TRAVERSE CITY, Mich.--Spencer Smith on Keeneland won the 116,000 CSI4* Grand Prix on Saturday, June 13 during the second week of the Traverse City Spring Series.

Spencer Smith on Keeneland (Photo by Natalie Suto)All six in the jump-off went clean, turning the class into a race against the clock.

“I have such a good horse here with Keeneland,” Smith said. “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 horses to face over Meghan Rawlins’ 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.

Smith finished in 48.47 to win over Charlise Casas on Kanny-Fee, who finished in 49.30, and Molly Ashe Cawley on Lorona, who stopped the clock in 49.34.

 

“I WAS trying to ride my plan as best I could,” he said. “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.”

“I think every day is pressure,” he said about riding a horse of Keeneland’s caliber. “With these good horses it’s such a nice opportunity to ride them, so I have to make the most of it every time.”

“It’s such a great show,” he said of Traverse City shows. “This is a great place to be in the summer. It’s beautiful. Amazing ground, amazing footing, great jumps, great management, nothing is better.”