The Ocala Tournament, Week VII of the HITS Ocala Winter Circuit, welcomed riders back to the Winner’s Circle in more featured competition, including the $150,000 Purina Animal Nutrition Grand Prix and $25,000 USHJA National Hunter Derby. Hunter riders were on their ‘A-Game’ gearing up for World Champion Hunter Rider Week at the Ocala Winter Finals (VIII) next week. There is still plenty of time to earn points toward the Tack Shack of Ocala 2nd-Half Circuit and Pyranha Overall Circuit Awards, which will be presented during the Ocala Championship (X). Also just around the corner is the seventh Great American $1 Million Grand Prix on Sunday, March 28 – watch live on ShowHorse TV!
The second of three $25,000 USHJA National Hunter Derbies was held alongside the $1,500 Platinum Performance Hunter Prix during Week VII. There is featured Hunter Competition every week including the Platinum Performance and Diamond Mills Hunter Prix that count toward the HITS Championship at HITS-on-the-Hudson in Saugerties, New York, as well as Junior/Amateur-Owner and Children’s/Adult Hunter Classics.
Not only was Cassandra Kahle awarded the top spot in featured hunter competition for the second week in a row, but she also made it a one-two finish. This week Kahle rode CHORUS to near perfect scores in the $25,000 USHJA National Hunter Derby. Kahle scored a 96 in the first round and followed that with a 99 in the Handy round for a total of 195. There’s still one more $25,000 USHJA National Hunter Derby during Week VIII, along with a second $25,000 USHJA International Hunter Derby, HITS Ocala X.
2nd Place: Kahle & GIVENCHY [184]
3rd Place: Vale & JAGERBOMB [180.85]