DEL MAR, California, Feb. 28, 2026–Geñay Vaughn on Gino won the World Cup Freestyle Saturday to place among three top North Americans with a prospect of going to the Final but will have to wait until the last event of the season to confirm a start at the championship in Fort Worth.
Geñay and Gino, the 15-year-old gelding owned by her mother, were awarded 75.955% for the victory that earned her enough points to tie Brittany Fraser-Beaulieu on Jaccardo for a total of 57 points and second ranking behind Christian Simonson on Indian Rock.
Canada’s Brittney Eastgate on Kartsevo Goldfinch scored 72.020% for runner up in the class of just four riders and horses.
North America is allocated three of the 18 starting combinations from around the world in the annual championship that has heightened interest because it is in Fort Worth, Texas in early April for the first time.
However, her average of three qualifying scores is below that of Brittany and Jaccardo who is seeking to become the first Canadian to go to the Final since 2013.
The impact of the Del Mar results means that a decision confirming the three places for North America will await the outcome of the last remaining qualifier, at Wellington’s Global Dressage Festival in two weeks.
There, Kevin Kohmann currently on 54 points and Benjamin Ebeling currently on 52 points stand in the fourth and fifth places, but a win for either one in Wellington would tie both Brittany and Geñay.
A tie would be broken by the highest average of three results.
Christian with three victories for a total of 60 points locks him into an invite to the Final.
As Brittany’s average is higher than Geñay’s, the Canadian is pretty much assured a place in the starting lineup.
Geñay of Elk Grove, California competed Gino in the 2025 Final, the rider’s first. Both Kevin Kohmann who has competed in two Finals and Ben with one are based in Wellington.
Results:
| Rank | Competitor | Score | E | H | C | M | B |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1. | Geñay Vaughn (USA) Gino | 75.955% | 75.525 | 75.700 | 77.000 | 76.075 | 75.475 |
| 2. | Brittney Eastgate (CAN) Kartsevo Goldfinch | 72.020% | 70.000 | 73.400 | 74.175 | 72.650 | 69.875 |
| 3. | Cyndi Jackson (USA) Florisson | 69.465% | 69.975 | 70.100 | 68.550 | 69.775 | 68.925 |
| 4. | Nadine Schwartsman (USA) Royal Flash R | 69.315% | 65.950 | 70.050 | 71.375 | 71.400 | 67.800 |
 Find details on Equestrian Hub |
