Course designer Nick Granat presented 62 entries representing 10 nations with a twisting 1.45m track that featured 13 numbered jumps in Thursday’s $32,000 BrainJuice CSI5* Two-Phase. Jacobs went early in the order with her first mount, Playboy JT Z, then used her knowledge and Cristiano Obolensky’s footspeed to launch to the top of the leaderboard in 26.17 seconds. The class’s top three finishers were within half a second of each other.

“First I jumped the horse that I’m going to ride in the Grand Prix on Sunday, and I knew I had Cristiano coming later,” Jacobs said. “I really wanted to take a swing and win the class with him. I was very happy with the results with both.

“My horse is naturally very, very fast, is ultra careful in the air, and has a lot of experience going quick,” she continued about North Star’s 11-year-old Hanoverian gelding. “I think that came into play today, and it just fell into our lap. Nayel (Nassar) and Samantha (Schaefer) both had amazing rounds, so it was close. It was a great day today. My horses were great here last year, and we’re hoping for the best on Sunday.” 

Second-place honors went to Nayel Nassar (EGY) for his faultless, 26.46-second score aboard Crislin Van Den Bosrand Z (Carambole x Nabab de Rêve), Evergate Stables LLC’s 9-year-old Zangersheide mare. Samantha Schaefer (USA) landed third in 26.51 seconds aboard James Bond HX (Douglas x Cash), Bonne Chance LLC’s 12-year-old Dutch Warmblood gelding. 

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