International show jumping during the HITS Del Mar Summer Classic at the HITS Del Mar Horsepark in Del Mar, California, continued on Friday, August 29, with the $31,020 CSI2* Winning Round. The action-packed schedule marks the second consecutive week of FEI CSI2* competition and the final week of the 2025 HITS Del Mar Show Series, which has showcased top hunter, jumper, and equitation classes all season long. Friday’s highlight event saw a talented field of athletes take to the iconic Grand Prix Grass Field, but it was Canada’s Ali Ramsay and her longtime partner Bonita vh Keizershof Z that claimed the victory.
The increasingly popular winning round format invites the top 10 horse-and-rider combinations to return for the jump-off on a clean slate, regardless of penalties incurred in the first round. Riders then contest the short course in reverse order of merit based on their initial performance. Marina Azevedo (BRA) had the task of setting the track to challenge the star-studded field of contenders, and just five pairings managed to navigate her test fault-free. Two of those entries belonged to Ramsay.
“I thought she built it tricky enough,” said Ramsay of Azevedo’s design. “A couple of the lines were more difficult, and I ended up doing different strides with both my horses. It was really horse-specific on how you wanted to tackle this course. I felt like it was a good one, a good track. Of course for the jump-off, my plan walking into the ring was to go as fast as I could!”
Ramsay certainly put the pedal to the metal across the short course, achieving a double-clear effort with both of her mounts, but it was Bonita vh Keizershof Z that stole the show, stopping the clock in 46.07 seconds for the win. The $31,020 CSI2* Winning Round is just the latest in a long list of accomplishments Ramsay and the 14-year-old Zangersheide mare (Bustique x For Pleasure) owned by Ramsay Equestrian Inc. have shared in their eight years together.
“She’s kind of my forever partner,” expressed Ramsay of her star mare. “She’s been amazing for me; our whole career together has been amazing, really. She was actually out with an injury the majority of last summer and this winter, so she’s been on the comeback. It has been a process getting her back to where she is feeling her best, so it’s nice to finally start to get some results and feel like we are getting back to where we belong.”
Typically based in Ontario, Canada, Ramsay made the move to base in California for the season. Now, she is ending her summer tour on a high note and right back where she started.
“The HITS Del Mar National Horse Show was my first show in California this year starting in April,” she explained. “From then until now, this is still my favorite show that I’ve done all summer on the West Coast. It was really nice to come back here. This field is really fun and it’s a great location, a great atmosphere, and I just really enjoy being here. I look forward to taking both my horses in the Grand Prix tomorrow.”
Ramsay’s second ride, Conrado 12, the 12-year-old Zangersheide gelding (VDL Cardento 933 x Diarado) owned by David Sport Horses Inc and Ramsay Equestrian Inc, also finished double-clear in a time of 50.30 seconds for third place. Elisa Broz slotted into second in a time of 46.20 seconds with Knass B, a 10-year-old KWPN gelding (Toulon x Landor S) owned by Hidalgo LLC.
International show jumping competition reaches an exciting conclusion on Saturday, August 30, with the $90,000 CSI2* Grand Prix of Del Mar, while national hunter, jumper, and equitation classes take place through Sunday, August 31. For complete results, please visit www.showmanagementsystem.com
