15-Year-Old Sensation Sophia Segesman Supreme in the $40,000 Emma’s Patisserie Grand Prix

By Jumper News USA on February 19, 2026

Ocala, Florida – February 15, 2026 – The $40,000 Emma’s Patisserie National Grand Prix closed out feature competition during Week VII of the 2026 Winter Spectacular Show Series at World Equestrian Center – Ocala (WEC). Nineteen accomplished horse-and-rider combinations contested the track, but it was 15-year-old Sophia Segesman (USA) who rose to the occasion, securing her first grand prix victory aboard Rocking D Rach’s Opium du Soufflet (Ogano Sitte x Nicky du Soufflet).

Course designer Bernardo Costa Cabral (POR) set a technical track that saw seven combinations advance to the jump-off.

Colombia’s Mark Bluman (COL) piloted both of his mounts into the tie-breaking round and returned first aboard S&L Eyes 4U. A quick pace in 35.189 seconds was undone by an unfortunate rail. Sharn Wordley (NZL) and Valentine Car followed with the same result, crossing the timers in 36.356 seconds with one down.

Lucy Matz (USA) produced the first clear jump-off round with Good Will, stopping the clock in 39.945 seconds. Lucy Deslauriers (USA) soon raised the bar, trimming the time to 39.094 seconds.

**Sophia Segesman** (USA) & **Opium du Soufflet**

Segesman entered next with the 17-year-old Swedish Warmblood gelding and adjusted her original plan after watching the early rounds. “My plan when I first walked the course, originally I wanted to go inside to the Kentucky Performance vertical, but I saw the first one go and didn’t think I could do that. Mine is a little bit big, and he can be not so careful on the verticals, so then my mom [Georgy Maskrey-Segesman] said you’re going to go tidy around to that and then gallop to the last. I would say the last jump is where I won the class. To do the double leave-out was probably the best choice my mom could have made for me.”

The pair executed flawlessly, flying through the timers in 36.464 seconds to take over the lead.

Ireland’s Darragh Kerins (IRL) followed aboard his own 15-year-old Holsteiner gelding Lissino (Guardus Limbus x Lagumera B), producing a competitive clear in 36.967 seconds to slot in just behind Segesman.

**Mark Bluman** (COL) & **S&L Hello Sunshine**

Last to return was Bluman, this time aboard S&L Farms’ nine-year-old Selle Français stallion S&L Hello Sunshine (Diamant de Semilly x Romance des Luthiers). He delivered a blistering round, stopping the clock in 36.503 seconds, just three-hundredths of a second off Segesman’s pace, to claim second and move Kerins to third.

When Segesman realized she had secured the win, emotion took over. “I couldn’t believe it. So many times now I’ve jumped these grands prix, and I’d jump clean but have been a little too slow and get beaten. But to finally see I won was so emotional to me. I didn’t even know what to say, I was so excited and emotional.”

She credited her partner, who has carried her from the 1.20m level to her first grand prix victory. “He is 17 years old, and one of our best clients owns him, Ken Dickey. I started riding him a little over a year ago, and it took me a year to get to ride him properly and really get to know him. He always tries his hardest. He will do anything for me, and I will do anything for him. I can’t say I’ve ever had such a special horse to get to do this with, and I’m just so thrilled to do this at the top of the sport and get to ride this amazing horse.”

Competing during FEI Jumping World Cup™ Ocala week only added to the significance of the moment. With her idols nearby, Segesman says the victory fueled her confidence and future ambitions. “My dream is to get to the Olympics. I want to ride for the U.S. team, and I want to be Laura Kraut when I grow up. Laura and McLain are my idols. I love watching them ride. I want to be just like them when I’m older.”