Last Updated on February 15, 2026 by adminahb
Luis Fernando Larrazabal & Baroness. Photo ©Sportfot
Wellington, Fla. – February 14, 2026 — Venezuelan Olympian Luis Fernando Larrazabal and his 11-year-old Westphalian mare Baroness scored their third international victory of the 2026 Winter Equestrian Festival (WEF) season. The hat trick victory came on the grass derby field at Equestrian Village in the $62,500 Adequan® CSI3* WEF Challenge Cup Round 6.
Just off the winning pace of 45.78 seconds over course designer Ana Catalina “Catsy” Cruz Harris’ tracks, Ireland’s Bertram Allen and his mount from the Tokyo Olympic Games — 14-year-old Pacino Amiro — finished second. Allen and the Irish-bred gelding (Pacino x NC Amiro) owned by Aloga Stables stopped the clock at 46.61 seconds. Quentin Judge (USA) was third riding 14-year-old Belgian-bred mare HH Griffin van de Heffinck (Castelino van de Helle x PKZ Contact van de Heffinck) in a time of 46.97 seconds for owner Double H Farm.
“When we come out here on the grass field, she has a lot of success, and I always have a good feeling, but you never know until you pass the timer flags after that last jump,” said Larrazabal, who bested the returning 12 in the second round with a blistering fast round near the end of the group. “I’m very pleased. Luckily, I was at the end of the second round, which gave me perspective on how the others were doing.
“I made my plan as always — I know she’s fast, and we know each other inside out,” continued Larrazabal of the mare he has been competing with since she was six.
Baroness (Balous Bellini x Polydor) is owned by Leeann Ablin and was Larrazabal’s mount for the Bolivarian Games in Lima, Peru last December. In that championship, they jumped to double silver medals in team and individual competition.
Emily Dehoff and Manou De Muze Moving Up in Hermès CSI3* 1.50m Classic
Emily Dehoff (USA) and Manou De Muze, a 14-year-old Belgian Warmblood, stayed on top throughout the $32,000 Hermès CSI3* 1.50m Classic, closing out Saturday’s competition on the grass derby field at Equestrian Village.
With two rounds in which the top 12 returned with faults carried forward, Dehoff, 22, and Manou De Muze (Arko III x Quidam De Revel), owned by The Sporty Game, took the top spot on the podium. She stopped the clock at 49.17 seconds with Tony Stormanns (GER) posting a safe double-clear in 54.84 seconds with Rushy Marsh Farm’s RMF Balouwinsky, a 10-year-old Balous Bellini son.
Closing out the podium at 46.59 seconds and four faults carried through from the opening round, Zayna Rizvi (USA) and Oryzon van het Schaek, a 12-year-old mare (Zirocco Blue) were third for owners Flying Z.
“I actually had a different plan going in; I wanted to do a couple fewer strides to hopefully try to be the fastest,” stated Dehoff, who trains with John Brennan and Missy Clark at North Run. “Then I saw Tony go — he was clear — but nice and slow. So, I knew I could go a touch faster while also clearing the jumps in hopes of beating him in the end.”
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