WILLIAMSBURG — Among a competitive field of international athletes, American Spencer Smith found his stride with Keeneland in the $116,500 Turtle Creek Casino & Hotel CSI4* Grand Prix on Saturday during the second week of the Traverse City Spring Series.
The entire jump-off field left all the rails in place, turning the class into a race against the clock.
“I have such a good horse here with Keeneland,” Smith remarked of the 13-year-old Zangersheide gelding (Carmena Z x Quattro 7). “I’m working on jump-off turns with him and getting better every round. He’s jumped a lot of Nations Cups and double clears but we haven’t gone so fast so we’re building on that every year.”
With five other extremely fast pairs to face over Meghan Rawlins’ short course, Smith tried not to compare his plan to others’ and trusted the partnership he’s built with Keeneland. With a few still to come after his round, he was able to retain his lead as the class came to a close.
“I was trying to ride my plan as best I could,” he explained. “I’m trying to push a little more to go faster because to beat these super fast riders you need to or else you’re always in the middle of the pack.”
Just behind Smith in second place was Charlise Casas (USA) aboard Kanny-Fee. Only four one-hundredths of a second behind her, Molly Ashe Cawley (USA) rounded out the all-American podium with Lorona.