Haness Takes Hunter Spotlight at HITS

By Staff Report March 8, 2012

Nick Haness, who finished second in the $500,000 Diamond Mills Hunter Prix last year, is off to a great start qualifying for the 2012 championship, cleaning up on the HITS Desert Circuit hunter prix division.

Haness, of San Clemente, CA, took first and second place at the $5,000 Devoucoux Hunter Prix in Thermal on March 4, nabbing the blue ribbon on Cristiano, with a total score of 175, and the red on Cousteau, with a score of 172.5. Both horses are owned by Carolyn Mittler.

He topped a field of more than 50 riders over Rian Beals’ first round.

Haness was a busy man in the ring that Sunday, also taking fourth riding Lily Blavin’s Montague with 171.5 points.

But that was nothing compared to his prior week’s performance, when he rode three mounts to top six finishes in the $5,000 Devoucoux Hunter Prix on Feb. 26 (including  his first hunter prix victory of the circuit, also on Cristano, with a score of 173).

He definitely has his sights set on the Diamond Mills Hunter Prix. “Last year in Saugerties was awesome,” Haness said of his stunning second place performance in that half-million dollar class. “Being there and getting a good ribbon really helped me get my name out there more on the East Coast. I am looking forward to a return trip this year. I am not sure what horse I will bring yet, but I am blessed to have a few good ones to be able to choose from.”

John Bragg, who won the second and third Devoucoux Hunter Prix of the HITS Desert Circuit, did not attend the 2011 Diamond Mills Final, but said he will definitely be attending if he qualifies this year.

“I could not have pictured a better start to the second half [of the circuit],” Haness said of his performance. Another top performer in the March 4 class was Joie Gatlin of San Juan Capistrano, CA, who took third riding Cathy Morris-Schmitt’s Kistler with 172 total points. Rounding out the top five was Ali Leopold aboard Gina Groth’s Neverland who scored the pink ribbon with a combined score of 169.

“I have had one or two [horses] in the Devoucoux class each week,” Gatlin said. “Third place was my best finish yet. I think the class is a lot of fun and great for the horses as they continue to earn valuable mileage. This week, there was a jump set in between rings and I thought that was both challenging and fun.”

The March 4 class was the fifth of six Devoucoux Hunter Prix qualifiers to be hosted at this year’s HITS Desert Circuit for the 2012 Diamond Mills $500,000 Hunter Prix Final. West Coast exhibitors will have one last opportunity to secure the five qualifiers needed to become eligible for the big ticket class in the form of the $25,000 Devoucoux Hunter Prix, schedule for Sunday, March 11.

“Next week is for a lot of prize money and my owners will be here to watch,” Haness said with anticipation. “Another top finish should definitely secure my place in Saugerties.”

Hope Glynn of Penngrove, CA, is another hunter rider who is distinguishing herself in the ring. In the Feb. 26 class she placed fourth aboard Helen McEvoy’s crowd-pleasing Chance of Flurries. The duo set the stage early in the first round when they scored a 90. Kate Considine of Sherman Oaks, CA, and Caretano (Hannah Goodson-Cutt, owner) had the third-highest round one score from judge Mike Rosser with an 88. In round two of the big ticket class, John French riding Iwasaki & Reilly’s Small Affair (Iwasaki & Reilly, owner) had the top score when he laid down a 92, which ultimately nudged French into second. French, of Woodside, CA, is targeting his second trip to the Hudson Valley in September.

“Anytime you have three scores in the 90’s and all the rest in the 80’s you know it’s going to be a great class,” Haness said. “Everyone was really on top of their game.”

 

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