THERMAL, CA (February 14, 2012) – John Bragg of Laguna Beach, California continued his roll at HITS Thermal when he posted the top score in both rounds of the $10,000 Devoucoux Hunter Prix aboard Stephanie Ray’s Castle Hill to capture the feature class for hunters on Sunday at Desert Circuit III.
Bragg was impressive in the popular hunter prix that featured 40 horse-and-rider combinations in the first round on a course set by Rian Beals. The seasoned hunter rider brought home an 88 in the first round and set the stage for some tight competition. In the second round, Bragg and Castle Hill nailed down their second consecutive victory in the Devoucoux class when they scored an 85 for a total score of 173 and the blue ribbon. More importantly, Bragg earned valuable leverage in an effort to qualify for the Diamond Mills 500,000 Hunter Prix Final that will take place at HITS-on-the-Hudson in Saugerties, New York this fall.
“That’s two in a row,” said Bragg. “Things couldn’t be better for us right now. We are here in full force with almost 30 horses and we are winning some great ribbons. I really thought today’s track was special. There were lots of new decorations on the jumps. HITS has gone all out for these classes.”
Nick Haness of San Clemente, California riding Isobel V. Goldsmith’s Montague challenged Bragg for the top spot, but his two round total of 169 fell short as the rising star, who finished second in the inaugural Diamond Mills Hunter Prix Final, scored the red ribbon. Penngrove, California’s Hope Glynn also had a great afternoon scoring a third-place performance aboard Helen McEvoy’s Chance of Flurries.
Kate Considine of Sherman Oaks, California finished the $10,000 Devoucoux Hunter Prix in the fourth spot and continues to score top ribbons in the class each week. The professional hunter rider already has a triumph under her belt during Desert Circuit I aboard Hannah Goodson-Cutt’s Caretano.
“I plan to be qualified by the time the circuit ends,” said Considine. “We already booked our hotel room for the $500,000 class in Saugerties.”
Also deserving accolades in Sunday’s $10,000 Devoucoux Hunter Prix was amateur rider Avery Hellman riding her own Woodstock. The San Francisco, California native was the top finishing amateur bringing home a fifth-place ribbon.
Sunday’s class was the third of six Devoucoux Hunter Prix qualifiers to be hosted at this year’s HITS Desert Circuit for the 2012 Diamond Mills $500,000 Hunter Prix Final. West Coast exhibitors will have plenty of opportunities to secure the five qualifiers needed to become eligible for the big ticket class, including the $25,000 Devoucoux Hunter Prix Sunday, March 11.
Haley Giddings and Opportunity cash in with a win in the $5,000 HITS 3’ Hunter Prix
Junior rider Haley Giddings of Laguna Niguel, California posted a win in the $5,000 HITS 3’ Hunter Prix on Sunday afternoon when she rode Cavallo Farm’s Opportunity to the blue as the horse-and-rider team were the best out of the 30 that showed over Rian Beals’ course.
Giddings and Opportunity were fueled by a fantastic second round as they scored an 87 to rocket their overall score to 170. Wrestling the top spot from Emily Winkler and Landmark, Giddings and Opportunity are now well on their way to qualifying for the all-new $250,000 HITS 3’ Hunter Prix Final during HITS Championship Weekend at HITS-on-the-Hudson in Saugerties, New York this fall.
Giddings has been training with Richard Slocum and John Bragg for about two years and was SmartPak Mid-Circuit Champion in the Equitation 14-15 during the first half of the 2012 HITS Desert Circuit.
“This is the horse’s first major win in the hunter ring,” said Slocum. “He has won the New England Equitation Finals and won at Devon. He is on a generous loan from the Spogli family.”
Winkler of Long Beach, California who won last week’s $1,500 HITS 3’ Hunter Prix aboard her own Landmark continues to place in the ribbons as the pair captured the red ribbon with an overall score of 168 after two rounds. Kristin Heller of Atherton, California earned the yellow ribbon to round out the top finishers in the class with a total score of 166.
For a complete list of results from the $5,000 HITS 3’ Hunter Prix, click here.
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 second-annual Diamond Mills Hunter Prix Final, which will take place September 8-9 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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