Luis Pedro Biraben & Vasco 109 Score a Sweet Victory in the $130,000 MARS Equestrian Grand Prix CSI3*
09 AUG 25 Ocala, FL
Ocala, FL – The grand finale of the 2025 Summer Series drew packed stands at World Equestrian Center – Ocala for the week’s highlight event, the $130,000 MARS Equestrian™ Grand Prix CSI3*. Forty-two elite international combinations representing 16 nations vied for the last summer title, but it was Argentina’s Luis Pedro Biraben who claimed victory after a season of consistent podium finishes aboard his own Vasco 109 (Vigo D’arsouilles Stx x Clarimo).
Luis Pedro Biraben and Vasco 109 winning the $130,000 MARS Equestrian Grand Prix CSI3*. Photo by Andrew Ryback Photography.
Robert Blanchette and Chardonnay flying to second place. Photo by Andrew Ryback Photography.
Rowan Willis and For Dilando PS rounding out the podium. Photo by Andrew Ryback Photography.
Luis Pedro Biraben and Vasco 109. Photo by Andrew Ryback Photography.
Luis Pedro Biraben and Vasco 109 accepting their first-place awards from Mason Jordan on behalf of the Roberts Family, Fred Moering and Stacy Boyd representing MARS Equestrian™, and Jim Wolf of World Equestrian Center. Photo by Andrew Ryback Photography.
FEI Level IV course designer Leopoldo Palacios (VEN) built a challenging, winding track for Saturday night’s feature, with 12 riders advancing to a high-stakes jump-off.
Luis Sabino Goncalves (POR) set the first benchmark aboard Scoop De Septon Z in 41.70 seconds. Robert Blanchette (IRL) and Ridersmith LLC’s 14-year-old Westphalian mare Chardonnay (Comme II Faut 5 x Jus De Pomme) soon upped the ante, clocking in at 40.32 seconds.
Several pairs chased the lead, with Rowan Willis (AUS) and Just A Cheeky One’s nine-year-old Hanoverian gelding For Dilando PS (For Pleasure x Chacco-Blue) coming the closest to Blanchette’s time after navigating two precise inside turns to finish in 41.25 seconds.
Biraben, who has been on a hot streak all summer with Vasco 109, entered the ring with a simple plan: “Go fast.” He explained, “I was able to go inside for both turns, and I tried to be as fast as I could everywhere else. Tonight, luck was on my side.”
Biraben and the 10-year-old German Sport Horse gelding flew around the track, taking tidy turns and slicing fences, with his open gallop to the last helping secure a time of 39.94 seconds that couldn’t be beat.
The victory also marked another milestone in a partnership that has been steadily building over the past year. “I got him a year ago when he was nine, coming ten, and he’s been doing very well. This summer, he’s placed in almost every grand prix. He’s been knocking on the door, and it was great to get this win,” Biraben shared.
Feature class action during the 2025 Summer Series concludes Sunday, August 10, with the $50,000 AdventHealth National Grand Prix. Hunter/jumper competition returns September 24–October 12 for the all-new September & October Fall Series.
$130,000 MARS Equestrian Grand Prix CSI3* 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
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Named one of TIME’s 2024 World’s Greatest Places, World Equestrian Center features two premier equestrian and multidisciplinary venues in Ocala, Florida, and Wilmington, Ohio. These exclusive facilities comprise state-of-the-art arenas, expansive stadiums, versatile outdoor space, sporting fields and well-appointed exposition centers. An abundance of lodging options and luxury accommodations are conveniently located on-site, along with shopping and dining throughout each property. Dedicated to offering great sport and good fun in a family-friendly environment, World Equestrian Center promises an unparalleled experience for exhibitors, spectators, vendors, sponsors and retailers built on three core values: Quality. Class. Distinction.
