Oct. 25, 2026
Julio Mendoza Loor and Jewel’s Goldstrike captured the Mexico City World Cup Grand Prix Freestyle Sunday with the highest score in three years for the American-based rider from Ecuador.
Julio and the 15-year-old Dutch-bred gelding were awarded 80.605% a day after victory in the Grand Prix and the highest score for the duo based in Columbus, North Carolina since their gold medal performance at the 2023 Pan American Games.
Ecuador is not in any of the established World Cup regions such as North America so Julio will have to wait until near the end of qualifying to find out whether he tops other combinations in a similar situation to be among the total of 18 riders from around the world invited to the Final in Gothenburg, Sweden next March. Julio competed Goldstrike in the 2024 Olympics and this year’s World Championships as well as the World Cup Final in Fort Worth, Texas last April.
Patrik Kittel of Sweden and the 14-year-old gelding Touchdown that won the World Cup title in 2024 scored 78.800% for runner-up, as the pair was in the Grand Prix. The points won in Mexico were enough to boost him near the top of the Western European League which so far has staged only one of 10 qualifiers this season.
Jennifer Williams, based in Wellington, Florida and the 12-year-old Dutch-bred gelding Joppe K was the highest placed of three North Americans in fourth on a score of 73.915%.
This was the first qualifying event this year for Jennifer and Joppe and gave the pair 20 points with seven more qualifiers in North America that gets to send three horse and rider combinations to the Final based on their three best results.
Kevin Kohmann also of Wellington on the American-bred Sonata MF was the third placed North American on 71.545%.
The 15 points earned in Mexico added to 20 for winning at Devon, Pennsylvania last month and enough to boost the rider and the mare to the top of the North American standings. Devon Kane, his wife, on Vamos is ranked second.
The next North American World Cup event is in Toronto Nov. 9-14.
Results:
| Rank | Competitor | Score | E | H | C | M | B |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1. |
Julio Mendoza Loor (ECU)
Jewel’s Goldstrike
|
80.605% | 81.950 | 80.350 | 80.550 | 80.200 | 79.975 |
| 2. |
Patrik Kittel (SWE)
Touchdown
|
78.800% | 79.200 | 79.075 | 79.450 | 77.700 | 78.575 |
| 3. |
Justina Vanagaite-Samuile (LTU)
Nabab
|
74.985% | 75.850 | 74.400 | 74.350 | 73.150 | 77.175 |
| 4. |
Jennifer Williams (USA)
Joppe K
|
73.915% | 74.975 | 72.625 | 73.225 | 73.250 | 75.500 |
| 5. |
Laine Ashker (USA)
Zeppelin
|
72.450% | 74.550 | 71.425 | 72.975 | 69.350 | 73.950 |
| 6. |
Kevin Kohmann (USA)
Sonata MF
|
71.545% | 68.825 | 71.500 | 71.175 | 72.475 | 73.750 |
| 7. |
Antonio Maldonado Marron (ESP)
Beryll 28
|
70.880% | 74.075 | 68.125 | 72.550 | 70.575 | 69.075 |
 Find details on Equestrian Hub |
