Daniel Bluman continued his hot streak in New York to win the $300,000 Hampton Classic 4* Grand Prix this afternoon. It’s been a dream week for Bluman who has been unbeatable in Long Island, picking up wins in the $40,000 Sovaro Speed Stake and the $86,000 Douglas Elliman Grand Prix Qualifier earlier in the week.

Ominous skies held as 31 riders took to the 14 obstacle, 17 effort track designed by Alan Wade. Just 3 horse and rider combinations found their way without fault, the last fence dashing the hopes of many - including defending champion Richard Moloney and World Cup veteran Callan Solem. The Longines triple combination set next to the celebrity-laden VIP tent also caught many combinations off guard, with all three elements falling frequently.

2nd place finishers Brianne Goutal & Nice de Pressey.

Brianne Goutal and her bay Stallion Nice de Prissey were 7th to go in round one and the afternoon’s first clear with a spectacular effort. Three rounds later, McLain Ward and HH Callas promised the crowd a jump-off, the veteran show jumper continuing his stellar record in the class that he’s won 6 times previously. It looked like a two horse race as the class came to a close, until Daniel Bluman - 29th in the order - and Ladriano Z upped the ante with a faultless ride.

McLain Ward & HH Callas placed 3rd.

Goutal put in a quick and tidy jump-off round, but her tight approach to the Longines double cost her 4 faults. She ultimately stopped the clock at 46.18 seconds. Ward, who many considered the obvious favorite, nailed the early tight turns of the jump-off but paid for their quicker pace, having the last two verticals down. Though they stopped the clock at 44.10, 8 faults meant Ward would have to wait until next year for his 7th Hampton Classic Grand Prix.

A clear round would win it for Bluman and Ladriano Z, but they pushed the pace anyway, in case of a rail. The pair were flawless, beautifully completing the jump-off in 46.09 seconds, an ecstatic Bluman capping off the weekend in the best way possible.

“When I walked the course I honestly thought there were going to be a few more clean rounds,” said Bluman at the press conference following the presentation. “I think it was nicely built, careful enough, big enough, as Alan’s courses have been all week. I don’t think there was any place where the horses really had to struggle. It played out the perfect way, only three in the jump-off, which is beautiful because you get to go in knowing you already have a nice piece of the pie.”

View our gallery of today’s Grand Prix!

By Ashley Fairfield-Remeza