Mark Bluman Triumphs in the $40,000 Grand Prix presented by The Lignelli Family at the Hampton Classic

By Jumper News on 2026-08-27

Bridgehampton, United States – August 26, 2026 – Israel’s Mark Bluman (ISR) successfully defended his title in the $40,000 National Grand Prix – 1.45m, presented by The Lignelli Family at the Hampton Classic on Wednesday, leading the victory lap for the second consecutive year after stopping the clock in 33.057 seconds. This time, he blazed to the top of the leaderboard with Ubiluc, a 14-year-old Mecklenburg gelding owned by Daniel Bluman (ISR) and Over The Top Stables.

Nine of 19 horse-and-rider combinations successfully navigated Nick Granat’s 15-effort course in Wednesday’s $40,000 National Grand Prix – 1.45m, and eight returned to jump off for top honors. Bluman and Ubiluc were just the second to challenge the shortened track, setting the time to beat at 33.057 seconds. Every entry that followed did their best to keep up, but even Bluman’s second mount Phelina De Septon, who won the class in 2025, couldn’t catch that score.

After stopping the clock in 33.622 seconds, JJ Torano (USA) earned second place aboard I Am Inge, the 10-year-old Holsteiner mare owned by Ilan Ferder with whom he earned double Silver medals in the 2026 North American Youth Championships (NAYC) Young Rider Final. Fellow American Ariana Marnell (USA) took third in 35.004 seconds aboard Jikke-Cara, Alison Firestone’s 12-year-old Dutch Warmblood mare.

“He’s my most seasoned horse,” Bluman said of Ubiluc. “This was in preparation for next week’s 5* in Canada. He’s very seasoned, so we just took advantage of having a good time today. JJ Torano got very close to our time. He’s an unbelievably young talent and there is a bright future ahead of him, but he still needs to work a little more to get to the old bucks!”

Molly Ashe Cawley (USA) now leads the $30,000 Longines Rider Challenges with 144 points. Bluman has moved into second place with 140 points. David Blake (IRL) sits third with 125 points. The Challenges will be awarded as two separate bonuses for the FEI 5* and 2* divisions following the $400,000 Longines Hampton Classic Grand Prix CSI 5* 5* and $70,000 Hampton Classic Grand Prix CSI 2* on Sunday.

Celebrating 51 years of world-class equestrian competition in Bridgehampton, NY, the Hampton Classic features FEI CSI 5* and CSI 2* show jumping and USEF Premier hunter competitions with more than $1 million in prize money, August 23-30.