Two-time FEI World Cup™ Finalist Hunter Holloway (USA) opened five-star competition during the American Gold Cup at Traverse City Horse Shows (TCHS) on Thursday with a win aboard Pepita Con Spita in the $32,000 CSI5* Speed. After a nearly two-year injury recovery, the mare is back and winning at the top level.
Pepita Con Spita, a 14-year-old Westphalian mare owned by Hays Investment Corp., was Holloway’s mount for the 2022 FEI World Cup™ Final in Leipzig and carried her to third overall in the 2023 edition in Omaha, NE. Two months later, the mare was sidelined by a check ligament injury and has been absent from FEI competition until this summer.
“It feels a little bit like cheating when I get to go in these classes with her because she’s the best,” said Holloway of how her mare after tackling the one-round speed test designed by Alan Wade (IRL). “It’s exciting to have her back in the ring. You can’t really get a horse competition fit without doing it, so I’m easing her back in and we’ll do more as she tells us she’s ready for it.”
Pepita Con Spita (DSP Con Spirit X Oro Piana Come On) returned to the international ranks at the end of the Great Lakes Equestrian Festival, presented by B&D Builders. She won a two-star grand prix win for Holloway during GLEF before jumping to a three-star win during opening week of the fall series at TCHS just two weeks ago.
Holloway spends most of her spring, summer and fall seasons at Flintfields Horse Park in Traverse City, saying, “We’ve been here all circuit getting her back in the groove, and now to have her peaking at the end is great.
“We love it here,” continued Holloway. “The management is great. The facility and weather are fantastic. I don’t have enough good things to say about it.”
Irish Olympian Daniel Coyle rode Ariel Grange’s Incredible — his mount from the 2025 FEI World Cup™ Final — to second in a time of 64.18 seconds. The current world no. 11 held the lead for the majority of class before Holloway bumped him by two hundredths of a second (64.16). Charlotte Jacobs (USA) and Thomascourt Ballypatrick finished third in 64.21 seconds for owner North Star. (Canada’s Erynn Ballard rode three in this class; her best result was 8th place with Her Ball Game BG.)
As five-star competition continues to build throughout the week, all roads lead to the iconic American Gold cup on Sunday, kicking off at 2pm ET.
Results here.
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