The Del Mar Summer Festival II, on August 6-10, showcased top-tier talent at HITS Del Mar Horsepark in Del Mar, California. The week is one of several action-packed installations in the 2025 HITS Del Mar Show Series, which includes the Adequan/USEF Junior Hunter National Championship – West, two World Champion Hunter Rider (WCHR) weeks, and will also feature two FEI CSI2* weeks. Gathered around the premier ebb-and-flow arena, exhibitors and spectators were treated to a world-class showdown during the marquee event of the week, the $80,000 Great American Insurance Group Grand Prix. Ultimately, it was Mexican athlete Arturo Parada Vallejo and Jaguar Fighter Go that emerged victorious.
Bringing an impressive roster of five horses to contest the first-round track designed by Peter Grant (CAN), Parada Vallejo managed to advance three of his entries to the short course after posting clear efforts. He was joined by four others who also produced fault-free performances, setting the stage for a race to the top spot. As riders galloped across the ground risking for reward, fast times came at the expense of fallen rails. That was the case until Parada Vallejo and Jaguar Fighter Go exhibited catlike agility, stopping the clock clear in 38.704 seconds. As the remaining contenders tried to catch the time, they too fell victim to jumping faults. In the end, Parada Vallejo claimed the blue ribbon with the only double-clear score.
“It was a really good course, so well done by the course designer,” noted Parada Vallejo. “I thought it was a well balanced. There were definitely some tricks there, but Jaguar Fighter Go handled them pretty nicely.”
While Jaguar Fighter Go is the newest member of Parada Vallejo’s string, his 11-year-old KWPN gelding is already making quite the impact. Most recently, the talented bay was campaigned in Europe by Dutch Olympian Jur Vrieling before making his way stateside. Now with a win in the $80,000 Great American Insurance Group Grand Prix, Parada Vallejo has his sights set on even more success in the coming weeks.
“It’s a brand-new horse,” explained Parada Vallejo. “We just got him three weeks ago, so I have been understanding him better as he goes and as we get to know each other more. HITS Del Mar is a horse show that I really enjoy, and I enjoy it even more when I win, of course. I’m excited to come back here for the last two weeks of the season for the FEI competition too.”
U.S. Olympic team silver medalist Karl Cook finished in the runner-up spot with Foxy de la Roque, the 10-year-old Selle Français mare (Armitages Boy x Kannan) owned by Sign Ostby, who impressively won the 2024 Longines Global Champions Tour Super Grand Prix with Victor Bettendorf (LUX) in the irons. The pair achieved the fastest time of 36.559 seconds, but a costly rail gave them second place. After winning the Del Mar Summer Festival I $80,000 Go Rentals Grand Prix, Melody Liu and Napoleon van den Dale, the 12-year-old Belgian Warmblood gelding (For Passion D’ive Z x Eros Platiere) owned by Corsari Equestrian LLC, claimed third this time around, finishing with four faults in the jump-off and a time of 39.126 seconds.
With two more weeks of the 2025 HITS Del Mar Show Series remaining, the excitement is only building, as the HITS Del Mar Horsepark gets set to welcome star athletes for both WCHR and FEI CSI2* competition, beginning on Wednesday, August 20. For complete results, please click HERE.
