By KENNETH J. BRADDICK
WELLINGTON, Florida, Feb. 21, 2026–Jordan LaPlaca riding Gold Play in only their second international Big Tour event, won the Global Dressage Festival CDI3* Grand Prix Special Saturday on a score above 70%.
Jordan, based in Ledyard, Connecticut, but competing in Wellington in winter scored 70.425%, two days after capturing the Grand Prix qualifier.
“It’s just exciting… amazing!” he exclaimed. “You can’t really put words to it. You probably strive to be better and better and better and as it starts to unfold and get better and better, it’s just that much more rewarding. And to know this is just the beginning of what I believe in the horse to have is just special. Just encouraging.”
Kevin Kohmann of Wellington on the 15-year-old gelding Famous was runner-up on 68.340%. Kevin has built a significant competition record with the Diamante Farms-owned Dünensee that he has ridden in two World Cup Finals.
Bianca Berktold of neighboring Loxahatchee on the 13-year-old mare Imperial placed third on 66.298%.
Was Jordan expecting the success he achieved this week?
“ Nope,” was his prompt response. “I was just coming to show the horse. The whole goal was give him miles, give a good go. It really was no pressure from my owner or myself. I just really wanted both of us to get down some line and get this sort of down and done so we can now get to work.”
Jordan plans another CDI this winter with the horse he has been developing for the past six years for owner Nancy Hutson and will compete in the U.S. Grand Prix Championships to be staged in Ocala, Florida May 13-16. After that, a short list will be named to go to Europe where a team for the World Championships in Aachen, Germany in August will be named.
“For me,” he said, “it’s just the beginning. And I think it’s exciting for him doing so well. Now, the future is even more exciting to work towards, to just make it better and better.
“And a highlight for me was when he kicks in to the piaffe-passage and really realizes, ‘OK, it’s game time.’
“I just feel so good, like time is stopping. That is something that’s really special with the horse. It’s not a mechanical, ‘let’s go.’ He’s just bringing me in. He’s young and green and we have little things here and there with the contact and and just little things, but he really just gives this incredible feeling.”
Results:
| Rank | Competitor | Score | E | H | C | M | B |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1. | Jordan LaPlaca (USA) Gold Play | 70.425% | 70.319 | 72.447 | 68.936 | 69.468 | 70.957 |
| 2. | Kevin Kohmann (USA) Famous | 68.340% | 68.404 | 70.106 | 66.489 | 68.298 | 68.404 |
| 3. | Bianca Berktold (USA) Imperial | 66.298% | 65.426 | 67.021 | 65.000 | 67.340 | 66.702 |
| 4. | Leonardo Antonio Godoy (ARG) Marques Do Lis | 65.489% | 66.596 | 65.957 | 64.574 | 65.000 | 65.319 |
| 5. | Caleb Scroggins (USA) Villanelle | 64.936% | 65.000 | 66.489 | 62.660 | 64.574 | 65.957 |
| 6. | Barbara Bertschinger (SUI) Sonnenbergs Solisco CH | 64.255% | 63.936 | 65.000 | 62.872 | 64.894 | 64.574 |
| 7. | Mathilde Blais Tétreault (CAN) Fedor | 59.170% | 56.915 | 58.298 | 58.936 | 60.532 | 61.170 |
| RET. | Alexandra Duncan (CAN) Hitmaker | retired | |||||
 Find details on Equestrian Hub |
