SAUGERTIES, New York - Hunters had their moment in the sun this Memorial Day weekend, as competitors showed off the talents of their sleek mounts in beautiful spring weather. On Saturday, Michael Desiderio and Zero Tolerance rode fluidly through the Outside Ring at HITS-on-the-Hudson to earn the top score in the first $5,000 Devoucoux Hunter Prix of the HITS Saugerties Series.

“My horse jumped a great first round,” said Desiderio, who added that it was his first time competing in a Devoucoux prix, and Zero Tolerance’s first time in that particular ring. Apparently, the judge thought they did well, too, as Desiderio and Zero Tolerance earned the highest score, an 87, in round one, and came back in Round 2 to once again dazzle the judge – earning a score of 90.

“I saw a couple of people get caught on the number of strides; I just rode what I had,” said Desiderio, who rode Zero Tolerance for owner  Dru Cederberg, who stables the 12-year-old mare at Desiderio’s Tranquillity Farm in Chester, New Jersey.

During the class, other riders and spectators watched from a grassy berm near the Outside Course as the field of competitors each took a turn about the course, which included a bank with two obstacles.

Second-place finisher Gabriella Fournier, on Cinderella Man, owned by GDF Equine, LLC, earned an 84 in Round 1 and an 85 in Round 2 to take second place. Hannah Isop, on Tracy Freels, Red Ryder, was not far behind with a total score of 168, after an 83 in the first round and an 85 in Round 2.

Devoucoux Hunter Prix is held weekly at HITS-on-the-Hudson. During weeks three through six, the prize increases to a $10,000. The Devoucoux Hunter Prix is a qualifier for the Diamond Mills $500,000 Hunter Prix Final held here on September 4-6 during the HITS Championship.

$5,000 Devoucoux Hunter Prix - HITS-on-the-Hudson I
Place Horse Owner Rider Prize Rd. 1/2 Total
1 Zero Tolerance Dru Cederberg Michael Desiderio $1,500 87/90 177
2 Cinderella Man GDF Equine, LLC Gabriella Fournier $1,000 84/85 169
3 Red Ryder Tracy Freels Hannah Isop $700 83/85 168
4 Waterfall Jennifer Combs Caitlin Venezia $500 86.5/80 166.5
5 Emerson Hill Libby Mewbourne Hillary Rheinheimer $400 81/83 164
6 Uniek Samantha Rice Hillary Rheinheimer $350 79/82 161
7 Glenlivet Royal "T" Sales Shane Powell $275 85/69 154
8 Aramis Z Niffer Cancian Hannah Lavin $275 68/79 147

Meredith Combs and Honor Win $1,500 Platinum Performance Hunter Prix 

On Sunday, hunters once again took to the Outside Course for the $1,500 Platinum Performance Hunter Prix, in beautiful summer-like weather. Leading the pack was 20-year-old Meredith Combs of Harvard, Massachusetts, on Honor, owned by her mother, Jennifer Combs.

“He’s just a really fun horse,” Meredith Combs said, of the 7-year-old first-year-green horse. “He takes really good care of me. He’s very calm and collected, and he wasn’t fazed by any of the challenges, like the bank, which was new to him.”

Combs, who will be a junior this fall at Brandeis University, studying Art History and Anthropology, said she was happy after the first round, both with her ride, and with her score. “It was a great way to finish the day because we were champions of the 3’3” Amateur-Owner Hunter Division earlier that day, so it was exciting to be able to continue the great ride.”

Second-place finisher Lena Rae Reeb riding Private Ryan, owned by, Jamie Ringel, had the fourth-highest score in round one, an 83, and with a 78 in round two – the highest score that time – she and Private Ryan earned the red ribbon. Rounding out third was Lindsey Mohr on Redfield Farm’s Paddington. The pair had the third highest score in Round 1, an 84, coupled that with a 69 in Round 2.

The $1,500 Platinum Performance Hunter Prix is held weekly at HITS-on-the-Hudson and is a qualifier for the Platinum Performance $250,000 Hunter Prix Final on September 4-5 at the HITS Championship.

$1,500 Platinum Performance Hunter Prix
Place Horse Owner Rider Prize Rd. 1/2 Total
1 Honor Jennifer Combs Meredith Combs $450 85/77 162
2 Private Ryan Jamie Ringel Lena Rae Reeb $300 83/78 161
3 Paddington Redfield Farm Lindsey Mohr $200 84/69 153
4 Blue Shamrock Monica Hunt Alexa Bayko $150 81/70 151
5 Smitten 57 Raleigh Hiler Raleigh Hiler $125 86/64 150
6 Simply Amazing Julianne Marklin Julianne Marklin $100 75/71 146
7 All In Amanda Wise Sara Vozeolas $100 70/75 145
8 Hello Kitty Jennifer Combs Meredith Combs $75 69.5/72 141.5