James Billington Bests the $65,000 Hagyard Equine Medical Institute Grand Prix CSI 2*

By Jumper News on 2026-09-21

Lexington, United States – September 20, 2026 – The Split Rock Jumping Tour (SRJT) Kentucky National CSI 2* culminated Sunday with the $65,000 Grand Prix CSI 2* – 1.45m, presented by Hagyard Equine Medical Institute, in which James Billington (GBR) and Inajottie VDM (Carrera VDL x VDL Indoctro), the mare co-owned by Samantha Alexis MacKenzie and Wilfred Beerse, set the pace as the first to go in a 12-horse jump-off to take the victory.

The 16-effort first-round track set forth by Manuel Esparza (MEX) produced twelve clear combinations that would advance to a second round. As first to go, the pressure was on Billington to clock a finish that would challenge his fellow competitors. He did just that, setting off with a swift pace and clear round to cross the timers in 42.95 seconds. The following entries tried their best, but all fell short.

**Lisa Goldman-Smolen** (USA) & **Romeo B**

Entering two trips later, Lisa Goldman-Smolen (USA) came the closest with her own Romeo B (Heartbreaker x Branco), in a finish time of 43.57 seconds.

**Francisco Goyoaga Mollet** (ESP) & **Choco M**

Francisco Goyoaga Mollet (ESP) followed next aboard Ashland Farms’ Choco M (Cornet Obolensky x Casall ASK), but still fell shy of Billington’s pace, clocking a finsih time of 43.70 seconds.

Zume Gallaher aboard Blue Gate Stables LLC’s Crescendo VHL (Connor 48 x Clarimo ASK) and Goyoaga Mollet with his second ride, Stakato Cornet (Cornet Obolensky x Argelith Stakatto), also owned by Ashland Farms, both proved the time was catchable with finish times of 40.97 and 41.96 seconds respectively, but it came at the expense of one rail down for each.

**James Billington** (GBR) & **Inajottie VDM**

Ultimately it was Billington‘s time that led the way throughout, holding up through all jump-off competitors to earn the victory with Goldman-Smolen taking second place and Goyoaga Mollet earning third aboard his first ride, Choco M.

Competition will resume at the Kentucky Horse Park on September 23 for the Split Rock Fall Classic CSI3*, featuring the $35,000 C. Jarvis Insurance 1.45m Welcome CSI3* on Friday and the $100,000 Grand Prix CSI3*, presented by Hagyard Equine Medical Institute, on Sunday. SRJT will then head west to its final location of the year with the Santa Anita CSI3* and Santa Anita CSI5*-W in California.