OCALA, Florida, Mar. 7, 2025–Julio Mendoza Loor and Jewel’s Goldstrike overcame the wrong music causing him to restart the Grand Prix Freestyle and narrowly claim victory in the World Equestrian Center CDI4* Friday night.
In the first event since the pair’s Paris Olympic performance as the first by a dressage rider from Ecuador, Julio and the 14-year-old KWPN gelding were awarded 75.860% for the win. Julio, based in Columbus, North Carolina, won gold at the 2023 Pan American Games.
Anna Marek of the Ocala area community of Dunnellon, was unable to repeat her win a day earlier in the Grand Prix and was runner-up on 75.820%.
Anna last week just missed out to qualify for one of three places for North America at the World Cup Final next month. She rode Fayvel at the 2024 World Cup championship.
Denielle Gallagher, who rides for Canada but is based in the Ocala area, placed third on Come Back de Massa, the 13-year-old Lusitano gelding, for a score of 69.345%.
Results:
| Rank | Competitor | Score | E | H | C | M | B |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1. |
Julio Mendoza Loor (ECU)
Jewel’s Goldstrike
|
75.860% | 76.725 | 75.625 | 74.625 | 76.125 | 76.200 |
| 2. |
Anna Marek (USA)
Fayvel
|
75.820% | 78.250 | 75.050 | 78.175 | 74.750 | 72.875 |
| 3. |
Denielle Gallagher (CAN)
Come Back de Massa
|
69.345% | 72.200 | 71.275 | 68.125 | 66.250 | 68.875 |
| 4. |
Alexandra Dominguez Thomas (GUA)
Etanga
|
67.020% | 67.500 | 63.875 | 68.675 | 65.625 | 69.425 |
| 5. |
Eline Eckroth (USA)
Daphne
|
66.450% | 69.375 | 65.250 | 68.050 | 62.875 | 66.700 |
| 6. |
Anna Merritt (USA)
Fox Creek’s Censational
|
66.430% | 67.775 | 65.000 | 69.425 | 63.125 | 66.825 |
 Find details on Equestrian Hub |
