Jacqueline Steffens Daly Pilots Freaky to Victory in the $50,000 Wheels Up Welcome Prix CSI3*

Jacqueline Steffens Daly (CAN) and Freaky claimed a resounding victory in the evening’s $50,000 Wheels Up Welcome Prix CSI3* during the Fédération Equestre Internationale (FEI) CSI3* competition week at World Equestrian Center – Ocala in Ocala, FL. World-renowned course designer Alan Wade (IRL) set the track for the 51 horse-and-rider combinations representing 10 nations, where nine pairs found the fault-free path to advance to the jump-off.

Later in the order, Steffens Daly was able to watch some of her competitors before finalizing her own strategy. Her adjustments paid off as she flew around the course with Eye Candy Jumpers’s 13-year-old KWPN gelding (Darco x Litho X), securing the win in 40.97 seconds – ultimately more than three seconds faster than the rest of the field.

“I tweaked my plan after I watched Chloe [Reid] do eight strides so nicely from one to two,” explained Steffens Daly. “I tentatively had nine planned, but watching the eight ride so well, I thought I better try to do that, and it actually showed up perfectly. Then I did seven down the middle and rode the final fence off my eye.”

Chloe Reid (USA) and Crossover 4, a 10-year-old Hanoverian gelding (Cascadello x Chacco-Blue) owned by Team Reid LLC, came the closest to catching Steffens Daly. They stopped the clock in 44.28 seconds to finish in the runner-up spot. Rounding out the top three was Sean Jobin (CAN), who produced an efficient clear effort in 45.08 seconds aboard Foxridge Farms Stables’s Coquelicot VH Heuvelland Z, an 11-year-old Zangersheide stallion (Catoki x Cassini II).

John Odegard, Senior Vice President of Wheels Up spoke with enthusiasm about the event saying, “It’s an honor for us to be able to participate and have this competition as our first sponsored class. We are proud to be a part of it and support these tremendous world-class equestrian athletes.”

Final Results: $50,000 Wheels Up Welcome Prix CSI3*

1. Freaky: 2010 KWPN gelding by Darco x Litho X
Jacqueline Steffens Daly (CAN), Eye Candy Jumpers: 0 | 0 | 40.97

2. Crossover 4: 2013 Hanoverian gelding by Cascadello x Chacco-Blue
Chloe Reid (USA), Team Reid, LLC: 0 | 0 | 44.28

3. Coquelicot VH Heuvelland Z: 2012 Zangersheide stallion by Catoki x Cassini II
Sean Jobin (CAN), Foxridge Farms Stables: 0 | 0 | 45.08

4. Mendini Dr: 2012 Belgian Warmblood mare by Hunter’s Scendix x Cassini I
Conor O’Regan (IRL), Dynomite Ranch, LLC: 0 | 0 | 46.18

5. Carlito’s Way 6: 2010 Holsteiner gelding by Casall x Lordanos
Alexa Pessoa (USA), Artemis Equestrian Farm, LLC: 0 | 0 | 46.73

6. Cristo Beech: 2011 Warmblood gelding by Its The Business x Cantero
Aaron Vale (USA), Alise Carrico & Thinks Like A Horse: 0 | 4 | 41.97

7. Darius: 2008 KWPN gelding by Warrant x LBH Calvados
Sean Jobin (CAN), Foxridge Farms Stables: 0 | 4 | 43.13

8. Classified: 2013 Irish Sport Horse gelding by Je T’aime Flamenco
Gonzalo Busca (ESP), Gonzalo Busca: 0 | 4 | 45.21

9. 12 Hollywood De Rase Z: 2012 Zangersheide gelding by Hoegie Van’t Bergske x Triomphe De Muze
Angela Covert (CAN), Angela Covert: 0 | 4 | 46.86

10. Malissa De Muze: 2012 Belgian Warmblood gelding by Nabab De Reve x Tornedo FCS
Hallie Grimes (USA), Can We Keep It LLC: 4 | 73.73

11. Dana De Kerglenn: 2013 Selle Français mare by Mylord Carthago x Diamant De Semilly
Hunter Holloway (USA), Sigma Stables, LLC: 4 | 74.54

12. James Bond HX: 2014 KWPN gelding by Douglas x Cash
Samantha Schaefer (USA), Bonne Chance, LLC: 4 | 75.54