Mark Makes it to the Top! Bluman Blazes to Win the $40,000 CME Group National Grand Prix

By Jumper News on 2025-08-28

Bridgehampton, New York, United States – August 27, 2025 – Hampton Classic course designer Nick Granat challenged 33 horse-and-rider combinations representing eight countries with a winding 16-effort, 1.45m course in Wednesday morning’s $40,000 CME Group National Grand Prix. After 13 made it to the jump-off, Mark Bluman (COL) led the victory lap for his blistering 36.252-second time aboard Phelina de Septon.

Celebrating 50 years of world-class equestrian competition in 2025, the Hampton Classic Horse Show takes place in Bridgehampton, NY, August 24-31, featuring FEI CSI 5* and CSI 2* show jumping and USEF Premier hunter competitions with more than $1 million in prize money. The highlight of the week is the $400,000 Longines Hampton Classic 5* Grand Prix, one of the world’s premier show jumping competitions, on Sunday, August 31.

The only rider to have two entries in the jump-off, Bluman set an early time to beat about his first mount, a 10-year-old Belgian Warmblood mare owned by Mario Deslauriers Inc. He nearly caught his own time with his second mount, S & L Hello Sunshine, but the stallion posted a four-fault score in 36.332 seconds to drop from the podium.

“The mare I was riding is pretty quick across the ground,” Bluman said. “Even though she’s new to me, I know her quite well. We made a plan before the jump-off, stuck to it, and hoped it was going to pay off. And it did. When you go that early in the jump-off, the only thing you have to do is follow your plan, hope for the best, and sometimes have a little bit of luck.”

American JJ Torano (USA) and Kadley Farms and North Run’s 11-year-old Hanoverian stallion Lyon 50 were the only other combination to come within a second of Bluman and Phelina De Septon’s time, posting a double-clear score of 36.426 seconds for second place.

Great Britain’s Jessica Mendoza (GBR) rode Onslow de Roju, Ammann Equestrian’s 11-year-old Belgian Warmblood gelding, to third place in 37.474 seconds.