Thermal, CA – February 8, 2025 – Hunter horses got a chance to shine under the lights in the Desert International Horse Park’s Grand Prix Arena on Saturday night, February 8, and none shone brighter than Star Quality. Emily Esau Williams rode the stallion to a score of 90 to take home the win in the $20,000 Winners Circle Hunter Stake, sponsored by Abbey Lane Farm.
The special class, held during Desert Circuit 5, presented by FOBI, was open to any horse and rider combination that had finished first or second at 3’6” or higher earlier in the World Championship Hunter Rider week.
Williams and Star Quality punched their ticket with top results in the High Performance Hunter division, and, after finishing second in the $20,000 Winners Circle Hunter Stake last year, Williams was determined to go for the win this year.
“I watched a lot of rounds and thought they were lovely, but I was like, ‘I need to do something to be better!’” said Williams. “So, I went with the big gallop, and [Star Quality] stepped right up and was there.”
With Williams and Star Quality taking the win over the Kevin Holowack-designed course, second place went to Dustin Goodwin and Reputation with a score of 89. Rounding out the top three with a score of 88 Morgan Thomas and Cafe Noir.
“I thought the course was beautiful, absolutely beautiful. This ring is the most fun to ride in,” said Williams. “I mean, normally this is Saturday Night Lights, big jumpers. Last week Kent Farrington’s winning out here, so it’s like, ‘Wow!’ It’s made it special for the hunters all week, being in here and then being under the lights tonight.”
The bright lights of the Grand Prix Arena certainly do not bother Star Quality; in fact, they seem to only cause him to further rise to the occasion.
“He’s a horse of a lifetime to be honest,” said Williams of the 12-year-old Belgian warmblood stallion, owned by McKee Sport Horses LLC, that she has been riding for three years. “He is the most fun, most true, best feeling horse. He’s a solid partner. I know him inside and out now, and I love riding him and getting to show in classes like this with him. Under the lights, he steps up. The big stage, he knows it counts. He always brings his a-game.”
For full results of the $20,000 Winners Circle Hunter Stake, click here.
