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OCALA, FLORIDA (March 11, 2001)--The Millar family of Perth, Ontario, had a very successful day at the HITS Ocala Golden Hills International Show Grounds in Florida today--Jonathan Millar, 27, riding Fine Line won the $100,000 Grand Prix of Ocala presented by Great American Insurance Companies, Inc., his father Ian Millar, 54, on Ivar was second, and his sister, Amy Millar, 23, was third on Mill Creek Roseanne. The Millars were the only riders in a field of 44 to go clear on the Round One course built by Anthony D'Ambrosio and the three went head-to-head in the Jump-Off. Jonathan and Fine Line, an 11-year old Dutch Warmblood stallion, had the only fault-free trip in the tiebreaker. As owner/rider, Jonathan took home $30,000 for his win. Course Designer D'Ambrosio of Mt. Kisco, New York, is also a rider/trainer with 32 career Grand Prix wins, and is the two-time world record holder for the indoor puissance. He has trained four horses that competed in the Olympics. For today's Round One, D'Ambrosio built a 13-jump course that included a double at Fence No. 5 and a triple at Fence No. 11. Time Allowed was set at 86 seconds. The triple proved to be the bogey jump on course--23 riders had elements of the combination down. While the Millars were the only clears, there were 16 riders who only had four faults. For the jump-off, D'Ambrosio built an eight-obstacle course that included 11A and 11B as a double. Time Allowed was set at 50 seconds. Jonathan Millar, the alternate to the 2000 Sydney Olympics for Canada, and his Fine Line were first in the order and set the pace with a clean round in 46.979 that held up for the win. Eight-time Olympian Ian Millar--who competed at Sydney--was next to go and clocked in at 45.491 with Ivar, beating his son's time, but had two fences down for eight faults and had to settle for second place. Ivar, a 10-year-old Dutch Warmblood gelding, earned $22,000 for his owner--Ian's farm, Millar Brooke Ltd. Partnership. Amy Millar was last to go riding Mill Creek Roseanne and had rails down for eight faults in 48.075, for third place and $13,000. Mill Creek Roseanne is a nine-year-old gray Hanoverian mare owned by Mill Creek Stables. The $100,000 Grand Prix of Ocala presented by Great American Insurance Companies, Inc. was the grand finale to this year's HITS Ocala Winter Circuit, closing out five weeks of horse shows. The Grand Prix was filmed by Big Shot Productions for broadcast on Outdoor Life Network at a later date. Today's class was also a qualifying Grand Prix for the Cosequin® U.S. Grand Prix League Invitational Finals to be held in Culpeper, Virginia, September 26-30, 2001. $100,000 Grand Prix of Ocala presented by Great American Insurance Companies, Inc., March 11, 2001 HITS Ocala Winter Circuit V, Ocala, Florida Course Designer: Anthony D'Ambrosio Pl#/Horse/Rider/Owner/Prize Money/Rd 1/Rd 2/Faults/J-O Time 1 Fine Line/Jonathan Millar/Jonathan Millar/$30,000/0/0/46.979 2 Ivar/Ian Millar/Millar Brooke Ltd/$22,000/0/4/45.491 3 Mill Creek Roseanne/Amy Millar/Mill Creek Stables/$13,000/0/4/48.075 4 Windy City/Lauren Hough/Peppercorn Ltd/$8,000/4/NA 5 Argus/Tracy Bartko/M&M John Bartko/$6,000/4/NA 6 Brave Ally/Ian Silitch/November Hill Farm/$5,000/4/NA 7 Cable/Ian Silitch/Ian & Jacquelyn Silitch/$4,000/4/NA 8 Dorincord/Ian Millar/Millar Brooke Ltd/$3,000/4/NA 9 Let's Talk About/Millstream/$3,000/4/NA 10 Marco/Manuel Torres/Manuel Torres/$2,000/4/NA 11 Same Old Song/Jill Henselwood/Frank Earle/$2,000/4/NA 12 Ravenna Z/Frankie Chesler/Sher-Al Farms/$2,000/4/NA Number of horses who competed in this class: 44 Class Prize Money: $100,000 Website: www.HitsShows.com
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