WELLINGTON, Fla.--Mark Bluman of Columbia on Phelina de Spton won the $32,000 CSI3* 1.45m Speed on the grass derby field at the Winter Equestrian Festival on Thursday, Jan. 15.
Mark Bluman on Phelina de Septon (Photo by Sportfot)During the two months before WEF, Bluman won nine international top 10 finishes on Phelina de Septon.
In the one-round speed over a course set by Olaf Petersen, Jr., Bluman was clean in 62.2, more than a second ahead of the nearest challenger
Ben Maher of Great Britain on Ginger-Blue was clean in 63.44 seconds to place second, and Chloe Reid on Chelsea 179 was third in 64.85.
“This field is a beautiful place to be, and it feels great to be back,” said Bluman, who got the ride on Phelina de Septon in May of 2025. “This is my first WEF season with her, but since I started with her, it’s been unbelievable. We’ve had an unbelievable run.”
“She’s so game—you need to have a major mistake for her to have a rail,” said Bluman.
Bluman is aiming Phelin de Septon at the 1.50m Championship Jumper Series, with the goal being the $150,000 final during WEF 11.
He is aiming at the 2026 World Championships in Aachen with a new ride, Landon.
“IF YOU would have told me when I first moved here [to the States] that I would have a group of horses like I have now, I would have told you that I didn’t see it as being possible,” he said.
Opening the day on the grass derby field, Luis Fernando Larrazabal of Venezuela won the 1.40m Two-Phase riding his 2025 Pan American Games mount Baroness.
In the International Arena, Colombia’s Roberto Teran Tafur on DSP Callas won the $10,000 1.45m, a qualifier for the $50,000 Palm Beach Equine Clinic National Grand Prix taking place during Saturday Night Lights at 7 p.m. on Jan. 17.
Scott Stewart of Flemington, N.J., on California Love was champion in the High Performance Conformation division.
Stewart won three over fences classes as well as the under saddle and model.
“We don’t show him that much, and the last time he’s shown was The National in late October,” said Stewart. “The focus is always keeping him fit enough for jumping.”
“I’ve got some nice new horses that I’m looking forward to,” Stewart said, who also was champion in the 3’6” Green and Green Conformation hunters with new mount Rosewood.
