Friday, March 11, 2011

Hunter/Jumper Ocala: HITS: Tracy Fenney Wins $25,000 SmartPak Grand Prix, presented by Pfizer Animal Health, for the Second Week in a Row

© ESI Photography.
Tracy Fenney and MTM Timon on course in Thursday's $25,000 SmartPak Grand Prix, presented by Pfizer Animal Health, at HITS Ocala.
OCALA, FL (March 11, 2011)—In a season where a different High-Performance rider has claimed each of the 10 Grand Prix held so far at HITS Ocala, Tracy Fenney just put an end to that pattern with her second victory of the Circuit. Fenney was able to stave off a challenge in the jump-off by Tracy Magness to capture Thursday’s $25,000 SmartPak Grand Prix, presented by Pfizer Animal Health, aboard MTM Farm’s MTM Timon.


Fenney of Flower Mound, Texas and MTM Timon were one of eight pairs to make it to the jump-off on a course designed by International Course Designer Florencio Hernandez of Mexico City, Mexico. The team started the jump-off and immediately set the Great American Time to Beat at 39.472 seconds, which would go untouched.

“It was a good course,” said Fenney. “It walked and rode pretty big. [MTM] Timon has always been a very careful horse and he proved that on today’s course.”
© ESI Photography.
Lisa Engel of HITS presents the awards, a cooler courtesy of Shires, a bottle of Sonoma-Cutrer Pinot Noir and a beautiful engraved silver tray, to Tracy Fenney for her win in the $25,000 SmartPak Grand Prix, presented by Pfizer Animal Health, at HITS Post Time Farm in Ocala, Florida.


The classic “Battle of the Tracys” ignited when Magness of Hughsville, Maryland and Mr. and Mrs. John Bartko’s Tarco Van Ter Moude, nearly stole the lead in 39.789 seconds. Callan Solem of Glenmoore, Pennsylvania and Magic Cruise, owned by Horseshoe Trail Farm, LLC, found their way to the yellow ribbon with a double-clear effort in 40.957 seconds.

The win marked Fenney’s second Thursday Grand Prix victory in a row, after last week’s win aboard her other mount, MTM Farm’s MTM Centano. The team of Fenney and MTM Timon were the winners in last year’s $100,000 DeLuca Toyota Tundra Grand Prix, presented by Great American Insurance Group. The season finale of the HITS Ocala Winter Circuit on Sunday, March 20 is rapidly approaching, and with so many talented High-Performance riders at the Circuit this year, Fenney will have her work cut out for her in seeking to reclaim that title, as everyone is hungry to grab that coveted victory for themselves.

Magness and Tarco Van Ter Moude have been nothing short of impressive this season. They won the $25,000 HITS Grand Prix, presented by Pfizer Animal Health, at the Ocala January Festival, and have had a string of successful top-five finishes throughout the rated Circuit, which has earned them the number two spot in the preliminary Pfizer Million Eligible Rider Rankings. Magness also currently leads the way in the Catena Leading Rider Standings; Fenny, however, is close on her heels after yesterday’s win.

Fenney and Magness are both Pfizer Million alumni and are on track to once again become eligible for this year’s installment of the Pfizer $1 Million Grand Prix. “I think that’s the most important thing for everyone right now,” said Fenney. “We and the horses all work so hard every year, and to be able to qualify for a class like that is something special. The competition has grown tremendously since everyone wants to be a part of that class, and I think those who qualify are well deserving of a spot. I’ve been showing with Tracy [Magness] and Callan [Solem] for so many years and they’re so talented. I think we help push each other in order to succeed.”


$2,500 Brook Ledge Open Welcome
On Wednesday afternoon, Ocala’s Aaron Vale captured the victory in the $2,500 Brook Ledge Open Welcome aboard Texola, owned by Vale and Joan Kalman. The duo beat out 32 teams to take the top prize in the popular class. Roberto Teran finished second aboard Vortex, owned by Ashlyn Trevelyan, while Megan Udelson finished third aboard Pourkoipa Fontaine, owned by Moshontz Enterprises.

© ESI Photography.
Aaron Vale and Texola captured Wednesday's $2,500 Brook Ledge Open Welcome.


The HITS Ocala Winter Finals continues this week and will be highlighted by the $10,000 Devoucoux Hunter Prix which takes place Saturday, March 12, under the lights in the Main Hunter Ring. The Grand Prix action resumes on Sunday, March 13, when the $50,000 Purina Mills Grand Prix, presented by Pfizer Animal Health, takes center stage during Purina Mills Weekend.

About SmartPak Equine
Founded in 1999, SmartPak Equine is the country’s largest online and catalog retailer serving the needs of the active and engaged horse owner. The patented SmartPak™ supplement feeding system has simplified the process of feeding horse supplements and medications, making it easier for thousands of riders to keep their horses healthier by ensuring their supplements are being fed correctly. SmartPak’s diverse and expansive product offering includes its own line of supplements, tack, and horse blankets as well as an extensive selection of leading brands of equine health, apparel, tack, and equipment. SmartPak is a six-time Inc. 500/5000 honoree and is the only equine company ever named to the Inc 500 list. SmartPak is backed by Waltham, MA-based North Bridge Growth Equity.

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