Aaron Vale and Carissimo 25 Capture First Place in the $200,000 Grand Prix at WEC Ocala

Ocala's own Aaron Vale claimed victory in the $200,000 UF Health Grand Prix FEI CSI4* during week three of the Winter Spectacular aboard Carissimo 25, a 13-year-old Holsteiner gelding. Though his entire round was indeed a spectacular jump-off, there was, in particular, a rollback to a vertical that was extraordinary.

Bluman puts pressure on early

Israel's Daniel Bluman and the 11-year-old Zangersheide mare Corbie V.V. threw down the gauntlet early in the 1.55 meter class, as the first of eight to go in the jump-off, knowing he had to put the pressure on the riders to follow. It was Vale who rose to the challenge as third from last rider, besting Bluman's time by nearly three-tenths of a second before a packed house under Saturday night lights.

World no. 8 Nina Mallevaey of France finished third with My Clementine, an 11-year-old Irish Sport Horse mare. It was their first competition of 2026.

The first round began with 34 riders representing 13 nations, and the top five finishers spanned five different countries.

Three-hundredths of a second between sixth and seventh places

As close as the time was between Bluman and Vale, the time was even closer between two of the jump-off's four faulters. Just 0.03 seconds separated Americans Lacey Gilbertson and McLain Ward.

Top Eight Results

1 Aaron Vale (U.S.)- CARISSIMO 25 - 0/37.58

2 Daniel Bluman (Israel) - CORBIE V.V. - 0/37.96

3 Nina Mallevaey (France) - MY CLEMENTINE - 0/38.07

4 Jelmer Hoekstra (The Netherlands ) - LORDY-P 0/39.14

5 Anna Christina Gansauer (Ecuador) - LOYALTON - 0/47.55

6 Lacey Gilbertson (U,S.) - BELLE AMIE VD DASSENHEIDE - 4/40.10

7 McLain Ward (U.S.) - JORDAN MOLGA M - 4/40.13

8 Jonathan McCrea (U.S.) - CHACCOTILINO PS - 4/41.14

Olivia Sweetnam and Epic were the fastest four faulters in the first round.

Photo courtesy of Andrew Ryback Photography