Saugerties, N.Y. - HITS Saugerties’ third 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 $10,000 Devoucoux Hunter Prix and $1,500 Platinum Performance Hunter Prix during the final week of the spring series.

Cassandra Kahle and Super Fun on their way to a $10,000 Devoucoux Hunter Prix win. (ESI Photography)

$10,000 Devoucoux Hunter Prix
Cassandra Kahle has made her mark on the prestigious hunter ring. After stacking the leaderboard with first-, second- and eighth-place in the $5,000 Devoucoux Hunter Prix during Week I, Kahle returned to once again garner three spots in the top ribbons with first, second and fourth.

The Langley, British Columbia, equestrian’s Week III Devoucoux victory came aboard Super Fun, owned by Cell and Kenny Wheeler. Super Fun skyrocketed to the top this week after coming in eighth with Kahle during Week I. They captured the highest score in both rounds with an 87 in the first round, and an 89 in the second for the winning total of 176.

Kahle swept into second-place with Balouette, owned by Redfield Farm. They scored an 83.5 in the first round and an 84 in the second, for a total of 167.5.

Third in the ribbons went to David Oliynyk of Franklin, Massachusetts, and Generous, owned by Lori Gaudet. The pair have numerous Devoucoux Hunter Prix wins under their belt, as well as a fourth-place finish in last week’s class. They came in just behind Kahle with a total of 167, combined from their scores of 82 and 85, respectively.

Kahle piloted her fourth-place ride, Diario, owned by Great Span, LLC, to a total of 166 with a first-round score of 85 and a second-round score of 81. Kahle and Diario won the $5,000 Devoucoux Hunter Prix at HITS-on-the-Hudson I.

Rounding out the top five was Huntington, New York equestrian Michael Zukerman aboard Denmark, owned by Patricia Adikes-Hill. They earned an 83 in the first round, returning with the top 12 to earn a 76 in the second, totaling 159 for their efforts and sealing fifth-place.

Place Horse Owner Rider Prize Rd. 1/2 Total
1 Super Fun  Ceil and Kenny Wheeler Cassandra Kahle $2,800 87/89 176
2 Balouette Redfield Farm Cassandra Kahle $1,800 83.5/84 167.5
3 Generous Lori Gaudet David Oliynyk $1,250 82/85 167
4 Diario Great Span LLC Cassandra Kahle $900 85/81 166
5 Denmark Patricia Adikes-Hill Michael Zukerman $800 83/76 159
6 Teddy Rachel Efird David Wilbur $700 84/73.5 157.5 
7 Cascor's Splendor Kimberly Janson Hannah Janson $600 78/79 157
8 Spektacular Sara Setian Sara Setian $400 75/81 156

$1,500 Platinum Performance Hunter Prix
Last week’s $1,500 Platinum Performance Hunter Prix winner returned to the ring to challenge a field of 30 competitors and claim a back-to-back hold over the title.

Brett Lieb of Bridgehampton, New York, and Sastune returned to the Outside Course to once again garner the blue ribbon. They earned the highest scores in both rounds with a first-round score of 82 and a 78 in the second round, keeping them ahead of the competition with a total of 160.

Atherton, California equestrian Rachel Penner, made it out with the second-place prize. She piloted S&L Play It Again, owned by Jordyn Rose Freedman, to a score of 79 in the first round, 73 in the second and a total of 152 for their efforts.

Third-place was awarded to Marlee Malamut of Vallaway, New Jersey, and Cash Money. In the first round, they earned a 71.5, improving to a 76 in the second round for a total of 147.5.

Erin Tukel of Sagamore Hills, Ohio, and Eermetta, owned by Redfield Farm, came in fourth-place with a total of 146—resulting from their scores of 72 and 74, respectively.

Rounding out the top five was Bullet Proof, ridden by Bella Clemente of Far Hills, New Jersey, and owned by June Wu. Clemente piloted Bullet Proof to earn a first-round score of 70 and a second-round score of 75 for a total of 145 for fifth.

Place Horse Owner Rider Prize Rd. 1/2 Total
1 Sastune Brett Lieb Brett Lieb $450 82/78 160
2 S&L Play It Again Jordyn Rose Freedman Rachel Penner $300 79/73 152
3 Cash Money Marlee Malamut Marlee Malamut $200 71.5/76 147.5
4 Eermetta Redfield Erin Tukel $150 72/74 146
5 Bullet Proof June Wu Bella Clemente $125 70/75 145
6 Summer Vay-K Donna Rosenwasser  Jillian Rosenwasser $100 74/70 144
7 Campino Gramercy Farm Kristyna Carlton $100 73/66 139
8 Cool Boy E. B. Lena Andrews Lena Andrews $75 70.5/68 138.5