Wellington, Florida, USA – February 26, 2023 – Alise Oken (USA), representing the host country, and Saratoga flew around the $50,000 Ethel M. Chocolates Grand Prix CSI 2* in the International Arena to close out WEF 7. Oken, and the 10-year-old Holsteiner mare (Chin Champ x Casall) owned by Hi Hopes Farm LLC, were unstoppable, finishing the speed portion of the course in a time of 38.86 seconds. The only partnership to post a time sub-40 seconds.

Second place was claimed by Chloe Reid (USA) aboard Crossover 4 (Cascadello x Chacco-Blue), clocking in at 40.79 seconds.

The third spot on the podium was conquered by Canada’s Alicia Gadban-Lewis (CAN) on Beneficial (Banderas x Unknown), finishing faster with time of 37.72 seconds but at the expense of one rail down, settling for third place.

Oken and Saratoga have a relatively new partnership but growing stronger every day. “I’ve had Sara for about a year and a half now. Last year we started doing some of the bigger classes and some 1.50m’s and she’s really excelled at that level. When I first sat on her I thought she had all the scope in the world and I’ve taken my time with her and I think she will jump some of the biggest tracks, but today we also went fast which was great so I’m really happy with the results.

“She is smaller but she has a huge stride so I can actually leave out numbers in all the lines and for how small she is she actually has a very big stride so it’s very advantageous for me. Especially in the jump-off, I was able to leave out in the first line and one other line, so I think that’s where I made up the time.”

Final Results – $50,000 Ethel M. Chocolates Grand Prix CSI 2*

1) Alise Oken (USA) & Saratoga – 0 / 0 – 38.86

2) Chloe Reid (USA) & Crossover 4 – 0 / 0 – 40.79

3) Alicia Gabdan-Lewis (CAN) & Beneficial – 0 / 4 – 37.72

Source: Press Release from Equestrian Sports Productions

Photos: © Wellington International / Sportfot / Gabby Fournier & Hannah Stephens