Nick Haness and Bliss, owned by Enchantment Farm, LLC, took home the blue on Friday. The crowd clapped and cheered as the equestrian from San Clemente, California, and his flashy mount finished the second round to claim the lead; they scored a consistent 87 in both rounds to garner the victory.
Second-place went to this week’s Charles Owen Leading Hunter Rider, John French of Pleasanton, California, and Maritime, owned by Elizabeth Gabler. French and Maritime had the highest-scoring first round with a score of 88, but a score of 85 in the second round put their total just behind Haness and Bliss by one point.
Also in the ribbons was Desert Circuit I $5,000 Devoucoux Hunter Prix winner, Hope Glynn of Petaluma, California, and Full Circle, owned by Karen Trione. They had a first-round score of 86.5 and a second- round score of 86 to secure third-place. Glynn also sealed the top five with Corriendo Tau, also owned by Karen Trione, for fifth-place with scores of 85.5 and 85, respectively.
Hugh Mutch and Balios Z, owned by Sloane Lindemann-Barnett, took fourth-place with a first round score of 85, improving to 86.5 in the second.
Friday’s $1,500 Platinum Performance Hunter Prix offered the Desert Circuit’s second qualifying opportunity of the circuit for the $250,000 Platinum Performance Hunter Prix Final at the HITS Championship in September 2016.
Exhibitors traversed through the 10-effort course, though only one horse and rider would take home the first-place title.
The team to beat was Aya Clear from Piedmont, California, and her own Fenway. Clear piloted her mount with precision and style to claim the class with a first-round score of 88 to advance to the second round of the classic, scoring an 87 to seal the victory. Clear also earned fifth-place with her own Gabriel with scores of 86 and 79.
Lindsay Maxwell riding Ann Russo’s Zampano, finished in second-place, receiving scores of 86.5 and 83.5, respectively. Maxwell also placed fourth with her own Widget, earning scores of 83 and 82.5.
Third-place was awarded to Juliette Joseph of San Diego, California, and Cinematic, owned by Karina Sanchez. Joseph and Cinematic earned an 80 in the first round, improving to an 86 in the second round.