Edited press release from Spruce Meadows

Elena Haas (USA) and the 10-year-old gelding Ogue Bt Special (I'm Special de Muze x Ars Vivendi) were the fastest in Wednesday's CSI5* 1.50m Friends of the Meadows at Spruce Meadows 'North American'.

Haas and Ogue Bt Special completed Santiago Varela's course in 70.73 seconds, followed by Lillie Keenan (USA) and Opium JW van de Moerhoeve TN (Kannan x Nabab de Reve) in 73.16s. Amy Millar (CAN) and Christiano (Canoso x Compliment) came third with a time of 74.73s.

“I felt very much in rhythm with him today,” Haas said. “He’s been jumping great here. I felt confident to go out and give it our all today. I’m so thrilled with how he jumped."

On Thursday, Haas will have two horses entered into the Jayman Built Cup qualifier in anticipation of Saturday’s ATCO Queen Elizabeth II Cup Grand Prix – the biggest event of the Spruce Meadows Summer Series.

“We definitely have our eyes set on the Queen Elizabeth Cup,” said Haas about this week's goals. “It’s the class I’ve looked forward to jumping for a long time, so hopefully we’ll get a shot at it. Hopefully all goes well with the qualifier tomorrow. We’ll be in good form for that.”

In the 1.45m The Partners, the top honours went to Robert Blanchette (IRL) and Chardonnay (Comme Il Faut 5 x Jus De Pomme), while John Perez Bohm (COL) and Douee du Mesnil (Calvaro F.C. x Quarnac du Mesnil) won the 1.45m The Crew Cup.