10 spot with four classes and 99 points.

For a complete look at the preliminary Diamond Mills Rider Rankings click here.

$1,500 HITS Hunter Prix

Fifteen year old Emily Caikoski of Caflon, New Jersey and her own Livin’ Large cantered to a victory in this weekend’s $1,500 HITS 3’ Hunter Prix at HITS Ocala with high hopes of making an appearance in the $250,000 HITS 3’ Hunter Prix Final at HITS-on-the-Hudson in Saugerties, New York this fall.

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©ESI Photography. Emily Caikoski jumped her way to first place honors with her own Livin’ Large in the $1,500 HITS 3’ Hunter Prix

She and Livin’ Large posted the high-scores in both rounds and combined an 81 and an 84 for the blue ribbon. As amateur riders make it a point to be part of the HITS 3’ Hunter Prix Final, Caikoski is determined not to miss any of the action.

Four points behind Caikoski, Adrienne Wodenka of Palm Harbor, Florida and her own All In finished in second and Jacquelyn Maggiore of Winchester, Massachusetts finished in third aboard her own Contina. Completing the top five was Mindy Cortez of Tulsa, Oklahoma aboard KAC Horses, LLC’s Gretta ended in fourth and Michelle Shaulinski of Pittsford, New York in the irons of her own Fantabulous in fifth.

With the win, Caikoski picked up some valuable points and another qualifying class for the all-new $250,000 HITS 3’ Hunter Prix Final. Caikoski now currently enjoys the number six spot in the rankings with 80 points on Livin’ Large. Topping the chart at the moment is another Ocala rider, Jodi Czaplick of Morriston, Florida who has three of her five qualifying classes already and 113 points. Reddick, Florida’s Michelle Stopford sits in fourth place with two qualifying classes and 83 points and Caroline Sykes of Brewster, New York has a hold on the number 10 position with two classes and 62 points.

For a complete look at the preliminary $250,000 HITS 3’ Hunter Prix Rider Rankings click here.

After Hours

Four-legged competition didn’t stop with the equine sort at HITS Ocala. Porter, an English Bulldog was named Top Dog for Week II of the Ocala Winter Circuit. Porter is owned by Adam Cramer and Lacy Morrone-Cramer of Pittstown, New Jersey and beat out some solid competition.

Charles Owen Helmet Awareness Week encouraged riders during Week II of HITS Ocala to ride responsibly. Representatives from Charles Owen Helmets were on-hand to educate riders on the importance of properly fitted, approved riding helmets. Many riders filled out a Charles Owen Riders’ Pledge for a chance to win a free Charles Owen Helmet, which awarded the prize to Pennsylvania’s Ashley Hartman.

On Deck

Show jumping continues this week at HITS Ocala with two more Grand Prix qualifiers for the Pfizer Million in today’s $25,000 SmartPak Grand Prix and Sunday’s $50,000 HITS Grand Prix, both presented by Pfizer Animal Health. In all, High-Performance riders have 10 more opportunities to qualify and plenty of cash left up for grabs at HITS Ocala this year, including the season finale $100,000 Sullivan GMC Truck Grand Prix, presented by Great American Insurance Group, Sunday, March 18.

Friday night is Movie Night at HITS when the Grand Prix Scoreboard will feature the movie “Secretariat”.  Everyone at HITS is welcome to bring their families and golf carts to the Grand Prix arena to watch Secretariat between 6:30 and 7pm.  Then on Saturday night, HITS invites competitors and spectators alike to join Kate Chenery Tweedy, daughter of Penny Chenery and the family who owned Secretariat and author of “Secretariat’s Meadow,” for a wonderful evening dedicated to the greatest racehorse of all time. Kate will be sharing the history of her family, their farm and the horses that went on to fame and glory. She will also show the three Triple Crown races and discuss the making of the movie with a Q&A following. “Secretariat’s Meadow” will be available for purchase with a personal signing from Kate. Presentation starts at 7 pm Saturday, February 18 in the HITS restaurant.

HITS, Inc. • 319 Main Street • Saugerties, NY 12477-1330
845.246.8833 Tel • Media_Info@HitsShows.comHitsShows.com

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