Hat Trick for Luis Fernando Larrazabal and Baroness at Wellington International
Venezuelan Olympian Luis Fernando Larrazabal and his 11-year-old Westphalian mare Baroness scored their third international victory of the 2026 Winter Equestrian Festival (WEF) season. The hat trick victory came on the grass derby field at Equestrian Village in the $62,500 Adequan® CSI3* WEF Challenge Cup Round 6. Hosting 12 weeks of international competition, WEF runs at Wellington International through March 29 in Wellington, FL.
Just off the winning pace of 45.78 seconds over course designer Ana Catalina “Catsy” Cruz Harris’ tracks, Ireland’s Bertram Allen and his mount from the Tokyo Olympic Games—14-year-old Pacino Amiro—finished second. Allen and the Irish-bred gelding (Pacino x NC Amiro) owned by Aloga Stables stopped the clock at 46.61 seconds. Quentin Judge (USA) was third riding 14-year-old Belgian-bred mare HH Griffin van de Heffinck (Castelino van de Helle x PKZ Contact van de Heffinck) in a time of 46.97 seconds for owner Double H Farm.
“When we come out here on the grass field, she has a lot of success, and I always have a good feeling, but you never know until you pass the timer flags after that last jump,” said Larrazabal, who bested the returning 12 in the second round with a blistering fast round near the end of the group. “I’m very pleased. Luckily, I was at the end of the second round, which gave me perspective on how the others were doing.
“I made my plan as always—I know she’s fast, and we know each other inside out,” continued Larrazabal of the mare he has been competing with since she was six.
Baroness (Balous Bellini x Polydor) is owned by Leeann Ablin and was Larrazabal’s mount for the Bolivarian Games in Lima, Peru, last December. In that championship, they jumped to double silver medals in team and individual competition.
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