Alex Granato & El Diablo du Nord Turn on the Nitro in the $35,000 C. Jarvis Insurance Welcome CSI 3*

By Jumper News USA on September 26, 2026

Lexington, United States – September 25, 2026 – The Split Rock Jumping Tour (SRJT) picked up with its second consecutive week of competition at the Kentucky Horse Park (KHP) for the Split Rock Fall Classic CSI 3* welcoming international horses and riders back to the Rolex Stadium and highlighting the $35,000 C. Jarvis Insurance Welcome CSI 3* – 1.45m on Friday afternoon. The 13-horse jump-off welcomed an impressive group, but it was ultimately Alex Granato (USA) aboard The Bright Lights Group’s El Diablo du Nord (Durrant x Irco Mena) who led the victory gallop, finishing nearly a second ahead of the rest.

The 15-effort track set by Bernardo Cabral (POR) set forth a fair track where the first in the order, Rachel Lindsey(USA) and Cellato, owned by Johnson Equine, paved the way, producing a clear round, ahead of twelve other contenders to ultimately make thirteen pairs returning for the jump-off. Lindsey continued as the pathfinder, jumping a clear second round with a time of 44.50 seconds.

Granato utilized the 12-year-old gelding‘s big stride and handy turns to shave nearly a second off of the already-remarkable pace from Pratt, taking the new leading time to 39.72 seconds.

The penultimate pair in the jump-off, Lauren Hough (USA) and Candeux (Chacco’s Rubin DSF x Fabuleux), owned by ABS Candeux gave a good effort, but their time of 42.27 seconds would slide them into third, behind Granato with the win and Pratt in second place.

“He’s a quirky horse, but he’s always had a big heart and a lot of talent – it’s been a process along the way in bringing his ridebaility and focus together but he’s come on really strong,” Granato reflected of El Diablo du Nord. “We made a point to save a few horses for this week to wrap up our fall. I love making Split Rock a stop during our season.”

International jumper competition will resume Sunday with the $100,000 Grand Prix CSI 3*, presented by Hagyard Equine Medical Institute.