Jenny Karazissis and Big Shot are Back in $10,000 C3RV Winner’s Circle Hunter Stake
Jenny Karazissis and Big Shot, owned by Dulcie Lou Morris, have a partnership unlike any other, and the past few weeks at Desert International Horse Park have proven that their partnership may just be stronger than ever, even nine years in. On Friday night of Desert Circuit 6, presented by IDA Development and Barnwalkers, the seasoned duo took top honors in the $10,000 C3RV Winner’s Circle Hunter Stake, capping off an excellent Hunter Week.
“I was so pleased with how Big Shot went under the lights,” Karazissis reflected of her evening with the 13-year-old Holsteiner gelding. “It’s been a long time since he has shown under the lights. He loves this [Grand Prix] ring, and I just wasn’t sure how he would be. When I entered the ring I did feel him perk up a little bit with the crowd and noise and all from the VIP. Once I picked up the canter and headed to [jump] one, I could feel that he was focused and going to try really hard for me.”
Big Shot’s efforts earned him a score of 90, but Karazissis went early in the class, so she had to wait to see if she would end up on top. All the horse-and-rider combinations punched a ticket to qualify for the class based on results of rated divisions throughout the week, so the true cream of the crop came forward to compete under the lights.
But with just a single classic round determining results, the score of 90 did the trick and Karazissis took home the top prize. Emily Esau Williams came very close toward the end with Star Quality, owned by Megan Camaisa, scoring 89, and taking second. Michael Dennehy and Hulla-Balou, owned by Dana Vollbracht, took third with a score of 86.
“I’m so pleased with this class; having it just be a stake class is very different,” Karazissis remarked on the format of the evening’s event. Kevin Hollowack set a stunning track for the hunters to show off. “It makes sense because we got to show out in the Grand Prix ring all week and to have a winner’s stake fits it very nicely. With just one round it was a very inviting course. I’m just so grateful to the Horse Park for offering all the classes and the money that they are to the hunters.”
Karazissis keeps her eye on all the special events for hunters, and she’s simply always a favorite to top those events.
“Desert Horse Park has come up with something special every week,” she shared. “I remember going over the prize list before we came here. Ten weeks is a lot and you try and say, ‘I’m not gonna do this week, I’m not gonna do that week,’ but it’s so hard to pick a week not to do! There is something every week that is fun, and lots of money. I so appreciate that.”
Big Shot, also known as “Dude”, has held a very special place in Karazissis’ barn and heart over the past nine years.
“I remember when we first got a call from Buffy and Rick Oas, saying, ‘I think I have a special horse for sale and I’d like you to try it and campaign it.’ Immediately my husband and I thought this was a special horse and I didn’t want him to be sold. I wanted to keep him. so I called upon one of my clients and [asked if they would] consider investing in this horse.”
A horse’s career is always unpredictable, but Karazissis and Dude have been fortunate to never part ways. “It’s just very unusual that a horse can have a career for nine years and still feel as good as he does,” she shared. “There are many horses out there that have a long career, but not always with the same rider. They could get sold or a lot could happen, but these owners have been incredibly loyal and it’s fun for them. We think of Dude as family.”
Despite the major hype and focus on the hunters during week six, the hunter action and highlights are very far from over for Desert Circuit. During week nine, the hunters will take to the USHJA International Hunter Derby back in the Grand Prix Arena, and the following week they’ll jump the $100,000 WCHR West Coast Hunter Spectacular under the lights of the Grand Prix Arena to close out Desert Circuit.
“I’m so glad because now he can have you know a week or two off not have to show,” Karazissis said regarding the outcome of the night and how it impacts the next few weeks of Dude’s schedule. “I hope to do the derby week nine and then the Spectacular, so this was perfect practice for that yet not taking it all out of him. We’ll definitely try and peak for that event; that’s lots of money.”
See full results from the $10,000 C3RV Winner’s Circle Hunter Stake here.
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