Christina Kelly Pilots Victoire VD Windeweg Z to Victory in the $35,000 Buckeye Grand Prix

By Jumper News USA on October 4, 2026

Wilmington, Ohio – October 03, 2026 – The Standlee Sanctuary hosted the first $35,000 Buckeye Grand Prix of the 2026 Fall Classic Series Saturday evening at World Equestrian Center – Wilmington (WEC). Robert Barton set a track that the field of athletes mastered, as nine combinations moved on to the jump-off phase.

Christina Kelly (USA) put the pressure on with The Diamond Edge Group’s Victoire VD Windeweg Z (Vigo D’arouilles x Nemile M) and ultimately proved uncatchable to take the first grand prix victory of the series.

“I watched Maleah (Lang McMahon) go ahead of me, and I knew I had Nikko (Ritter) and a few fast ones behind me, and I said, ‘Oh, I need to try and run a little bit,’” she laughed. “I always start with the plan to go a little more conservative, and then I get excited and start going faster. She was right there with me to do it. It all came up lovely, and she was great.”

**Christina Kelly** (USA) & **Victoire VD Windeweg Z**

Kelly returned for the jump-off as the second rider, looking to chase Maleah Lang McMahon’s clear time of 33.036 seconds.

The duo stopped the clock in a blazing-fast time of 28.868 seconds, a time that was untouched by the rest of the field.

Despite their relatively new partnership, Kelly discussed the 12-year-old Zangersheide mare’s consistency so far in her program: “She’s been an awesome horse for us and a really good speed horse. She’s great at the 1.40m-1.45m level, so I was hoping to have a nice, smooth round and be clear today.”

“I’ve had her for about six months. We started off with a bang, and she won two Grands Prix back-to-back. She’s been awesome. We were clear in Omaha and Chicago, and she’s kind of just been a very consistent horse for us at this height. She loves to come out and go fast, so she’ll go home now and have a break and start back up for winter.”

Brian Leach (USA) rode his own 11-year-old Belgian Warmblood gelding, Cornet Star (Cornetto x Conqua Z), to second place in 31.520 seconds.

Jill Gaffney (USA) rounded out the podium with Trevor Gaffney’s eight-year-old Irish Sport Horse gelding, FF Tiger (Tangelo Van De Zuuthoeve x Jumeirah), in 32.117 seconds. Gaffney also secured fourth place aboard FF Knockroe Lady.