All Gold for the Girls – Hunter Holloway and Pepita Con Spita Top the $100,000 IDA Development Grand Prix
January 22, 2023 - Ocala, FL
Photo by Andrew Ryback Photography
Photo by Andrew Ryback Photography
Photo by Andrew Ryback Photography
Photo by Andrew Ryback Photography
Photo by Andrew Ryback Photography
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.
$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.”
$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