Cocq A Doodle zipped to the top prize in the $35,000 Don Little Memorial Stake with Andrew Ramsay up.

North Salem, N.Y.—Sept. 14

Cocq A Doodle may have a new favorite venue: Old Salem Farm. This spring he earned his first grand prix win with Andrew Ramsay at the historic venue, and today he whizzed around the same grass field to claim the $35,000 Don Little Memorial Stake, today’s feature class at the American Gold Cup CSI-W.

“Speed is just her natural gear,” said Ramsay, who calls Wellington, Fla., home. “She jumps well out of pace. If I start trying to hold, or ride to collect or ride to add, she’s not comfortable with that.”

American Gold Cup manager Michael Morrissey presented Andrew Ramsay the top prize in the $35,000 Don Little Memorial Stake. Photo by Mollie Bailey.

Fifth to go in the 68-horse class, Ramsay and the 10-year-old Dutch Warmblood mare (Tolan R—Ulen, Niagara) laid down a round no one could touch, with runner up Chuck Berry 8 and Abigail McArdle finishing more than a second slower, and Hardin Towell and New York claiming third.

Abigail McArdle and Chuck Berry 8 scored second in the Don Little Memorial Stake. Photo by Mollie Bailey.

Even in the grand prix classes Cocq A Doodle likes to go at the same velocity, and former rider Molly Ashe Cawley has helped Ramsey get used to her need for speed.

“Normally being 6 seconds, 8 seconds under the time allowed is not really what you shoot for, but that really is her; that’s how she goes,” said Ramsay. “She’s so good about backing up: She can come galloping into a combination and you’re never on top of B. She backs up and gets out of the way. Her natural gear is a gallop and that works out well in these big fields.”

Hardin Towell and New York finished third in the $35,000 Don Little Memorial Stake.

Check out loads more photos from today’s class and around the beautiful showgrounds.

Sunday’s feature class serves as the second East Coast qualifier in the Longines FEI North American League and the impressive start lists reflect the importance of that event. Top riders from across the Americas have flocked to North Salem, N.Y., for the chance to earn points toward the Longines FEI World Cup Jumping Final in Paris, with plenty of juniors and amateurs joining the fray for their own major classes, including both the ASPCA Maclay Region 1 and Region 2 Qualifiers, which take place on Sunday.

For more in-depth coverage of The American Gold Cup CSI-W, made sure to read the Oct. 9 issue of The Chronicle of the Horse magazine. 

Check out Longines Timing for results, course maps and orders of go.

Follow along all our coverage from this year’s competition, and make sure you’re following us on Facebook, Twitter and Instagram at @chronofhorse.