Ocala, Fla. – March 26, 2017 – Lauren Hough and OhLaLa generated an exciting conclusion to the 2017 HITS Ocala Winter Circuit on Sunday as they added their names to the list of million dollar winners with a victory in the Great American $1 Million Grand Prix in Ocala, Florida.
“I’m thrilled to be here. I love Ocala and I think Tom, his crew, the footing and the jumps are really one of the best in the world,” raved Hough.
The second jewel in the HITS Triple Crown of show jumping saw 48 efforts, with all 44 completions under the time-allowed of 88 seconds, and 14 advance to the jump-off. Safely under the allotted time with a clear round, Hough and the Swedish Warmblood mare added their names to the jump-off list in a time of 79.927 seconds.
German course designer Werner Deeg agreed with Hough that the time-allowed was a bit comfortable, but in this sport “you try to be on the safer side.” Deeg praised the venue saying, “The biggest enemy of a course designer is the footing. Here we have the best footing — it’s phenomenal how the horses can jump.”
“It’s a whole different perspective in that there were 14 in [the jump-off] so there was a lot at stake. I went fast to the last fence, but I didn’t take every risk. I rode the fastest round that I could with her and I think I put a little bit of pressure on the ones to follow,” said Hough.
Her vigilance paid off as she rode the 13-year-old mare, owned by the OhLaLa Group, to the fastest clear round in the jump-off in a time of 48.966 seconds.
Todd Minikus was one of the first to go and had the fastest round of the jump-off with Wyndmont Inc’s Valinski S, but a rail would cost them the top spot as they set the pace at 46.66 seconds to finish in sixth place.
Aaron Vale and Finou 4
One of the last to go in the returning round, Aaron Vale and Finou 4 put in a clear round, clocking in just behind Hough in 49.442 seconds to earn the pair a second place finish. The 11-year-old Hanoverian gelding is owned by Thinkslikeahorse and Don Stewart.
André Thieme and Conthendrix
Decorated HITS Million competitor, André Thieme, returned to the Great American $1 Million Grand Prix after a 2014 victory, finishing in the money yet again with third place aboard his own Conthendrix. He also conquered the Pfizer $1 Million Grand Prix at HITS Saugerties in 2011 in New York. Thieme and the 13-year-old Holsteiner gelding finished close behind in a time of 50.086 seconds.
Also returning for the second round were Mandy Porter and Milano, who claimed top honors in the AIG $1 Million Grand Prix last weekend in Thermal, California, but finished seventh after an unfortunate rail at the final fence in the jump-off.
The third leg of the HITS Triple Crown will continue on Sept. 10 with the Saugerties $1 Million Grand Prix in Saugerties, New York.
View the original article on Phelps Sports.