Ocala, FL- March 7, 2006- Gerona 92, owned by Rolling Acres Farm Inc., and Mary Lisa Leffler, of Brookeville, Maryland, grabbed top prize in the HITS IV Ocala Tournament $50,000 Grand Prix on an exceedingly difficult course. Out of the thirty-eight riders to attempt the course that Mr. Anthony A. D'Ambrosio set, Gerona 92 and Leffler were the only pair to go double clear.

D'Ambrosio set the course with thirteen numbered obstacles including two combinations, a triple with an oxer, vertical, vertical and a double, a plank to an airy vertical set over a liverpool. D'Ambrosio gave the riders a time allowed of eighty-six seconds. The scoring was under Table A, Sec 2(a), Time First Jump-off. It was a Level 9 course and the biggest obstacle was a brick wall that measured 5'2".

Mary Lisa Leffler spoke of the triple combination, "I was so glad I was near the end. I walked the triple, and I was going to do five strides. I stood on the side and watched the first three go. I thought it had to be six with my step. The Thursday course had the same kind of thing - oxer to vertical, vertical. I did the add step on Thursday. It worked out for me."

The course proved quite difficult as the riders attempted to qualify for the jump-off. Out of the thirty-eight riders attempting the course, only two managed to go clean. Three riders finished with one time fault, seven with four faults, and twenty-six with greater than four faults.

Eighteen year old Lexy Reed, of Ocala, Florida, riding Ludwig, held the lead through twenty-six riders with one time fault until Manuel Torres on Chambacunero finally managed a clear round with no time faults.

Enterprise, owned by R A Francoeur, and ridden by Mark Jungherr of Amesbury, Massachusetts, gave the crowd a thrill as they attempted to get into the jump-off. They went clear but they, too, fell victim to the clock and had one time fault.

Aaron Vale of Ocala, Florida, rode in on his third entry, Droxello, owned by Hollow Creek Investments, to attempt to get into the jump-off. They were looking good and managed a clear round but, once again, the clock was the victor, as the pair ended with one time fault, bringing a huge groan from the crowd.

It was beginning to look like Torres and his clear round might win without a jump-off, but Mary Lisa Leffler and Gerona 92 rode the course spectacularly, cleared all the jumps, and did it in the time allowed to the loud cheers from the crowd. Finally, there was to be a jump-off. Leffler commented, "The oxer number seven across the middle was so square. If you didn't get straight to it, everyone was taking it down. I was able to kick mine forward and support her face. So we made it safely."

The jump-off was seven numbered obstacles with several tight turns and the vertical -vertical of the combination. The time allowed was fifty seconds.

Torres and Chambacunero were very fast around the shortened course, but they also had four rails down. They finished with sixteen faults and a time of 46.897.

Leffler said, "I heard Manuel (Torres) drop the first rail, then the second. I told my sister, 'OK, I'm going to go slow.'" She and Gerona 92 entered the jump-off riding carefully but still with pace. They cleared all the obstacles and finished in the time allowed, bringing a huge cheer from the crowd who had seen too many rails come down this afternoon. Gerona 92 and Leffler had the only double clear and finished the jump-off with a time of 49.748 to take home their first Grand Prix win of the year.

Flushed and happy, Leffler shared, "I've been able to take third, but this is my first win this year on this horse. I did a week in Palm Beach to build her confidence. All of a sudden, she's gotten so broke. This is the second time I've ridden her with a stick. She's so sensitive. I can't wear spurs. I have to use everything I have with her. I go to a trainer to build muscle so I can support her. She's learning how to go fast; I always have to gallop. She has a lot of hang time." Leffler added, "I've been working with Debbie Stephens. We've been compacting her step."

Gerona 92 is an eleven year old that Leffler acquired just before coming to Ocala last year. The pair plan to show two weeks of Tampa and participate in the series in Kentucky.

Leffler has been coming to Ocala since 1994. She commented, "It's a good start for the horses. The courses are tough. They are just as tough as Palm Beach, but we don't get 104-15 entries. So it's a great place to begin the year."

The HITS IV $50,000 Grand Prix is a member of the United States Grand Prix League and the Marshall and Sterling League.

Official Results: $50,000 HITS Grand Prix Table A, Sec 2(a), Time First Jump-off

2. Chambacunero, Manuel Torres, 0/16/46.897 Ana Maria De Cadena

3. Ludwig, Lexy Reed, 1/86.076 Lexy Reed

4. Droxello, Aaron Vale, 1/86.305 Hollow Creek Investments

5. Enterprise, Mark Jungherr, 1/86.691 R A Francoeur

6. Shakira Do Jacare, Sergio Campos, 4/76.410 Sergio Campos

7. Loro Piana Gorgios, Erin McCabe,4/82.492 Gem Stables, Inc.

8. Naritas, Helen Goddard, 4/82.682 Picolo 3

9. Polyfax, Roberto Teran, 4/83.907 KingRidge Stables

10. Landintendant, Kylee Jo Johnson, 4/84.359 Derek and Anita Petersen

11. Shandor 41, Patty Stovel, 4/85.796 Shandor Syndicate

12. 747, Chuck Waters, 4/85.984 Mr. and Mrs. Chuck Waters