Ian Silitch and Party Girl on their way to a $5,000 Devoucoux Hunter Prix win (©ESI Photography)
“I have been riding Party Girl for about a year – as long as you do it her way, you’re okay. She’s very consistent and jumps beautifully, whether it’s over 3’ or 3’9”,” said Silitch of the six-year-old mare. “Linda competed her for the first time ever in the Amateur-Owner Hunters this week and she was fourth and second, so she had a great weekend.”
Silitch led the first round over a course designed by Rian Beals of Saugerties, New York. “These classes are a fabulous idea – they really allow us to show off good horses,” he said. “This horse always jumps well in Culpeper, and she looks great no matter the height, which is hard for a lot of horses to do. She is certainly a contender for the final in September.”
Following Silitch was Gavin Moylan of Middleburg, Virginia in the irons of Mr. & Mrs. Moylan’s Chocolate Boy. They posted an 81 in the first round, but returned to lead the second round with an 85 for a total of 166 and second place. Third was awarded to Chiara Parlagreco of Warrenton, Virginia with Ainsely Treptow’s The Impressionist. Last year, The Impressionist carried Parlagraco to the top of the HITS $250,000 Hunter Prix Final and the pair has recently moved up to the Devoucoux classes. They earned an 83 in the first round and combined it with an 81.5 for a total of 164.5.
Sarah Anderson of Great Falls, Virginia rode Kimberly Stewart’s London to fourth with a total score of 163.25 and Silitch capped the top five with his own Marlon. They ended with a total score of 162.
$1,500 HITS Hunter Prix
Amy Zettler of Aldie, Virginia is no stranger to being in the winner’s circle after a $1,500 HITS Hunter Prix – she has pocketed a handful of wins over the past few months with her own Glad Rags. This weekend, she piloted Jane Gaston’s Black Swan to the top after scoring an 82 and a 77 for a total score of 159.
Zettler, who trains with Peter Foley and Dale Crittenberger at Woodhall Farm in Northern Virginia, placed second in the inaugural HITS Hunter Prix Final in Saugerties, New York last year during HITS Championship Weekend.
Betty Oare of Warrenton, Virginia rode Mr. & Mrs. Ernest M Oare’s Showgirl to second place after score of 77 and 81 landed her with a total of 158. Continuing the trend of one-point separations, Darby Cole of Virginia Beach, Virginia was third with a total score of 157 after piloting Valerie Renihan’s Tuscan Sun to an 81 and 76.
Emily Todd of Salisbury, Maryland was fourth on her own Jack Sparrow with a score of 154 and Elizabeth McKim of Wilmington, Virginia capped the top five aboard her own Quintessential with a 150.
Riders in both the Devoucoux and HITS Hunter Prix with their sights set on qualifying for the Diamond Mills $500,000 and HITS $250,000 Hunter Prix Finals will have weekly opportunities to earn points as HITS Horse Shows continue in Culpeper, Virginia and return to Saugerties, New York August 28 – September 1. Both finals will be highlighted during HITS Championship Weekend, September 4-8, in Saugerties. To stay current on all qualifying, visit HitsShows.com.