When Lauren Whitlock and her Thoroughbred, Kipling, won Galway Downs’ advanced division in March, the college junior was unaware of the Gold Cup Series. But by the time she sent her entries for The Event at Jackson Hole, she knew that she was a contender for the U.S. Eventing Association’s new award series for advanced and intermediate event riders.

Whitlock’s advanced win at The Event at Jackson Hole, August 27 - 29, boosted her Gold Cup points to 755 to win the series. Though the Californian was fifth in the standings prior to Jackson, she earned bonus points for winning the dressage phase and incurring no jumping faults. The 105 extra points were enough for Whitlock to surpass season-long series leader Phillip Dutton by 50 points.