The tussle between the last two riders down centerline in the Grand Prix Freestyle CDI3* on Saturday, February 14, ensured a nail-biting finish to the headline class of the World Equestrian Center (WEC) February Dressage CDI3* presented by Hampton Green Farms at WEC – Ocala. Just 0.2 percentage points separated winner Meagan Davis (USA) from her compatriot Claire Darnell, who was placed first by two of the five judges.

Photo – Meagan Davis and Toronto Lightfoot, by Totilas (Andrew Ryback Photography)

The win made it two for two for Meagan Davis and Scott Durkin’s Toronto Lightfoot, after leading the way in the grand prix a day earlier. Their first-place performance to a funky music compilation, including “Smooth Operator” and “Disco Inferno,” earned 73.685%, a new personal best for the ever-improving duo from Loxahatchee, FL.

Beautiful Ride

Meagan Davis and Toronto Lightfoot (Photo: Andrew Ryback Photography)

Claire Darnell and her own 14-year-old Vivaldi x Fidermark gelding, Harrold S, secured second with 73.45%. The 27-year-old Argentine rider Leonardo Antonio Godoy — who burst onto the CDI grand prix scene with two horses just a month ago and has ridden 11 tests at the level — filled third place with 69.645% on Cristina Balcarce’s 10-year-old Lusitano Marques Do Lis, by Fabuloso Do Lis.

“Claire had a beautiful ride, and it was a close one!” exclaimed Davis, whose music was compiled by Terri Gallo. “But we’re just checking off goals left and right with Toronto. Getting the personal best up there on the screen — that’s what I’m looking for. We’re building momentum with him, hopefully to compete in Europe and have him shine.

“We had a little boo-boo in the one tempis, but we haven’t ridden the freestyle since September, so we were dusting the cobwebs off,” she continued. “There were some real highlights, like the second set of ones and the twos on the twisted line. He was a little nervous when we first got him, so going in there, doing his job, and enjoying it is a testament to the partner he’s becoming. He keeps answering all the questions.”

Warm-Up

Davis schooled Toronto Lightfoot at midday before bringing him out for a short warm-up ahead of the evening freestyle class.

“Our warm-up tonight was 25 minutes total — and that includes walking from the barn,” she said. “It’s busy here this weekend with the big jumping show going on, so it’s nice to have non-dressage people come and watch our sport.”

The freestyle was a qualifier for the US Open of Dressage, now in its second season. The final takes place in November in California.

Click here for full results.