Traverse City, United States – June 18, 2026 – Kelli Cruciotti Vanderveen (USA) believes any win in Traverse City is special, but Thursday’s $31,100 Welcome Stake CSI 3* during the third week of the Traverse City Spring Series, presented by Turtle Creek Casino & Hotel, meant even more. She not only topped a 20-horse jump-off but did so aboard a horse she wasn’t sure would ever compete at the international level again.

Aboard Mochito V/D Mishagen, Cruciotti VanderVeen knew she had a tough task ahead of her coming back to contest Andy Christiansen’s (ECU) short track, but she believed in the 14-year-old Belgian Warmblood gelding, owned by Serenity Farm, she was partnered with for the occasion. 

The pair gave it everything they had, edging Alison Robitaille (USA) and Claire de Lune for the win. Charlotte Jacobs (USA) completed the all-American—and all-female—podium aboard Cristiano Obolensky.

“He’s not your sportscar type horse — he’s more your semi truck — so I had a thought that I knew it was going to be fast,” she said of Mochito V/D Mishagen. “Allison’s horse is very naturally quick. I got to go on my first horse earlier so I had a plan in my head. That went out the window and I thought I had to do everything I could to try to catch it. Thankfully it worked out.”

What it came down to on Thursday was trust.

“I put a lot of trust in him,” she shared about her attempt at winning the class. “I knew he’d throw his heart first over the jump and his body would follow. I kept trying to ask more of him and he kept answering, so he never showed that he couldn’t. I kept asking for a little bit more.”

Cruciotti VanderVeen recognizes the gift she’s been given in having Mochito V/D Mishagen back in her string.

“He’s a very special horse for us,” she said of their partnership. “We’ve had him for about four years but he came back from an injury that we weren’t sure he was going to come back from. This win is not just special from a sports career perspective but also from an emotional perspective. There are a lot of people who made this possible, not just me riding.”

The injury that kept Mochito out of competition was enough to sideline him for 16 months, and Cruciotti VanderVeen credits her team for determination and believing there was a positive outcome on the other side.

“It was not a great prognosis to start but there were a lot of people who never took no for an answer. Grooms, farriers, our vet, my whole team, they never gave up on him,” she remarked.

The venue added to the prestige of Cruciotti VanderVeen’s win, especially given the size of the class and caliber of rider here for the Traverse City Spring Series.

“It’s really special,” she concluded about her victory. “Any win here in Traverse City is a huge win. It was a big field today, a 20-horse jump-off. It’s the most popular horse show for the summer in America now. You have all the top riders here and amazing weather, footing is perfect, so you have so many people base here. It’s the best of the best here.”

The Traverse City Spring Series, presented by Turtle Creek Casino & Hotel, continues Friday with the $31,100 Speed Classic CSI 3*, followed by hunter derby action in the Highstreet Arena featuring the $10,000 USHJA National Hunter Derby and $10,000 USHJA Junior/Amateur National Hunter Derby.

Fans and competitors can view full schedules, results, and live updates through the Traverse City Horse Shows Mobile App.

Final Results – $31,100 Welcome Stake CSI 3*

1) Kelli Cruciotti Vanderveen (USA) & Mochito V/D Mishagen – 0 / 0 – 35.31

2) Alison Robitaille (USA) & Claire de Lune – 0 / 0 – 35.99

3) Charlotte Jacobs (USA) & Cristiano Obolensky – 0 / 0 – 36.79

Source: Press Release from Traverse City Horse Shows

Photos: © TCHS / Natalie Suto Photography / Megan Giese Media

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