Marek Takes Aim at Series Lead in Ocala Showdown

Anna Marek is poised to take over the top spot in the North American League standings. Sitting at 54 points, she needs only a ninth-place finish in this nine-horse field to secure the lead—an outcome that seems almost inevitable given her consistency this season.

Marek on a Mission

For Marek, this weekend isn’t just about climbing the standings. Last week, after missing out on the final FEI World Cup spot, she set her sights on a new goal: qualifying for the US Open. And she’s bringing serious firepower to Ocala to make that happen.

She’ll be aboard Fayvel, a horse that already boasts one of the top scores in Open qualification (78.995%). Marek herself holds three of the ten best Open scores this season—two with Fire Fly and one with Fayvel. If she and Fayvel can deliver a breakout performance this week, they could set a new series-best mark. To do that, they’ll need to surpass 80.325%, which would also be a personal best for the pair.

Their partnership has been years in the making. Fayvel's owner, Cynthia Davila, originally planned to compete him herself and brought him to Marek for help with the upper-level movements. The pair made their Grand Prix debut in 2021, but a few years later, an accident sidelined Davila from riding. That twist of fate led to a pivotal conversation—one that would change Fayvel’s career.

Over lunch, Davila turned to Anne Gribbons, Marek’s coach, with a direct question: How good did she really think Fayvel was? And should Marek be the one to show him? Gribbons didn’t hesitate. Soon after, she and Davila approached Marek with their answer: she should take the ride. The transition wasn’t immediate—Marek had to adjust to riding a horse she had originally prepared for someone else—but she stepped into the partnership fully, entering Fayvel in a few CDIs to test the waters.

“He’s not as sensitive as Fire Fly, so I can ride him a little more boldly,” Marek said. She is able to let go of all hesitation, taking every risk available. Fayvel’s response? A willing and confident, "Yeah, sure! Whatever you want."

The Challenge: Mendoza Loor and Jewel’s Goldstrike

Marek and Julio Mendoza Loor met in 2023 at the Pan American Games, where they both stood on the podium. Marek, aboard Fire Fly, won individual bronze and team gold for the U.S., while Mendoza Loor and Jewel’s Goldstrike claimed individual gold for Ecuador. Now, their rivalry continues in Ocala, where Mendoza Loor enters as one of the biggest threats to Marek’s bid for victory.

The two have already gone head-to-head this week in the Grand Prix, the required qualifier for the Freestyle. Marek took the win with 70.522%, while Mendoza Loor finished second on 69.587%. The Grand Prix has historically been a lower-scoring event than the Freestyle, and it remains unclear how well results from one translate to the other. But if this first matchup is any indication, the battle in the Freestyle could be even closer than expected.

The Ecuadorian combination has a personal best of 84.230%—a number that eclipses the rest of the field. Over 12 performances, they’ve averaged 77.823%, a level of consistency that makes them the clear favorites. 

Denielle Gallagher and Come Back De Massa, winners of the last Ocala event, are back in the lineup, but a repeat victory seems unlikely against the likes of Marek and Mendoza Loor. Gallagher’s best score with Come Back De Massa sits at 72.94%, well below the leading contenders.

While the depth of the field isn’t as strong as previous qualifiers, the battle for top honors is a compelling one. Can Marek secure her series lead in style, or will Mendoza Loor prove unbeatable? And with Open qualification on the line, could we see another step forward for Fayvel? Tune in to the USEF Network on Friday to watch the Grand Prix Freestyle unfold live.

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