North Salem, NY – September 12, 2025 – Competition at the 2025 Old Salem Farm September Horse Shows presented by J.P. Morgan Private Bank continued to heat up on Friday as many speed specialists took to the International Arena, aiming for the top of the leaderboard in the $37,000 FEI 4* Speed Stake. None proved faster than Mia Bagnato (USA), who galloped to the only time under 60 seconds with Florida N and brought home the victory in a blistering 57.99 seconds.

With the beautiful backdrop of Westchester County’s surrounding horse country, the Old Salem Farm September Horse Shows presented by J.P. Morgan Private Bank feature two weeks of world-class competition on par with what everyone has come to expect from Old Salem Farm. The 2025 Shows host an FEI CSI4*/2* event, September 9-14, and an FEI CSI2* event, September 16-21, with both weeks rated USEF ‘National’ for hunters. Additionally, Old Salem’s September schedule includes the ASPCA Maclay Region II Championship on Saturday, September 13, and a USEF National/Level 2 event, September 24-28.

Mia Bagnato (USA) and Florida N won the $37,000 FEI 4* Speed Stake © SEL Photography 

Course designer Alan Wade set a 14-effort track at 1.45m for the 15 entries representing six countries in Friday’s $37,000 4* Speed Stake, where Bagnato and her 12-year-old Holsteiner mare were nearly four seconds faster than their fellow competitors, stopping the clock in 57.99 seconds.

“She’s very naturally quick, and she always wants to be competitive and win,” Bagnato said. “She was on her A-game today, and so was I. Sometimes if we go around and catch a rail, it’s because I mess up, but I was really proud of both of us today. Going into some of those rollbacks, I thought she was being kind to me to even leave the ground. It probably would’ve been easier for her to just keep cantering past those fences, but she was in it to win it. I couldn’t be happier.” 

Bagnato and Florida N © SEL Photography

Joining Bagnato on the all-American podium were Chloe Reid and Jonathan McCrea in second and third, respectively. Reid posted a 61.78-second time aboard Chelsea 179, Live Oak Plantation’s 10-year-old Oldenburg mare. McCrea tripped the timers in 62.02 seconds with Jannan S, Windsor Show Stables’ 11-year-old Dutch Warmblood gelding.

L: Chloe Reid (USA) and Chelsea 179 took second place. R: Jonathan McCrea (USA) and Jannan S finished third. © SEL Photography

Then Wade and his team built a 16-effort, 1.45m track for the $32,000 FEI 2* Welcome Stake, which saw 55 entries representing 11 nations vying for top honors. Of the 10 horse-and-rider combinations who made it to the jump-off, five went double-clear, including Ireland’s Philip McGuane. He and Evergate Stables LLC’s 8-year-old Zangersheide mare Crislin Van Den Bosrand Z clinched the win in 34.04 seconds. 

Philip McGuane (IRL) and Crislin Van Den Bosrand Z won the $32,000 FEI 2* Welcome Stake © SEL Photography

“It’s always nice to win here at Old Salem,” McGuane said. “I saw Caroline (Mawhinney) go, and she for sure did a few extra strides than me, but she was on a really quick horse. I actually didn’t think I was going to catch her. Knowing there were still a few fast ones coming after me, I was just hoping for a top three, to be honest. I tried to be really neat on my turns and take advantage of my horse’s bigger stride. She’s very careful and jumped great today, and I couldn’t be happier with her.

“Sunday will be my first 2* grand prix with this mare, so I hope we can keep this momentum going,” he added with a smile.

Brazil’s Rodrigo Pessoa finished in second place with Eclat Du Cerisier, Artemis Equestrian Farm LLC’s 11-year-old Selle Français stallion (0/0/34.25). Third went to Caroline Mawhinney (USA) and her 12-year-old Zangersheide gelding Carsey Z (0/0/35.15).