Press release from Traverse City Horse Shows, edited by World of Showjumping

The Traverse City Spring Series, presented by Turtle Creek Casino & Hotel, opened its 2026 season in winning fashion for Molly Ashe Cawley (USA), who captured both first and second place in the $62,500 CSI3* Welcome Stake at Flintfields Horse Park.

Cawley topped the leaderboard aboard Quimi Del Maset (Quasimodo Z x Indret Del Maset) before returning later in the jump-off to secure the runner-up position with E Liberty of Dalwhinnie Z (Eldorado vd Zeshoek Z x Tangelo vd Zuuthoeve). Olivia Sweetnam (USA) claimed third place aboard Epic (Billy Mexico x Electro). 

Competing during the opening week of the Traverse City Spring Series, Cawley stopped the jump-off timers in 46.97 seconds aboard Quimi Del Maset. She nearly bettered her own result with E Liberty of Dalwhinnie Z, finishing just behind in 47.77 seconds. Sweetnam and Epic completed the podium in third on a time of 49.61 seconds.

“I’ll beat myself every time if I can,” laughed Cawley after securing the top two placings. While Quimi Del Maset delivered the winning performance, Cawley was equally pleased with E Liberty of Dalwhinnie Z, a horse still gaining experience at the international level. “She’s doing only her second three-star,” said Cawley. “I was proud of both of them. Quimi has more experience, and I went early in a big jump-off, so I tried to lay it out as much as I possibly could and hope for the best. Liberty was nipping at his heels, which I was very proud of because she’s green to this level and dug in the whole way."

The victory marked Cawley’s first international win aboard Quimi Del Maset since taking over the ride at the conclusion of the 2025 winter circuit. The gelding previously competed successfully with Olympic gold medalist McLain Ward before joining Cawley’s string. “We’ve had some second and thirds with Quimi, but this was our first actual win since I got him at the end of Florida last year,” she explained. “It feels good.”

For Cawley, the result was also a rewarding start to the summer campaign. “It always helps,” she said of opening the season with a victory. “It boosts the morale with everybody—the horses, me, the guys in the barn. There’s so much work that goes on behind the scenes. It makes me very happy for the horses and the team behind me when this happens.”

International competition continues throughout the week at Flintfields Horse Park, culminating Saturday with the $116,500 Four G Surfaces CSI3* Grand Prix.