Harold Chopping and Caramo win the $5,000 Devoucoux Hunter Prix Saturday, February 21, 2015, at HITS Ocala (ESI Photography)

Ocala, Fla. - Hunters took over the Ocala Horse Properties Stadium on Saturday for the $5,000 Devoucoux Prix and the $1,500 Platinum Performance Hunter Prix. In the Devoucoux Hunter Prix, with is open to Juniors, Amateurs and Professionals, Harold Chopping of Southern Pines, North Carolina, riding Caroline Russell Howe’s Caramo had the high score of 87 in round one and an 86 in round two. He finished with a two point lead over second place winner Alliawishus, owned by Kimberly Mittauer and ridden by Megan Wexler of Ocala.

Chopping and Caramo have had multiple placings in the Devoucoux Prix this season, but this is the first time they’ve come out on top. Chopping was happy for both his horse and his owner to bring home the blue ribbon this week, saying, “He’s such a wonderful horse. You can always count on him to do his best. This week, I was able to put it all together for the win.” Chopping has shown in and placed in the Devoucoux Prix for five of the six weeks of the Ocala Circuit, so he can start setting his sights on the $500,000 Diamond Mills Hunter Prix Final in Saugerties this September.

Third-place winner Cavelli, owned by Debbie McIntyre and ridden by Russell Frey of Batavia, Illinois, had the second highest score in Round 1 with an 86, but an 81.5 in Round 2 dropped them from second to third. Sandrimo, owned by the Meadowood Farm LLC and ridden by Lauren Schweppe of Ocala moved up from fifth place in week four to finish in fourth with scores of 86 and 81.5, for a total of 167.5.

The courses were designed by Jack Robson of Coronado, California. The top 12 riders were invited back for a second round and scores were added together to determine a winner. The 12-obstacle course included long approaches, rollbacks and bending lines set to utilize the entire stadium and offer the opportunity for the hunters to show their ability to jump from the gallop.

$5,000 Devoucoux Hunter Prix
Place Horse Owner Rider Prize Rd. 1/2 Total
1 Caramo Caroline Russell Howe Harold Chopping $1,500 87/86 173
2 Allawishus Kathryn Mittauer Megan Wexler $1,000 83/87 170
3 Cavalli Debbie McIntyre Russell Frey $700 86/81.5 167.5
4 Sandrimo Meadowood Farm, LLC Lauren Schweppe $500 82/85 167
5 Quebo Beechwood Stables, LLC Annabel Revers $400 82.5/84 166.5
6 Quidam Meredith Elise Keen Morgan Ward $350 81/85 166
7 Lovely Charity Nicole Hiehle Nicole Hiehle $300 83.5/81 164.5
8 Cameron Marianne Huss Robert Lee $250 84/80 164