Press release from HITS Hudson Valley – Saugerties, edited by World of Showjumping

A little bad weather can’t keep a good man down — or something along those lines — and that was exactly the case for Mark Bluman (ISR) as he left it all on the field, despite some serious rain, in the $116,050 Maria Mendelsohn/Douglas Elliman CSI3* Grand Prix on Saturday, July 18, 2026.

Taking center stage in the Douglas Elliman Grand Prix Stadium, the Prix was the marquee event during the kickoff week of the 2026 HITS Hudson Valley Jumping Tour™ held at HITS Hudson Valley in Saugerties, New York. The hugely popular three-week series includes a weekly CSI3* division, as well as a World Champion Hunter Rider (WCHR) designation during the second week. Saving his secret weapon for a special day, Bluman earned his second win in as many days as he captured the winning honors of the $116,050 Maria Mendelsohn/Douglas Elliman CSI3* Grand Prix with longtime partner, Ubiluc (Ubiko x Lucian). 

FEI Level 4 course designer Anderson Lima’s (MEX) talents were on full display as contending athletes walked the opening track Saturday morning. Spanning the entirety of the venue’s most prestigious arena, Lima’s challenge for the competitors asked both questions of pace and delicacy, fitting for the field of 26 top horse-and-rider duos, which included representatives from seven different nations.

U.S. Olympian Mclain Ward was the first to punch his ticket to the jump-off with his mount for the upcoming FEI World Championships in Aachen, Germany, High Star Hero (Zazu x Darco), Michael Smith’s 13-year-old SBS gelding. As the fourth entry in the starting order, Columbia’s Roberto Teran Tafur on Henry Jota Apolonio (Chester Z x Quidam de Revel) produced a fault-free finish, quickly securing a jump-off. In total, eight pairings achieved a successful first round, and the tumultuous skies that had loomed parted just long enough for an exciting short course stage to be set. 

Ward set the standard once again as the first to return and put pressure on the remaining challengers after clocking in an impressive time of 36.470 seconds. With each passing round that missed the mark, it appeared that Ward had effectively shut the door from the start — until it was Bluman’s turn to challenge. 

“We’re triers, you know,” expressed Bluman. “So I watched Mclain’s jump-off and I said, ‘Ah, we’ll give it a shot; what’s the worst that can happen?’ 

“I never think the door is closed in a jump-off,” he continued. “I’m always going to try to beat whoever’s winning. So, yeah, his jump-off was extremely fast, but today the cards were on our side of the table.”

Unleashing the incredible cat-like speed the Over The Top Stables LLC’s 14-year-old Mecklenburg stallion is known for, Bluman achieved what most felt was impossible and sliced an entire second from Ward’s previous leading time to stop the timers in an unbelievable 35.370 seconds.

“He’s super experienced and he moves quite fast across the ground,” explained Bluman. “I stuck to my plan with the numbers, and I think I did exactly the same numbers as Mclain did. My horse is just a little bit slicker than his horse. I caught a good gallop from fence one and I just rode it all the way around, and [Ubiluc] responded very well.”

Though several challengers followed, a change at the top was not to be, and the Bluman family ultimately sat both first and third, as cousin Daniel Bluman (ISR) rounded out the top three aboard Thursday’s $62,480 CSI3* Welcome Stake winner, Gemma W (Luidam x Unaniem), the 15-year-old KWPN mare also owned by Over The Top Stables, LLC. Ward ended up splitting the difference, taking the reserve position aboard High Star Hero, while also securing fifth place with Supersox Ter Leydonck (Bamako de Muze x Comme Il Faut). 

“We bought him when he was six years old and he is 14 now,” detailed Mark Bluman of the longevity and bond the family has with Ubiluc. “I rode him a little bit when he was six and seven; then Daniel took over for a few years, and then I got him back. He’s done everything for me. It’s his first show back in two months, and to start again with a win, it’s great, and he doesn’t owe me or the family anything. We’re just getting to enjoy every single run we can get together, and as long as he’s happy, we’re going to continue going.”