Ocala, Florida, USA – March 10, 2024 – Another week of exciting action during the Hits Ocala Winter Circuit came to a close on Sunday, and while all rings ran full steam ahead, spectators flocked to the Grand Prix ring for the day’s featured event. Following an exciting and large jump off, the $24,500 Horseflight Jumper Classic found its winner in the fast combination of Morgan Ward (USA) and Jiran R. 

The jumpers brought their A-game for the competition, as 14 out of 34 original starters secured a jump off spot, and eight of those contenders made it through both rounds without having penalty-pointes attributed to them.

Ocala’s Hunter Holloway (USA) looked primed to take the win but ended up settling for second place with the Hay’s Investment Corp’s nine-year-old KWPN mare (Elvaro) entry, Kalina N, having posted a time of 40.47 seconds.

Ward blazed in on the Morlynn Farm‘s 10-year-old Anglo European gelding (Winston-Jumper R) ready to leave it all on the field, and that’s exactly what the pair did, shaving four one-hundreths of a second from Holloway’s time to take the win in 40.42 seconds. 

“I honestly didn’t know if I would catch up to her,” Ward explained, of following Holloway’s top round, “but my horse is so fast-footed and doesn’t spend too much time in the air, so my plan was just to keep going, especially on the rollback to the last fence. Just keep going.” 

Never one to be counted out of the ribbons, François LaMontagne (CAN) delivered another exceptional performance, this time with Groupe Zacar Inc’s eight-year-old Dutch Warmblood gelding (Kannan), Lacros VDL, to secure the final spot in the victory gallop. 

Final Results – $24,500 Horseflight Jumper Classic

1) Morgan Ward (USA) & Jiran R – 0 / 0 – 40.42

2) Hunter Holloway (USA) & Kalina N – 0 / 0 – 40.47

3) Francois LaMontagne (CAN) & Lacros VDL – 0 / 0 – 41.25

Source: Press Release from Hits Horse Shows

Photos: © Hits Horse Shows / ESI Photography

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