The $2,500 Brook Ledge Open Welcome kicked off the 2015 HITS Ocala Winter Circuit Wednesday with 15 eager to start their season with a win in the Ocala Horse Properties Stadium. Six riders were able to shake off the winter blues by jumping fault-free in the first round over Ocala course designer Doug Russell’s inviting 1.40 meter course of 14 jumping efforts and two combinations. First to tackle the jump-off was Seth Vallhonrat from Newtown Square, Pennsylvania, on his own Cellisto who opted for a conservative clear in 44.774 seconds. His clear round earned him fourth place. Next up was Topeka, Kansas, junior superstar Hunter Holloway riding Hays Investment Corp.’s I Love Lucy. She set the “Great American Time to Beat” when she stopped the clock in a blazing 35.668 seconds. That time held up and I Love Lucy welcomed in the New Year with the win. Derek Petersen from Archer, Florida, aboard Maddie Skimming’s Cassevel gave w a run for the money, but came up short with a time of 37.626 and a clean round to finish second. Shachine Bell riding Katie Tyler’s Kroner Z had an unfortunate rail at the last fence, finishing with four faults in 39.951 seconds to finish fifth. Jared Petersen, riding his father’s Via Dolorosa, rode with the fourth clear round in the jump-off and a time of 39.252 to finish a close third. Hayley Waters from Sparr Florida riding Chuck and Dana Waters Coralina had a rail at fence four finishing with four faults and a time of 42.201 to finish sixth.
