Last to go, and the only one with a double clear. Margie Engle returned to the international winner’s circle at the perfect moment.
Margie Engle (USA) claimed the $62,500 CSI3* Welcome Stake at the Great Lakes Equestrian Festival Week VI in Traverse City, Michigan, designed by Nick Granat, with 39 combinations on course, only 5 with a clear first round, and Engle the sole double-clear performer in the jump-off. “Jack’s been great. This is only his fourth class since I got here and he really put everything into it today. I was fortunate enough for the position I went in to know I just had to try and go clear. It worked out to be a great day.”
Jackofhearts is a 14-year-old DWB gelding (Heartbeat x Baloubet du Rouet), owned by Engle herself, a long-standing partnership that overcame a delayed start to the season following her recovery from injury. “I know he’s a real trier and he got the leave-out done the first line really easily. He feels like he’s having a good time. He seems to enjoy his job.”
Chris Ewanouski (USA) finished second with Condor du Valdecie, a 14-year-old bay SF gelding (Quite Easy x Quito de Baussy), with 4 faults in 38.66 seconds, the fastest jump-off time. Erynn Ballard (CAN), No. 6 in the Tu Mundo Ecuestre Pan American Show Jumping Ranking, completed the podium with Ashley de Talm, an 11-year-old grey Holsteiner mare (Adagio de Talma x Hermes d’Authieux), with 4 faults in 39.63 seconds.
Zazou Hoffman (USA) finished fourth with Bloom du Plessis, a 15-year-old bay SF mare (Orient Express x Rosire), with 4 faults in 40.15 seconds. Jake Ward (GBR) rounded out the Top 5 with Dori 66, an 11-year-old bay Rheinländer mare (Darshan x For Pleasure), with 4 faults in 40.94 seconds.
Latin & Pan American Presence
An all-Pan American Top 4: Margie Engle, Chris Ewanouski and Zazou Hoffman for the United States and Erynn Ballard for Canada. Tanimara Macari (MEX) eighteenth with 5 faults in the first round, Nicolás Gamboa (COL) twenty-fifth with 8 faults and Maya Denis (MEX) thirty-fifth with 16 faults.
Top 5 Results — $62,500 CSI3* Welcome Stake | Great Lakes Equestrian Festival Week VI — Traverse City 2026
| Pos. | Athlete | Horse | R1 | Jump-Off |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Margie Engle (USA) 🇺🇸 | Jackofhearts | 0 | 0 / 43.59 |
| 2 | Chris Ewanouski (USA) 🇺🇸 | Condor du Valdecie | 0 | 4 / 38.66 |
| 3 | Erynn Ballard (CAN) 🇨🇦 | Ashley de Talm | 0 | 4 / 39.63 |
| 4 | Zazou Hoffman (USA) 🇺🇸 | Bloom du Plessis | 0 | 4 / 40.15 |
| 5 | Jake Ward (GBR) 🇬🇧 | Dori 66 | 0 | 4 / 40.94 |
