Joie Gatlin and Cadiz Cruise to Victory in $20,000 Winners Circle Hunter Stake, Presented by Frank & Eileen

Thermal, Calif. – At just 7 years old, Cadiz bested a field of 22 of Desert International Horse Park’s top hunters to win the $20,000 Winners Circle Hunter Stake, presented by Frank & Eileen. Joie Gatlin piloted the Westphalian gelding to a score of 92 to take home the victory in the class held on February 7, at Desert Circuit 5.

Before contesting the Saturday night featured event, all horse and rider combinations had to first qualify by finishing either first or second in any rated hunter class at 3’6” or above during the week’s World Championship Hunter Rider competition. Those qualified entries were then invited to take on Saturday night’s one-round course, set under the lights of the Grand Prix Stadium and designed by Kevin Holowack.

After qualifying as the champion of the 3’6” Green Hunters, Cadiz continued to rise to the occasion.

“I think he’s reincarnated; I think he’s done this before in another lifetime because he’s just always been so straightforward!” said Gatlin of Cadiz, who has been in her program since he was 5 years old. “I didn’t have to teach him to do lead changes. I didn’t have to teach him to throw those amazing jumps that he throws. I just have to keep him fit and keep him happy. Not overdoing it is the key with him because he can be like a child and when he’s tired; he gets very grumpy.”

Gatlin continued, “He has been one of the most rewarding young horses to develop. I’m just so grateful for his owner, Cathy Morris-Schmitt. She’s a longtime horsewoman and an extremely accomplished, great rider herself. Her husband, Gary Schmitt, always supports us with cheering from home, and they were all here tonight, which made it even more special!”

With Gatlin and Cadiz taking the win, second place went to the veteran partnership of Michael Dennehy and Hulla-Balou. Dennehy rode the 16-year-old Westphalian gelding, owned by Dana Vollbracht, to a score of 90. Finishing in a close third place on a score of 89.5 were Halie Robinson and Simba de Vinck, owned by Big Picture LLC.

While other young horses may have faltered under the lights and the added atmosphere of the Saturday night class, Cadiz did not bat an eye – in part because Gatlin ensured that the gelding was well prepared.

“I rode him last night when the Under Saddle Championship was going on,” explained Gatlin. “I exposed him to a bunch of horses in the warmup. I exposed him to walking up to the gate and watching. I kept him here through the whole class and hacked him around so he could hear the applause and all the noise and feel the energy a little bit because it was his first time. I didn’t know what he might do, but I think it paid dividends because he was cool as a cucumber. He was super relaxed when he came up here. He just walked in there and he did his thing!”

For full results of the $20,000 Winners Circle Hunter Stake, presented by Frank & Eileen, click here.

With 10 weeks of top-caliber competition, Desert Circuit at Desert International Horse Park continues through March 15, 2026. To learn more and to view a complete schedule of events, visit deserthorsepark.com.