Big Win for Big Shot and Jenny Karazissis in $100,000 USHJA World Championship Hunter Rider West Coast Hunter Spectacular

Thermal, Calif.—March 20, 2021— In its debut at the Desert International Horse Park, the $100,000 USHJA WCHR West Coast Hunter Spectacular saw Jenny Karazissis and Big Shot claim the victory in a field of 69. Nick Haness aboard HH Elmo and Jamie Sailor with Skyhawk rounded out the top three.

Sixty-nine combinations took to the first round course of the two-round classic designed by Thomas Hern of Plymouth, Massachusetts, all vying for a piece of the $100,000 prize. Presiding over the class were two panels of judges—panel one made up of Don Stewart of Ocala, Florida, and Sissy Wickes of Unionville, Pennsylvania, and panel two made up of Alex Jayne of Elgin, Illinois, and Bob Crandell of Wellington, Florida.

In one of the last height sections to enter the ring, Karazissis of Calabasas, California, and Big Shot took a late lead in the competition but never let up. A round one score of 90.75 put them at the top going into round two. When the top 12 riders returned in reverse order of each height section, the duo secured their spot on top with a second round score of 91.50, bringing their total to 182.25 and well out of the reach of other competitors.

"It was very nice that there weren't a whole lot of related distances, just the one line on the side which really tested their scope in both directions. I felt my horses try really hard there and I liked that," said Karazissis of the evening's courses.

One of three horses she had in the competition, Big Shot, a Holsteiner gelding owned by Dulcie Lou Morris, has a longtime partnership with Karazissis and it flourished in the ring. Even before the pair's leading scores were announced after each round, Karazissis' smile aboard the gelding was shining.

"We've been together for a very long time—he's 10 now and I think he was probably 5 when I started him here at the circuit. He was for sale at the time and I knew he was special, so I went to one of my clients and said 'Please, I have got to have this horse,' and they stepped up and bought him," Karazissis said of Big Shot and his owners. "They just have been the best owners to allow me to bring him along, and their daughter, Dulcie Lou Morris, shows him in the amateurs sometimes—she takes so much pride in him. He's just a very special horse."

Karazissis also collected the sixth place ribbon with Cartier Du Rouet.

The only one to come close to Karazissis' total score was Haness with his last horse of three in the second round, HH Elmo. The Temecula, California, rider and the KWPN gelding owned by Lindsay Maxwell added a 92 to their first round score of 88.75, earning 180.75 to finish less than two points in second. Haness also finished in fifth with Starbust and in seventh with Reese's.

"I thought the course had beautiful jumps out there. The Grand Prix ring is a great ring to ride in—we don't typically get to ride our hunters in that ring so it was really a special treat to get to go out there," said Haness.

"As Hunter riders, the WCHR program is very important to us and of course this week is a big week. It is a whole circuit long of build up for this final week of competition and we have all been getting our horses prepared to do the best they can do. Obviously having this amazing Spectacular class here is a huge benefit to have a class so generous to showcase what we have on the West Coast," he continued.

The second to last pair to complete the first round, Sailor, of Moorpark, California, and Laura Wasserman’s Skyhawk returned in second and ended third, adding scores of 89.75 and 88 for a total of 177.75.

"I've supported WCHR for a while now and I definitely appreciate it. I was really excited for this class and I was super happy with how [Skyhawk] performed," said Sailor.

For her victory, Karazissis earned a $30,000 check along with a custom engraved commemorative frame; embroidered jackets for the rider, owner, trainer and groom; an embroidered cooler; a certificate for a pair of Parlanti tall boots; and a gift certificate from CWD. The Desert International Horse Park presented the winner with a gift basket from Burtech Family Vineyard, a $5,000 flight credit from Horseflight and a bag from Lauracea as the Leading Lady Rider. Valencia Sport Saddlery also presented Karazissis with the “Horseplay Encouraged” Perpetual Trophy.

The top twelve riders were each presented with a rider sash, neck ribbon, and a sun scarf courtesy of ShadyLady Sun Protection.

The Shapley's Best Turned Out Award was presented to Fernando Cruz, grooming for the second place winner, HH Elmo owned by Maxwell and ridden by Haness. Other special awards presented included two of the week's high-score honors. Haness earned the highest score of the professionals with a 92 and Kylee Arbuckle earned that as a developing professional with a high score of 90.

The horse show was a WCHR Member Event, which means WCHR members earn points in eligible classes throughout the week toward regional and national year-end awards, as well as the opportunity to qualify for WCHR Finals, which are held during The Capital Challenge Horse Show in Upper Marlboro, Maryland.

The USHJA sends special thanks to Steve Hankin, Phil DeVita, Pat Boyle and the entire Desert International Horse Park team for hosting the Spectacular. The USHJA also sends thanks to Official Sponsors CWD, Nutrena, Parlanti and Rood & Riddle Equine Hospital.

The WCHR Summer Spectacular will be held June 9-13 during the Blenheim Equisports June Classic I in San Juan Capistrano, California. For more information about the USHJA World Championship Hunter Rider Program, visit ushja.org/WCHR.

Photos: (top) ESI Photography, (remaining) Terisé Cole/USHJA

Top 12 Finishers in the $100,000 WCHR West Coast Hunter Spectacular

Place - Horse - Rider - Round 1 Avg. - Round 2 Avg. - Final Score

1. Big Shot – Jenny Karazissis – 90.75 – 91.5 – 182.25
2. HH Elmo – Nick Haness – 88.75 – 92 – 180.75
3. Skyhawk – Jamie Sailor – 89.75 – 88 – 177.75
4. Cassario 8 – Shawn Casady – 89 – 87.5 – 176.5
5. Starburst – Nick Haness – 86 – 89.5 – 175.5
6. Cartier Du Rouet – Jenny Karazissis – 85.375 – 85 – 170.375
7. Reese’s – Nick Haness – 84.5 – 83 – 167.5
8. Tic Tac Toe – Kendall Bourgeois – 84.5 – 82.5 – 167
9. Mon Tresor – Hope Glynn – 85 – 80.75 – 165.75
10. For Fun – Brooke Rose Morin – 85 – 73.50 – 158.5
11. Verdict – Alexis Meadows – 85 – 72.5 – 157.5
12. Ask Anyone – Kylee Arbuckle – 84.25 – 71.50 – 155.75