THERMAL — Week V of the HITS Desert Circuit was a blockbuster. The show grounds were abuzz for a sold-out week where record number of entries filled popular classes starting as early in the week as Tuesday with the Level 2, 3, and 6 jumpers and the Low Hunters, each drawing huge numbers as everyone seems to be loving life in desert. It was also the final week of World Cup Qualifiers which means riders enjoyed their last week of competition in the hugely popular indoor arena, where the crowds were large and loud with the infectious energy of a European-style competition.

In a memorable “homecoming”, Kirsten Coe (Johnson, South Carolina) made her first trip to Thermal one for the books when she rode Ilan Ferder’s Tristan to the blue ribbon in Thursday night’s $31,000 HITS Welcome Classic, presented by Pfizer Animal Health. Coe is on a quest to qualify for the Pfizer $1 Million Grand Prix, and with two top-three finishes during the week she’s well on her way to claiming her spot in the class.

Two nights after Coe took her victory gallop, Amateur Lucy Davis (Los Angeles, California) led the way winning Saturday night’s $50,000 CSI-W Grand Prix, presented by Pfizer Animal Health, aboard Old Oak Farm’s Nemo 119. In fact, Saturday night’s final World Cup Qualifier was dominated by young, up-and-coming stars as Davis was joined in the top of the class by Saer Coulter (San Francisco, California) who finished second aboard Springtime, owned by Copernicus Stables, and Coe who finished third aboard Tristan.

The atmosphere in the indoor arena for the final World Cup class of the season was nothing short of electric. The Charles Owen VIP Club was sold out for the fourth week in a row, as more than 1,500 exhibitors packed the house to celebrate the very best in show jumping.

Less than 24 hours after her victory on Saturday night, Davis came back and dominated the largest starting Grand Prix field ever at HITS Thermal to win the $25,000 SmartPak Grand Prix, presented by Pfizer Animal Health, aboard Old Oak Farm’s Hannah to cap off an incredible week for one of the sport’s most up-and-coming stars.

Davis, who is one of 21 riders to hit their eight qualifying Grand Prix, now sits in the 12th spot in the preliminary Pfizer $1 Million Grand Prix Rider Rankings aboard Nemo 119 with $17,500 in prize money won. Rich Fellers (Wilsonville, Oregon) leads the way with $52,600 in prize money won aboard Harry and Mollie Chapman’s Flexible, as High-Performance Riders across the country look to earn a spot in this year’s colossal Pfizer Million Grand Prix.

The Horsepower action for the High-Performance riders shifts into high gear for Desert Circuit VI with two Grand Prix events on the slate, including the $200,000 Lamborghini Grand Prix of the Desert, presented by Lamborghini of Newport Beach, which will take place on Sunday, March 13 in the Strongid C 2X Stadium.

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