JAD DANA CONTINUES HIS SUMMER SERIES REIGN IN THE $150,000 HAMPTON GREEN FARMS GRAND PRIX CSI3*
The penultimate Saturday night Grand Prix of the 2026 Summer Series brought another packed house to the WEC Grand Arena as elite international combinations battled it out in the $150,000 Hampton Green Farms Grand Prix CSI3*. After a thrilling nine-horse jump-off that came down to the slimmest of margins, Jad Dana (LBN) once again proved untouchable, piloting The Itchy Group’s Itchcock des Dames (Marius Claudius x Calvaro F.C.) to victory by just one hundredth of a second.
FEI Level III course designer Catsy Cruz (USA) designed a technical 1.50m track that featured a tight time allowed and several delicate combinations that challenged even the world’s best.
Fresh off his Week VI double victory, Richard Spooner (USA) was the first to return aboard Belle Esprit. Spooner set an early target with a smooth clear round in 45.70 seconds.
Anna Christina Gansauer (ECU) followed with Loyalton, producing another fault-free effort but leaving the door open for the remaining contenders.
Dana was next down the ramp, already enjoying an extraordinary Summer Series that has now produced 10 FEI victories at WEC – Ocala, including the $250,000 MARS Equestrian Grand Prix CSI4* during Week V with the same mount.
“I went early, and I knew there were a few really fast riders coming after me,” Dana shared. “I got to watch Richard Spooner, who’s an incredibly fast rider. I tried to do what he did, but I have a really fast horse.”
With that mindset, Dana and Itchcock des Dames left nothing on the table, blazing through the jump-off in 43.07 seconds to claim another international Grand Prix victory.
Dana spoke highly of the talented 12-year-old Belgian Sport Horse gelding. “We love Itchy. He’s a super nice horse and an awesome addition to my string. He’s very competitive. He likes to sleep a lot in the barn and in the paddock, but once it’s time to show, he means business. He goes really fast, he tries very hard, and I’m very, very proud of him. Itchy changed my life.”
The victory continued an incredible streak for Dana, who reflected on what has become a remarkable summer. “It’s an unbelievable feeling. Honestly, it feels like a dream. It’s been an incredible summer. My group of horses has been giving me everything they have. To win every week and to win that many classes the last couple of weeks is an incredible feeling.”
Dana credited the team behind his success. “My coach and my boss, Leslie Howard, and her husband Peter, are really my family now. I wouldn’t be where I am today without them. Juju Holmes, Jose and Kelsey Fox Buesing are awesome workers. They want me to win as much as I do and the horses feel it.”
He also praised World Equestrian Center – Ocala. “This venue is, for sure, one of the best venues in the world. The rings are amazing, the stabling is incredible, and the people are great. From the office to the in-gate to the media team, we just love it here. Our team is very grateful to have World Equestrian Center so close to home.”
Dana’s winning time looked nearly untouchable until Tracy Fenney (USA) entered the ring. Riding Davenport Farm’s 13-year-old Hanoverian gelding, MTM Pablo (Perigueux x Contendro I), Fenney flew around the jump-off track, stopping the clock in 43.08 seconds, just one hundredth of a second shy of Dana’s winning time, to earn second place.
Fenney wasn’t finished there. She returned later in the jump-off aboard the nine-year-old KWPN mare MTM Myrbalia O (Davenport VDL x Cardento 933) to stop the clock in 43.88 seconds, completing an impressive second- and third-place finish.
Tanner Korotkin earned the $5,000 bonus as the highest-placed U25 rider after piloting Sandenal to eleventh place with a clear first round with just one time fault. Jacqueline Hill also received a $1,000 bonus as the groom of the winning horse.
--ENDS--
Photo by Andrew Ryback Photography
Full results here