THERMAL — Keri Potter took her first step into the race to qualify for the Pfizer Million when she rode Rockford I to victory in the Feb. 1 $50,000 EMO Grand Prix, presented by Pfizer Animal Health at the HITS Desert Horse Park.

The Del Mar resident and her horse topped 30 challengers in the circuit’s first Sunday feature class. International Course Designer Marina Azevedo set a challenging first-round course that left only three horse-and-rider teams advancing to the jump-off round.

Potter has ridden the 14-year-old Rockford I, which she owns, for six years, during which she has qualified for the FEI World Cup twice and won numerous grand prix events. Sunday’s victory boosted her toward a qualification for the Pfizer $1 Million Grand Prix, to be held at HITS-on-the-Hudson on Sept. 12 in Saugerties, N.Y.

“HITS has given me something to look forward to,” she said. “What a great opportunity for our horses and riders to be able to compete for such high stakes. If I qualify, I will do my best to get there.”

Fellow Californian Peter Lutz of San Francisco got things started in the jump-off aboard Kelly Tropin’s Turbo Rand. The pair had eight faults to finish third.

Canadian John Anderson and his mount, Terrific, were second in the jump-off, going clean in 43.592 seconds. Anderson suspected his lead would not hold.

“In the jump-off, I saw the first rider had eight faults, so I wanted to take my time and go clear,” he said. “It’s a six-week circuit — I did not want to push it. I left the door open for Keri, and she took advantage of it.”

Anderson and his 10-year-old Dutch Warmblood were second in both grand prix classes during the week, totaling more than $15,000 at HITS Thermal this year – a pace that, if sustained, would seemingly qualify him for the Pfizer $1 Million Grand Prix. To qualify, a rider must compete in eight or more HITS Grand Prix classes. The top 40 riders, based on money won by horse/rider combination, will be eligible

In the jump-off, Potter and Rockford I held the enviable last-to-go spot. They stepped on the gas, coming home fast and clean in 41.593 for the first-place check of $15,000.

“John left the door open for me with a slightly conservative ride,” said Potter. “I knew that if I put the pedal to the metal my horse would be fast enough.”

QUICK HITS: Keri Potter and Rockford I continued to impress the following weekend in Saturday’s $50,000 Strongid C 2X CSI-W Grand Prix on Feb. 7.

Going second in the jump-off, looked as if they would win their second big-ticket class of the circuit with a clean 28.52. Two-time Olympic Gold Medal-winner McLain Ward of New York, however, rode Sagamore Farm’s Phillipa to a speedy 26.73 and the $15,000 win. Potter took second. Other high-finishing Californians included Susie Hutchison of Temecula and El Dorado 29’s Cantano in fourth and World Cup veteran Harley Brown of Arroyo Grande on Oak Park’s Cassiato in fifth. Both had a rail down in the jump-off.