Comissario Commands $2,500 HITS Holiday Hunter Prix with Morgan Ward

Ocala, Fla. – Dec. 17, 2022 – It was a very merry Saturday for Morgan Ward during the HITS Ocala Holiday Classic as she and her veteran partner Comissario dominated the $2,500 HITS Holiday Prix. The 17-year-old Warmblood gelding only competes during special events, and he once again shined in the show ring, earning scores of 92 and 95 to garner the winning title. The duo was also honored with this week’s Healthy Horse Award, sponsored by Omega Alpha.

“He’s my right hand; he’s the first horse I go to all the time for these events,” expressed Ward. “No matter what I go in, I always feel like we've got a great partnership and we can always pull off the win as long as we're both on it. He’s very special to my whole farm and to me – he’s one of the barn favorites.”


Morgan Ward and Comissario. All photos by ESI Photography

Ward added, “He always has the best front end and a phenomenal expression. He knows he's the king of the barn, for sure. He is very cocky on the ground and very spoiled. He’s the kind of horse you pull out, tack up, and go to the ring. It's very nice to have that.”

Matt Brayman designed the courses for Saturday’s $2,500 HITS Holiday Prix. The first round welcomed riders with a long approach to a single vertical and flowed with three bending lines, including two that were related, before the final in-and-out. Riders returned for the second classic round with the three-fence bending line again and multiple opportunities to showcase their mounts’ brilliance.

Ward and Comissario led the class from start to finish, laying down a dominating score of 92 during the first round, which was soon followed by a score of 95 in the second round. “I really wanted to have two consistent rounds on him,” she noted. “I've had him for a few years and we are really good partners. It was kind of nice to have the courses with bending lines – you don't really see connected bending lines like that very often. My horse was fantastic today, so I couldn't have asked for better rounds!”


Luke Sassi and Waterfall Z

Luke Sassi followed closely with Waterfall Z, earning scores of 90 and 88 to take home the second-place prize, while Camryn Kraski and Dimaggio rounded out the top three for the day.


Camryn Kraski and Dimaggio

HITS Post Time Farm feels like home for Ward, and she was excited to add another win to her resume ahead of the 2023 Winter Circuit. “The footing is fantastic, and all of the staff members are amazing,” she concluded. “I honestly enjoy it – it feels like home to me. It's so nice showing here – being relaxed and having all the horses going fantastically.”


Morgan Ward and Comissario

While the HITS Holiday Series comes to a close, entries are still open for the HITS Ocala Winter Circuit, which will include two $50,000 USHJA International Hunter Derbies. Getting underway in less than a month, the competition will feature 10 weeks of hunter/jumper action in our new rings. Additional changes for 2023 will include new footing, new Wi-Fi, and improved hospitality for all our exhibitors. For more information and the complete class listing visit www.hitsshows.com.