All Gold for the Girls – Hunter Holloway and Pepita Con Spita Top the $100,000 IDA Development Grand Prix

Hunter Holloway (USA) and Pepita Con Spita, owned by Hays Investment Corporation, dominated the $100,000 IDA Development Grand Prix on Saturday, January 21, 2023, during the third week of the Winter Spectacular Show Series at World Equestrian Center – Ocala in Ocala, FL. Anderson Lima (BRA) built a technical track for the international starting field of 30 competitors, and 16 navigated a fault-free round to qualify for the jump-off. Nine horse-and-rider combinations successfully produced a clear jump-off round, with eight of those riders being female athletes. In the end, Holloway and the 12-year-old Westphalian mare stopped the timers at 36.771 to secure the blue ribbon.

“A slow double clear wasn’t going to give you much tonight, so I knew I had to give it my all,” commented Holloway. “My first horse gave me a feel for the course, and I knew where I could save some time. ‘Pepita’ is even faster. She naturally just carries herself and covers more ground. I planned to go as fast as I could everywhere. She does it all and does it well. To the last oxer, I just kept kicking for all that I was worth.”

Second-place honors were awarded to Lauren Balcomb (AUS) and her own Verdini d’Houtveld Z with a time of 37.193 seconds. Jacqueline Ruyle (USA) and her own Cyramo Z claimed third place after stopping the clock at 37.307 seconds.

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$100,000 IDA Development Grand Prix Results:

1. Pepita Con Spita, Hunter Holloway (USA), Hays Investment Corp.: 0 | 0 | 36.771
2. Verdini D’Houtveld Z, Lauren Balcomb (AUS), Lauren Balcomb: 0 | 0 | 37.193
3. Cyramo Z, Jacqueline Ruyle (USA), Jacqueline Ruyle: 0 | 0 | 37.307
4. MTM Apple, Tracy Fenney (USA), MTM Farm: 0 | 0 | 37.386
5. Vick Du Croisy, Luis Sabino Goncalves (POR), Sigma Stables, LLC: 0 | 0 | 37.550
6. Brighton, Tiffany Foster (CAN), Artisan Farms, LLC: 0 | 0 | 37.731
7. Frasier, Samantha Schaefer (USA), Bonne Vie LLC: 0 | 0 | 38.107
8. MTM Hachi, Tracy Fenney (USA), MTM Farm: 0 | 0 | 39.073
9. James Bond HX, Samantha Schaefer (USA), Bonne Chance LLC: 0 | 0 | 40.923
10. Nono VD Withoeve, Santiago Lambre (BRA), All In Horses & Jan De Waard: 0 | 4 | 39.479

Jelmer Hoekstra and Harold Prove Uncatchable in the $15,000 Buckeye Nutrition Futures Prix at WEC – Ocala

Jelmer Hoekstra (DEN) and Harold, owned by Eyckenhoeve Sales LLC, topped the podium in the $15,000 Buckeye Nutrition Futures Prix on Saturday, January 21, 2023. The class had 28 horse-and-rider combinations tackle the first course designed by Anderson Lima (BRA) in the WEC Grand Arena. There were 14 combinations that managed a clear first round to advance to the jump-off. Hoekstra and the 11-year-old Dutch Warmblood mare produced a second fault-free effort with a quick time of 34.782 seconds to claim the top prize.

“Harold just arrived after Christmas,” explained Hoekstra. “He is owned by Niels Haesen and Andrew Vaziri. He’s such a fighter and a naturally fast horse. He won the 1.20m and then the 1.30m. I showed him once in a 1.35m. Now he’s just won this class. He’s a true athlete and such a nice horse. Throughout the entire ride today he felt safe, confident and so strong. I am very thankful to be able to ride him.” 

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$15,000 Buckeye Nutrition Futures Prix Results:

1. Harold, Jelmer Hoekstra, Eyckenhoeve Sales LLC: 0 | 0 | 34.782
2. Quentin VA, William Simpson, Two Socks Farm LLC: 0 | 0 | 35.547
3. Eton, Jared Petersen, Mary Meghann Huitt: 0 | 0 | 35.641
4. K-One PGO, Jelmer Hoekstra, Jelmer Hoekstra: 0 | 0 | 35.664
5. Ambre De La Cense, Hunter Holloway, Hays Investment Corp.: 0 | 0 | 36.230
6. Karlotta CL, Manuel Torres, Alejandra Ortiz Orozco: 0 | 0 | 36.693
7. Cezarro, Bryn Sadler, Showcase 81, LLC: 0 | 0 | 37.390
8. Geronimo SCF, Harold Chopping, Diane Halpin: 0 | 0 | 37.605
9. Gin Tonic 158, Sam Pegg, Sam Pegg: 0 | 0 | 37.733
10. Rubens D’Ysieux, Sara Kozumplik, Rubens D’Ysieux Syndicate, LLC: 0 | 0 | 41.510