Goals Become Reality for Lukene Arenas & Una Beretta in the $15,000 YETI Grand Prix CSI1*

06 DEC 25 Ocala, FL

Ocala, FL – The WEC Grand Arena hosted its first feature night class of the week during Week I of the 2025 December Series: the $15,000 YETI Grand Prix CSI1*. Forty-one horse-and-rider combinations representing 11 nations stepped under the lights aiming for the top of the leaderboard, but in the end, the pathfinding pair of Guatemala’s Lukene Arenas and Alpine Stables LLC’s Una Beretta proved untouchable.

Lukene Arenas and Una Beretta winning the $15,000 YETI Grand Prix CSI1*. Photo by Andrew Ryback Photography.

FEI Level III course designer Catsy Cruz (USA) set a winding track with a tight time allowed and plenty of questions. Only 10 combinations managed a fault-free first round to advance to the jump-off.

As the first rider to deliver a clear in round one, Arenas also led the way in the jump-off aboard the 14-year-old Westphalian mare. “Being first to go in the jump-off, I bounced off a few ideas with my trainer, Paul O’Shea. We wanted to come up with the best plan for her and take the necessary risks, but not too much, and hoping that would stick.”

At the sound of the tone, Arenas and Una Beretta were underway. “One to two, the inside turn was challenging, but just right through the line, making sure I got the eight to Liverpool, that jump has come down quite a lot the past few days. Then make sure I’m nice and straight to my double, and finish off with her being confident with the few last jumps.”

Lukene Arenas and Una Beretta. Photo by Andrew Ryback Photography.

They soared over the final fence and stopped the clock in a blazing 39.60 seconds—a time no one else could match.

Arenas reflected on her long partnership with the mare. “We’ve had her since she was eight, and she’s 14 now. My sister used to ride her, and she kindly gave me the ride a few years ago. She takes a little getting used to, but she’s amazing. She fights every round and wants to go clear. She’s such a winner, and it makes me want to be a better rider.”

Lukene Arenas and Una Beretta accepting their first-place awards from Ava Eiland, alongside Rachel Rothenberg and Tom Hern of World Equestrian Center. Photo by Andrew Ryback Photography.

Friday night’s class marked a meaningful target achieved. “I competed with her under the lights two years ago, so this is her first time in a while. This is one of my favorite weeks to show because of all the Christmas lights. My main goal for the year was for her to win, and we achieved it. I am so proud of her; she was incredible.”

Maya Denis and Jantien De Muze flying to second place. Photo by Andrew Ryback Photography.

Maya Denis (MEX) secured another podium finish on Friday evening, this time aboard Jantien De Muze (Triomphe De Muze x Lord Z). Denis and the 11-year-old KWPN gelding stopped the clock in 40.12 seconds, just off the winning pace, to claim second place.

Francisco Vaca and Rihanna Dwerse Hagen rounding out the top three. Photo by Andrew Ryback Photography.

Closing out the order, Francisco Vaca (ECU) delivered a strong effort with Emily Chamberlin’s Rihanna Dwerse Hagen (Nixon Van’t Meulenhof x Caretino), posting a sharp 40.81-second jump-off to round out the top three.

$15,000 YETI Grand Prix CSI1* Results

Explore the daily class schedule, orders of go, class counts, and final results on HorseShowing.com. For real-time scoring, check out Ryegate.Live.

Photos courtesy of Andrew Ryback Photography.
Videos available at ClipMyHorse.TV

Make sure to visit the WEC Blog and follow us on social media @worldequestriancenter for full coverage on all feature classes!