ARCADIA, Calif--McLain Ward on High Star Hero won the $400,000 the Longines FEI Jumping World Cup Los Angeles on Saturday evening, Nov. 22 at Santa Anita Park.
McLain Ward on High Star Hero (Photo by Shannon Brinkman)Ward won in a thrilling seven horse jump-off to secure his biggest victory yet on High Star Hero.
Richie Vogel on the 9-year-old Gangster Montdesir went first in the jump-off, and, despite its being the young horse's first time in a World Cup, set a very fast time to beat of 34.39.
Vogel's time was seen to be fast indeed when Laura Kraut on Bisquetta, who has won plenty of speed duels, finished two seconds slower in 36.02.
It wasn't until Ward, second to last in the ring, that his time was challenged, but Ward left out a stride between the first two fences and turned back particularly quickly to the vertical three fences from home to finish in 33.99 for the win.
Nina Mallevaey of France on Dynastie de Beaufor, last to go, couldn't catch those two but finished in 34.73 to place third, with Kraut fourth in 36.02.
Aaron Vale on Carissimo 25 was fifth with four faults in 34.54, Kent Farrington on Toulayna was sixth, with four faults in 34.72, and Kyle Timm of Canada on Casino Calvin, who retired after a stop, finished seventh to complete the jump-off, while Katie Dinan on Out of the Blue with one time fault finished eighth.
TWO EXAMPLES of friendship and sportsmanship between riders stood out in the World Cup.
Richie Vogel on Gangster Montdesir (Photo by Shannon Brinkman)Despite his intense desire to win, Ward took time to help school Stella Wasserman on Precious Dwerse Hagen and watched from the "kiss and cry" stand, visibly disappointed as she had a rail down to eventually finish 16th.
Then Vogel also went to the "kiss and cry" to watch Ward's round and laughed and punched Lee McKeever, Ward's long time barn manager,, when Ward beat his time.
With seven of the top riders in the world fighting it out in the jump-off and great sportsmanship from a two class act riders, this was sport at its best.
Vogel, who has spent the last two seasons commuting between Europe and North America, has established a stateside base with Ward, and the two athletes have come to fuel one another.
"I would not even call it a trainer or student situation; I would call it a very tight friendship. He's sure a great mentor of mine and he's taught me a lot of things," Vogel said. "It was great sport tonight, and I'm happy for him. Unfortunately, I was too slow, and next time I'll try to swap it up."
"My horse has a bigger stride, so I was able to get the eight strides, but the eight was fast," Ward said. "The third jump showed up a little wild, but the horse gave a great effort. I think I got the gold vertical across the middle great on the first stride, and he shifted right, which allowed me to keep coming to the eight-strided line last line."
Ward has ridden High Star Hero since last summer, and the horse has required patience with his sensitivity.
Ward compared the gelding to one of his championship horses, Rothchild.
"Hero is a very talented horse—very careful, very sensitive," Ward said. "I remember back to the days of Rothchild. I said, 'This is our best horse right now, and he has a lot of good qualities, and we're going to have him dig in here, and he's risen to the challenge.'"
Mallevaey, 25, is the world's top ranked U25 rider, and Dynastie de Beaufor gave Mallevaey her first five-star Grand Prix victory in August and has helped her earn a place among the top 20 jumping athletes in the World.
"I think I'm just surrounded by amazing people and horses and that gives me a lot of confidence," Mallevaey said. "I'm really grateful to be here right now. I've been watching McLain since I was a kid, so to be a part of this now is a dream."
Currently leading in the race to the World Cup, Conor Swail of Ireland added a few more points to his total to lead with 41 points.
Ward moved into second with 36 points, followed by Kraut with 33 points.
The North American League qualifiers resume in the New Year at Thermal on Jan. 31, 2026.
Ward had started the North American League season in frustrating fashion.
His top horse Imperial HBF was sidelined shortly before the start of the season due to an injury, leading him to call upon less experienced horses.
He was plagued by "four fault-itis" in Traverse City before a single time fault kept him from the jump-off at Washington.
In Los Angeles, things came together at last; Ward's emotion was palpable as he punched his fist in the air following a near-flawless jump-off.
"Sometimes we rally, and this horse has stepped up," said Ward. "He's been knocking on the door, and I'm really thrilled for him to get a win for our whole team.”
Wad had said how much he wanted to qualify for the Final as it's a"home game" in Texas, so it was an emotional win.
It was a night of looking ahead in Los Angeles.
The Santa Anita Park venue—host of equestrian sport at the 1984 Olympic Games—will host Olympic competition again in 2028.
Course designer Anderson Lima set a big and technical track ahead of his appointment as course designer for the 2026 World Cup Finals in Fort Worth.
