Last Updated on March 23, 2024 by adminahb
March 22, 2024 – Ocala, FL – Throughout the entirety of the inaugural STX Open Speed Series at the HITS Ocala Winter Circuit, 17-year-old Madison Kondracki has steadily widened the gap between herself and the other contenders. On Friday afternoon of the final week of the 10-week long circuit, the young competitor sealed the deal as she scooped up one final victory in the series’ exciting finale. Held weekly over the course of the winter, the series offered a new and exciting one-round speed challenge for exhibitors and horses looking to test their talents in HITS Post Time Farm’s Grand Prix ring without contending a course of grand prix proportions.
With a wide array of homebred and self-produced horses to choose from, Kondracki put the pressure on the classes’ other contenders early on in the season and continuously raised the bar as she earned the majority of the winnings across the ten weeks. Over Olaf Petersen Jr’s (GER) fast track, Kondracki put the final nail in the coffin as she edged Tracy Fenney and MTM Peanut out of the lead with her own eight-year-old Hanoverian gelding (Escudo 1), E Storm Cat.
Morgan Ward and Comissario Count on Consistency to Win $5,000 SmartPak USHJA National Hunter Derby
As the afternoon sun settled on the main hunter ring at the HITS Post Time Farm, Morgan Ward made one more bid for the top title in the last hunter derby of the season. As the most consistent combination of the season, she and Comissario have taken the honors in multiple derbies, and they made sure to leave a lasting impression once more. Across the two-round format, Ward piloted the 19-year-old Warmblood gelding (Calido) to one last blue ribbon on a total score of 184.00 points.
“He’s always been consistent since I’ve known him,” Ward said. “He stayed with me the whole way today; I just kind of look and think of where I want to go and he follows. We’ve had so many years together that he trusts me a lot and we speak the same language.”
For more results and information, visit HitsShows.com.
