(c) ESI Photography Ashton Alexander and Quinta Bella, owned by Signe Otsby, earned the highest score in the $5,000 Devoucoux Hunter Prix at HITS-on-the-Hudson IV on Saturday.
Alexander and Quinta Bella earned the highest score in Round 1, a 90, and came back in Round 2 to earn an 89, for a total of 179 in Saturday’s class. Their total score was two points higher than second-place finisher Heather Caristo-Williams, on Sunset Hill, owned by Jacqueline Thorne, who earned an 88 in Round 1, the second-highest score, and came back with a strong 89 in Round 2 for a total of 177. Amy Momrow and Aeroplane, owned by Melissa Wight, earned an 86.5 in Round 1, the fourth-highest score, and an 89 in Round 2, to claim third with a total of 175.5.
This is the first time Quinta Bella has competed in a Devoucoux Hunter Prix, Alexander said. "I thought it was a very nice, open, smooth round,” she continued. “I liked having the option to go up the bank -- it was something new.”
Caristo-Williams said this is Sunset Hill's second year competing as a pre-green hunter. "We're moving him up," she said. "I'm just thrilled with his performance, I couldn't ask for him to be any better. He was super – this was our first time doing this class. He was wonderful, a showman. He loves to just go in there and do his thing."
The Devoucoux Hunter Prix is held each week at HITS-on-the-Hudson and is a qualifier for the Diamond Mills $500,000 Hunter Prix Final held on September 4-6 during the HITS Championship.
Place Horse Owner Rider Prize Rd. 1/2 Total
1 Quinta Bella Signe Otsby Ashton Alexander $1,500 90/89 179
2 Sunset Hill Jacqueline Thorne Heather Caristo-Williams $1,000 88/89 177
3 Aeroplane Melissa Wight Amy Momrow $700 86.5/89 177.5
4 Coco Maya Nayyar, LLC Maya Nayyar $500 86/85.5 172.5
5 Revelstoke Christine Watkins Hannah Isop $400 85/85.25 170.25
6 Cascor's Splendor Maria Moalli David Oliynyk $350 84/85.5 169.5
7 Red Ryder Tracy Freels Hanna Isop $275 81/86 167
8 Zofia Cor Kristi Smith Sydney Smith $275 77/85 162
Danielle McIlquham and CoCo Chanel Take Top Prize in $1,500 Platinum Performance Hunter Prix
Trainer David Oliynyk had something to be proud of Sunday when two of his students finished first and second in the $1,500 Platinum Performance Hunter Prix out of a field of 48 competitors. Danielle McIlquham finished first on her CoCo Chanel and Nicole Oliynyk placed second on her Sea Walker, both of whom train at Oliynyk Show Stables, in Plainville, Massachusetts. Rounding out third was Nicole Sardella on Writtle, owned by Maryellen Sardella.
"It's great to have both of us in the top two, never mind out of that many horses," said McIlquham, who attributed her win to CoCo Chanel’s consistent performance. "She's just so perfect. She helps me out so much."
Oliynyk said he was "thrilled" to have his students win the top two, as well as sixth place (Kelly Lively on Shannondell Farm, Inc.’s Celtic B). "Three of the top six. I was very pleased with that," he said. "They all work so hard and the horses are quite nice. It's just a pleasure to watch them go around."
Second place finisher Nicole Oliynyk said, "It's great. I went early in the first round and was lucky to have a good score, which always helps. Going into the second round, you're more confident."
McIlquham and CoCo Chanel earned the highest score of Round 1, an 88. They went last in the second round and finished with an 86, also the highest score, for a total of 174. Nicole Olynyk and Sea Walker earned an 86, the second-highest Round 1 score, and came back second to last to earn an 84 in Round 2, also the second-highest score, for a total of 170. Sardella earned an 85 in Round 1 and an 80 in Round 2 to total 165.
The $1,500 Platinum Performance Hunter Prix is held each week at HITS-on-the-Hudson and is a qualifier for the Platinum Performance $250,000 Hunter Prix Final on September 4-5 during the HITS Championship.
Place Horse Owner Rider Prize Rd. 1/2 Total
1 CoCo Chanel Danielle McIlquham Danielle McIlquham $450 88/86 174
2 Sea Walker Nicole Oliynyk Nicole Oliynyk $300 86/84 170
3 Writtle Nicole Sardella Maryellen Sardella $200 85/80 165
4 Anucci Jess Lusty Jess Lusty $150 83/81 164
5 Grand Cru Kiara Rusconi Kiara Rusconi $125 80/82 162
6 Celtic B Shannondell Farm, Inc. Kelly Lively $100 75/81 156
7 Pocage Marblesien Jennifer Ritucci Holly French $100 75.5/80 155.5
8 Cartier Mike Rosenwasser Jessica Rosenwasser $75 74.5/79 153