The rated series of the 2009 HITS Ocala Winter Circuit crowned its first winning grand prix pair on Thursday, when Tracy Magness rode Mr. and Mrs. John Bartko's Tarco Van Ter Moude to the blue in the $25,000 HITS Grand Prix at HITS Post Time Farm in Ocala, FL.

Magness guided Tarco Van Ter Moude to the fastest double-clear round on course designer Guilherme Jorge's route as she collected $7,500 in first-place prize money. Magness outlasted 23 riders in the first round and the six who advanced to the seven-obstacle jump-off course.

"I think the course designer got exactly what he wanted out of the first Thursday grand prix of the circuit," said Magness. "We are all expecting the jumps to be a little bit bigger on Sunday when the prize money doubles."

Starting off the jump-off was Meagan Nusz who rode TNT Partners’ Absolute Envy. They had a rail down near the end of the track and finished in fifth place. Second to show was Callan Solem aboard Torlando Group's VDL Torlando. Solem and VDL Torlando also had a single rail down to finish in sixth place.

Third in the order was Daniel Damen who rode Teena Adriani's Forever RD. The pair made it all the way home clean in 40.691 to establish the Great American Time to Beat. Jay Hayes was next to show aboard Summerhill Farm's Livarot. They had an unlucky rail down midway through the trip and finished in fourth place.

Going fifth in the jump-off was Roberto Teran who rode King Ridge Stables' Distant Star 3E. The duo navigated the course without dropping any rails in 39.372 to take over the lead. When the class was complete, they would finish in second place.

Magness was sitting in the envious last-to-ride spot and took advantage of the position when she made the dash for cash in 35.868 to win the class. "Anytime you are fortunate enough to go last, you are at a tremendous advantage," said Magness. "I couldn't be happier with Tarco, and I hope we can make a habit of winning this winter."

With her victory, Magness earned valuable points toward the Catena Leading Lady Grand Prix Rider Award. The presentation of the Catena Leading Lady Rider Award will take place during the Ocala Winter Celebration on Sunday, March 15.

The leading female grand prix rider on the HITS Ocala Winter Circuit will receive a timepiece from Catena, USA, with 29 hand-cut diamonds and a white mother-of-pearl dial with 12 diamonds on the dial of the timepiece.

To conclude Week I of HITS Ocala, Hugh Graham rode King Ridge Stables' Executive Privilege 3E to the blue in the $50,000 EMO Grand Prix. A field of 34 challenged the course built by Guilherme Jorge of Campinas, Brazil, on a beautiful Sunday afternoon. Five advanced to the jump-off, and Graham outlasted them all to secure the first-place check of $15,000.

Jay Hayes got things going in the jump-off when he rode Summerhill Farm's Livarot into the ring. They had an unlucky rail midway through the track and finished in third place. Second to show in the jump-off was Callan Solem and the Torlando Group's VDLTorlando. The pair would also drop a single rail and finish in fourth place.

"Torlando was great," said Solem. "It was the first time he moved up and did one of the big grand prix classes. If he continues to jump the way he did today, I think it will be a great winter for us."

Graham and Executive Privilege 3E would go third in the jump-off round and make it all the way home with no faults, setting The Great American Time to Beat at 44.903. That time would prove to be good enough to hang on for the win.

Solem returned for her second ride of the jump-off, this time aboard Mianta, owned by Quiet Winter and Redfield Farm. The pair dropped three rails early and voluntarily withdrew from the competition to land in fifth place.

"Mianta was so good in the first round," said Solem. "In the jump-off, I think she thought she was a race horse and