Ocala, Florida, USA – February 17, 2024 –  Tracy Fenney (USA) broke the Irish winning streak on Saturday as she and MTM Apple executed a perfect jump off to overthrow Jordan Coyle (IRL) in the $75,000 Great American Insurance Grand Prix during the fifth week of the Hits Ocala Winter Circuit. The circuit runs ten weeks in length at Hits Post Time Farm with a variety of top-level hunter, jumper, and equitation events featured for both professional and amateur competitors. 

Twenty-one pairings navigated Philipp Schwender’s (GER) challenging first round with the likes of Sharn Wordley (NZL), Aaron Vale (USA), Jordan Coyle (IRL), and Tracy Fenney (USA) as just a few of the class’s heavy-hitters. With an impressive lineup of athletes to build for, Schwender’s track advanced nine combinations onward to the jump off. Still on a streak of success, Coyle laid down clear efforts with all but one of his entered mounts, but chose to save Anthem in My Heart for another day which brought his total jump off qualifiers to three.

Fenney brought only one mount for the day’s event, but the MTM Farm’s 13-year-old Danish Warmblood mare (Favorit Ask) was all she needed as she scooted to the win just under Coyle’s time and stopping the clock in 34.47 seconds. 

“Jordan [Coyle] is a super fast rider and his horses are very quick,” Fenney admitted. “Everyone thinks Apple is so slow, but she has a massive stride and she had a fantastic turn back to jump three where I think she actually did less strides than anyone, so I think that might be where we had it.” 

Jordan Coyle (IRL) still confidently secured a solid amount of the day’s prize money as he picked up both the second and third place ribbons with Emerald Irish Cruise and King Kannan GP, respectively. Celtic Park LLC’s nine-year-old Irish Sport Horse mare (Ringfort Cruise) was ever-so-slightly off the pace and ended up in second with another clear round and a time of 34.79 seconds.

King Kannan GP, Elan Farm’s nine-year-old Dutch Warmblood gelding (Kannan), who was the winner of Friday’s $25,000 Alliant Private Client Cup, jumped yet another clean round to finish out in third place on a time of 36.09 seconds. 

For Fenney, these national-level grand prixs are the mare’s sweet spot as she can continue on with her daily routines that keep her feeling her best. 

“I really love the horses and I think they like me so they like to jump for me,” Fenney laughed. “They jump once a week and have a super nice life. I’m not going after any FEI points so I don’t see a need to do it when she can just continue to have her normal routine that keeps her happy.” 

Final Results – $75,000 Great American Insurance Grand Prix

1) Tracy Fenney (USA) & MTM Apple – 0 / 0 – 34.48

2) Jordan Coyle (IRL) & Emerald Irish Cruise – 0 / 0 – 34.79

3) Jordan Coyle (IRL) & King Kannan GP – 0 / 0 – 36.09

Source: Press Release from Hits Horse Shows

Photos: © Hits Shows / ESI Photography

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