John Bragg on Laura Strasburg's Social Hour jump in the $5,000 Devoucoux Hunter Prix (ESI Photography)
Bragg, who earned a score of 88 in the first round and 87 in the second for a total of 175 for the first place win Friday, also finished third on Deanna Sage’s Trousdale with scores of 86 and 87 to total 173, and fifth on Pamela Mollenhoff’s Lukatoni, scoring 84.50 and 85 to total 169.5.
“This was Social Hour's third win for three starts in these classes, the first being at this facility in November," said Bragg, who won last week’s Devoucoux Grand Prix on Social Hour. “Social Hour is an amazing horse -- big open stride, big scope, big soft jump -- and loves the impressive jumps.”
Second in the class was Jenny Karazissis, riding Legacy for Emily Sukert of Newport Coast, California, who scored 85.50 and 88 to total 173.50, followed closely by Bragg on Trousdale. Karazissis was pleased with her horse’s performance and the turnout of the class. "It's nice to get to show in the different rings each week with these Prix horses….Our horses have a nice experience galloping across this ground that we get to enjoy this whole circuit."
The $5,000 Devoucoux Hunter Prix is a qualifier for the $500,000 Diamond Mills Hunter Prix Final at the HITS Championship in Saugerties, New York, this September, which gives West Coat riders an opportunity to have success in the final, including Bragg and Karazissis who have competed in the $500,000 Diamond Mills Hunter Prix.
“Being first, third and fifth in this Hunter Prix was pretty special and a great kick off to the circuit and really nice to jump on the new footing in the hunter rings here,” said Bragg. “Thermal is a great start to a new year."
$5,000 Devoucoux Hunter Prix
Place Horse Owner Rider Prize Rd. 1/2 Total
1 Social Hour Laura Strasburg John Bragg $1,500 88/87 175
2 Legacy Emily Sukert Jenny Karazissis $1,000 88.50/88 176.5
3 Trousdale Deanna Sage John Bragg $700 86/87 173
4 Woodstock Sabrina Hellman Hope Glynn $500 86.5/86 172.5
5 Lukatoni Pamela Moellenhoff John Bragg $400 84.5/85 169.5
6 Exemplar Stephen Borders Tommi Clark $325 83/86 169
7 Winfield Lexie Looker Jamie Taylor $300 85/83 168
8 Channing Sabrina Hellman Eleanor Hellman $275 82/84 166