For the second year in a row, Jessie Springsteen won the $40,000 1.5 meter grand prix at Santa Anita Saturday afternoon, clicking around the jump-off course in 43.93 seconds on Naomi van het Kaisershof, her 2024 victor.
Jessie Springsteen and Naomi van het Keisershof
At the Split Rock 5-star show, Jessie had a good margin over runner-up Natalie Dean and Pedro van d Bariebuis, timed in 46.03 seconds.
Naomi, a 12-year-old Belgian warmblood by Cardento, is in her element at 1.5 meters.
“I went early on in the course so I was really able to stick to my plan,” Jessie explained.
“Sometimes it’s a little bit easier when you just walk in and go with your gut instinct straightaway. She jumps great here. So excited to be back, it’s such a beautiful show, the view is unbelievable,” said Jessie, referring to the moody backdrop of the San Gabriel mountains, which changed color as the sun sank lower.
Jessie pats Naomi for a job well done.
Jessie revealed she has a new horse, an eight-year-old named Rock Star, which is so appropriate, considering her father is Bruce Springsteen. And the horse came with that name, so it obviously was karma.
In 2021, Jessie was on the U.S. silver medal Olympic team in Tokyo, and she would like to try for the podium again when the 2028 Games come to Los Angeles, where she was born.
“That’s something I’m always thinking about and working toward. I’m rebuilding my string right now. It would be a dream come true to compete here,” said Jessie, referring to LA28.
“The venue here is really unbelievable,” she commented.
“It would be so special to have my family and friends come out. They were all cheering at home last time,” she said, referring to the fact that the Tokyo Games were held during Covid, and spectators couldn’t attend..