©ESI Photography. Tracy Fenney and MTM Inquisitive on their way to a win in the $5,000 Devoucoux Hunter Prix.
CULPEPER, VA (August 18, 2014) – MTM Inquisitive entered the main hunter ring at HITS Culpeper ears pricked and eyes wide this weekend. True to his namesake, the six-year-old gelding studied every fence, flower and spectator before jumping Tracy Fenney (Flower Mound, Texas) to top the $5,000 Devoucoux Hunter Prix, a qualifier for the Diamond Mills $500,000 Hunter Prix Final.
“If he has one fault it’s that his name suits him well,” said Fenney. “But he’s remarkably careful – he jumps everything big and looks great doing it.”
Fenney, along with fellow MTM Farm trainer and husband Mike McCormick, spotted MTM Inquisitive while horse shopping in Europe. Upon first glance, he was exactly what they were looking for. “He wasn’t too big, moved perfect, jumped correct and was so pretty,” said Fenney. “We knew he was what we wanted right away.”
MTM Inquisitive was imported straight to HITS Ocala from Europe in 2013 to begin showing with Fenney. This weekend the pair proved they have found their stride, posting scores of 90 and 92 to lead both rounds of the Devoucoux Hunter Prix and finish with a 182 total. They topped 20 pairs to keep Fenney sitting pretty in number one on the Diamond Mills Hunter Prix Final Standings.
Just two points off the win, Jason Berry (Verona, Virginia) piloted Frances Porter’s Limited Edition to second with scores of 89 and 91. Boasting a 2011 Diamond Mills Hunter Prix Final win, Samantha Schaefer (Westminster, Maryland) carried scores of 88 and 90 to third with her own Stallone.
Sloane Coles (The Plains, Virginia) claimed fourth in the irons of Attila for Triochevaux, LLC. They tallied a pair of 86s, while Winn Alden (Bristow, Virginia) rounded out the top five aboard Peg Nara’s Ariel with an 82.5 and 87.
The Winston National was Fenney’s first appearance at HITS Commonwealth Park since extensive renovations were unveiled earlier this year. “The footing is impressive, and the barns are unbelievable,” said Fenney. “We were not expecting such a drastic change.”
$1,500 Platinum Performance Hunter Prix
MTM Passport only traveled through customs a month ago, but is off to a winning start in the U.S. Imported from Europe this summer and owned by Cammy Turgon, MTM Passport carried MTM Farm rider Therese Peck (Flower Mound, Texas) to win the $1,500 Platinum Performance Hunter Prix and complete the farm’s domination of the HITS Culpeper hunter rings this week.
The perfect combination according to Fenney, Peck and MTM Passport earned top scores in both rounds with an 85 and 79 totaling at 164 for the blue.
Twelve points off the lead, Franny Selhaver-Ramos (Amissville, Virginia) and her own Sandro Reuben were second with a total score of 152. Valerie Hughes (Mt. Laurel, New Jersey) piloted Franklin Square to third for Veronica Finkelstein. Their combined total was 147. Fourth fell to Jordan Toering (Oak Hill, Virginia) and Rick Toering’s Premonition BHF with a 145. Holleigh Arledge (Leesburg, Virginia) took fifth in the irons of her own Kid Candance, finishing on 129.
With only two weeks of qualifying opportunities remaining, the race to ride in the Platinum Performance $250,000 Hunter Prix Final during the HITS Championship is down to the wire. To follow Platinum Performance Hunter Prix Final qualifying, visit HitsShows.com.
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