International show jumping returned to the iconic Grand Prix Grass Field at HITS Del Mar Horsepark in Del Mar, California, on Friday, August 22, 2025, with the $31,020 FarmVet CSI2* Winning Round. One of the featured events in an action-packed schedule featuring elite hunter, jumper, and equitation competition, the star-studded week also boasts a World Champion Hunter Rider (WCHR) designation, drawing top athletes to the premier West Coast venue. In the day’s marquee event, it was Mexican rider Arturo Parada Vallejo that reigned supreme with Castor, concluding two thrilling rounds of action in winning style.
Canadian FEI Level 3 course designer Meghan Rawlins set the track for the 22 horse-and-rider combinations set to challenge for the top prize. Per the winning round format, the top 10 from the first round, regardless of penalties, advanced to an all-deciding jump-off on a clean slate in reverse order of merit. As it turned out, nine duos posted a clear opening effort with Mark Watring (PUR) and his own Limbossini RC, a 14-year-old Holsteiner gelding (Guardus Limbus x San Patrignano Cassini), notching a single time fault to also make it to the short course.
In the jump-off, Watring got things started with a quick time of 44.26 seconds but at the expense of a fallen rail. He was followed by Ali Ramsay (CAN), who set the new standard with a fault-free performance in 45.54 seconds with her longtime partner Conrado 12, the 12-year-old Zangersheide gelding (VDL Cardento 933 x Diarado) owned by David Sport Horses Inc and Ramsay Equestrian Inc. As more poles hit the ground, Ramsay’s score looked hard to match until Parada Vallejo stormed the course with Castor. The pair left all the fences intact in an impressive 42.59 seconds to seal the deal for the win. Ramsay would finish in second, while Watring’s round held up for third.
“I really like this format because you have a lot of opportunity,” shared Parada Vallejo of the Winning Round class. “Depending on the situation, you can still get through to the jump-off even if you have a rail in the first round. It also forces you to move a little more quickly. That’s the hard part — making sure you are fast enough to be within the top 10. This course today was great. At the end there was a double of verticals, which was short, so that was a little difficult, but my horse jumped very well.
“I have been riding Castor for two months,” he continued of the 10-year-old Oldenburg gelding (Casallco x Chacco-Blue) owned by Durango Farms. “He’s a great horse and I’m still getting to know him, but step by step we are getting better together. He’s a horse with a lot of power, very careful. Really, he’s a horse that always wants to do the right thing. Okay, today we had a great result because we won, but he truly is a horse with a lot of quality and ability.”
With a win for Germany in Thursday’s $31,020 Alliant Private Client CSI2* Speed Cup and now a win for Mexico in the $31,020 FarmVet CSI2* Winning Round, the stage is set for Saturday’s grand finale, the $90,000 Maria Mendelsohn/Douglas Elliman CSI2* Grand Prix. National hunter, jumper, and equitation competition continues through Sunday, August 24. For complete results, please visit www.showmangementsystem.com.
