Saugerties, N.Y. - HITS Saugerties’ second qualifying opportunities for the $500,000 Diamond Mills Hunter Prix and the $250,000 Platinum Performance Hunter Prix at the HITS Championship in September, continued with the $5,000 Devoucoux Hunter Prix and $1,500 Platinum Performance Hunter Prix during Week II at HITS-on-the-Hudson.

McKayla Langmeier and Czar-Z on their way to a $5,000 Devoucoux Hunter Prix win. (ESI Photography)

$5,000 Devoucoux Hunter Prix
Talented riders, including many $500,000 Diamond Mills Hunter Prix veterans, took to the course to pilot their mounts for a piece of the winner’s share, with the top 12 returning for the second round. McKayla Langmeier of East Granby, Connecticut, was the one to claim the title with Czar-Z, owned by Linda Langmeier.

After a seventh-place finish in last year’s $500,000 Diamond Mills Hunter Prix, Langmeier and Czar-Z have returned to secure their next spot in this year’s final. They earned consistent scores of 86 in both rounds for a winning total of 172.

Second in the ribbons belonged to Pawling, New York, equestrian Hannah Isopz aboard Believe, owned by Ayodele Hart. Also a finals vet, Isopz place eleventh in last year’s Diamond Mills Hunter Prix. They earned a first round score of 81, improving to an 88 in the second round for a total of 169.

Robbie Burroughs of Newfoundland, New Jersey, and Allure, owned by E.K. Equestrian, LLC, came in third. They were awarded a total of 164. 5 with scores of 80.5 and 84, respectively.

Fourth-place went to David Oliynyk of Franklin, Massachusetts, and Generous, owned by Lori Gaudet. Oliynyk has spent several years in the tack of Lori Gaudet’s mount, and they have competed in the final every year since 2011, winning sixth-place twice. Their first-round score of 80.25, combined with their second-round score of 84 gave them a total of 164.25 for their efforts.

Rounding out the top five was Jennifer Ritucci of Wrentham, Massachusetts, aboard Cabana VDL, owned by Amanda Flint. They earned scores of 80 and 82, respectively, to seal the final spot in the top five with a total of 162.

Place Horse Owner Rider Prize Rd. 1/2 Total
1 Czar-Z Linda Langmeier McKayla Langmeier $1,500 86/86 172
2 Believe Ayodele Hart Hannah Isopz $1,000 81/88 169
3 Allure E.K. Equestrian, LLC Robbie Burroughs $700 80.5/84 164.5
4 Generous Lori Gaudet David Oliynyk $500 80.25/84 164.25
5 Cabana VDL Amanda Flint Jennifer Ritucci $400 80/82 162
6 Huckleberry Finn Anne Keesler Sarah Tyndall $350 77/84 161
7 Denmark Patricia Adikes-Hill Michael Zukerman $275 76/83 159
8 Riomarkable Olivia Venezio Olivia Venezio $275 78/75 153

$1,500 Platinum Performance
Junior and amateur riders went head-to-head to prove their skill, and the top twelve returned for the second round to vie for the blue ribbon and a qualifying spot for the $250,000 Platinum Performance Hunter Prix.

The team to beat was Brett Lieb of Bridgehampton, New York, aboard Sastune. They earned a first-round score of 81 and a second round score of 82, for a total of 163 to take the victory.

Allison Cederberg of Billings, Montana, rode Zero Tolerance, owned by Dru Cederberg, to second-place. They scored an 80.5 in the first round and an 80 in the second, for a total of 160.5.

Third in the ribbons was awarded to Sara Vozeolas of North Andover, Massachusetts, riding Caupolican for Amanda Wise. Their scores of 79.95 in the first round, improving to an 80 in the second gave them a total of 159.75 for their efforts.

Leigh Gallagher claimed the fourth-place spot with Eternity, owned by Ann Dotoli. The Norwalk, Connecticut, equestrian piloted her mount to a first-round score of 79.5, returning to earn a 79 in the second round for a total of 158.5, just behind Vozeolas.

Erin Shaw of Exeter, Rhode Island, stole the final spot in the top five with Dior W, owned by Red Oak Partners, LLC. They came close to Gallagher’s final score with their own total of 157, with scores of 79 and 78, respectively, for fifth-place.

Place Horse Owner Rider Prize Rd. 1/2 Total
1 Sastune Brett Lieb Brett Lieb $450 81/82 163
2 Zero Tolerance Dru Cederberg Allison Cederberg $300 80.5/80 160.5
3 Caupolican Amanda Wise Sara Vozeolas $200 79.75/80 159.75
4 Eternity Ann Dotoli Leigh Gallagher $150 79.5/79 158.5
5 Dior W Red Oak Partners, LLC Erin Shaw $125 79/78 157
6 Heartthrob Amanda Flint Catherine Wachtell $100 78/78 156
7 Summer Vay-K Donna Rosenwasser Jillian Rosenwasser $100 78.5/77 155.5
8 Fitzroy Crossing Joyce Mersereau Josselyn Mersereau $75 78.25/76 154.25