SAUGERTIES, NY (July 30, 2012) – Melissa Feller of Lincoln Park, New Jersey and Miranda Scarpone’s Rosso Rossini continued their hot streak at HITS-on-the-Hudson when they captured the blue ribbon in Saturday’s $5,000 Devoucoux Hunter Prix during HITS-on-the-Hudson V.

Just last week at HITS-on-the-Hudson IV, the horse-and-rider team scored a fourth-place finish in the popular class. This week’s win marked Feller’s third Devoucoux qualifying class and earned her some valuable points, which will help punch her ticket to HITS Championship Weekend where she hopes to compete in the Diamond Mills $500,000 Hunter Prix Final.

Saturday’s Devoucoux Hunter Prix took place in the new Outside Course at HITS-on-the-Hudson and featured a dynamic track built by Rian Beals of Saugerties, New York. Feller and Rosso Rossini were the best of the 38 pairs that showed over the course.

“We have had great results so far in these classes,” said Feller. “I am looking forward to showing during Championship Weekend with this horse. There will be a lot of great riders there but I think will be anybody’s game.”

Feller had a strong performance in both rounds of the class, earning a score of 89 in round one followed by 89.5 in the second round for a total of 178.5. The professional rider was also fifth riding Redfield Farm’s Sports Club. “I am thankful to have such great horses to ride,” added Feller.

Lillie Keenan of New York, New York was second aboard Lexi Maounis’ Kid Rock with a score of 177.5. Third-place honors went to Melissa Lee of Middletown, New Jersey aboard her own Chiparoe Z with a score of 177.

©ESI Photography.
Melissa Feller and Rosso Rossini win the $5,000 Devoucoux Hunter Prix at HITS Saugerties.

©ESI Photography.
Guillaume Jullienne of Devoucoux joins Wendy Metzger of HITS to present Melissa Feller and Rosso Rossini with the awards after their win the $5,000 Devoucoux Hunter Prix at HITS Saugerties.

$1,500 HITS Hunter Prix
On Sunday afternoon, Jennifer Frank’s horse Pax Mundi made a successful debut in the hunter ring at HITS Saugerties when they won the $1,500 HITS Hunter Prix against a field of nearly 50 starters. The Elverson, Pennsylvania native received a score of 85 in the first round and sealed the deal in round two with an 83 for a 168 total to take the first-place check.

“This was my horse’s first time doing a hunter class. I used to show him in the jumpers and then in December he had to have colic surgery. So this was his first time back showing and I just can’t believe it.”

Following Frank in second place was Eloise Robert of New York New York aboard Buckwheat with a final score of 165. Finishing in third was Jordyn Rose Freedman of Longmeadow, Massachusetts aboard Ann Lufkin’s S & L Play it Again with a score of 164.

©ESI Photography
Jennifer Frank and Pax Mundi on their way to a win in the $1,500 HITS Hunter Prix at HITS Saugerties.

©ESI Photography
Emily Glass of HITS presents Jennifer Frank and Pax Mundi with first place awards after their win the $1,500 HITS Hunter Prix at HITS Saugerties.

Hunter competition and Championship Weekend qualifying will continue this week at HITS Saugerties with one more $5,000 Devoucoux Hunter Prix and $1,500 HITS Hunter Prix. After that, competition heads back south to Culpeper, Virginia for two consecutive weeks August 15-19 and 22-26. Competition will return to HITS-on-the-Hudson August 29 for another two consecutive weeks of shows, which include the much-anticipated HITS Championship Weekend September 7-9. To view complete results from HITS-on-the-Hudson, visit the HITS Saugerties results page of HitsShows.com by clicking here.

About Devoucoux
Devoucoux, makers of fine French saddles, is proud to be the title sponsor of each and every qualifying Hunter Prix leading up to the phenomenal Diamond Mills $500,000 Hunter Prix Final. The Devoucoux Hunter Prix will be a featured event at all HITS horse shows this season as riders from around the country set out to qualify for the second-annual Diamond Mills Hunter Prix Final, which will take place September 8-9 at HITS-on-the-Hudson in Saugerties, New York.

About Diamond Mills Hotel & Tavern
Just 100 miles outside of New York City, nestled in the Village of Saugerties, Diamond Mills is a 30-room luxury hotel featuring stellar accommodations, fine-dining at The Tavern and full-service events at a state-of-the art Special Events Center. Diamond Mills is a proud member of the Small Luxury Hotels of the World^TM, an unsurpassed collection of over 520 luxury hotels around the world. Saugerties' newest luxury hotel is also the proud sponsor of the Diamond Mills $500,000 Hunter Prix Final, which will take place at HITS-on-the-Hudson as part of the HITS Championship Weekend. For more information about Diamond Mills or the special VIP packages available to HITS-on-the-Hudson exhibitors, please visit DiamondMillsHotel.com or call 845.247.0700.

$5,000 Devoucoux Hunter Prix

Place	Horse	Owner	Rider	Prize $
1	Rosso Rossini	Miranda Scarpone	Melissa Feller	$1500
2	Kid Rock	Lexi Maounis	Lillie Keenan	$1000
3	Chiparoe Z	Melissa Lee	Brian Feigus	$700
4	Pioneer	Heritage Farm	Matthew Metell	$500
5	Sports Club	Redfield Farm	Melissa Feller	$400
6	Mactier	Eliza Rader	Jen Bliss	$350
7	So Ho	Heritage Farm	Lillie Keenan	$300
8	Czar-Z	Linda Langmeier	Mckayla Langmeier	$250

$1,500 HITS Hunter Prix

Place	Horse	Owner	Rider	Prize $
1	Pax Mundi	Jennifer Frank	Jennifer Frank	$450
2	Buckwheat	Montoga, Inc.	Eloise Robert	$300
3	S & L Play it Again	Ann Lufkin	Jordyn Rose Freedman	$200
4	Alf	Michelle Wolf	Michelle Wolf	$150
5	Eye Spy	Twin Oaks Stables	Brittany Matters	$125
6	Testimonial	Michelle Klesmer	Ariana Morales	$100
7	Vintage K	Sophie Allen	Sophie Allen	$100
8	Larger than Life	Linda Corvari	Linda Corvari	$75