Well Played and Jennifer Jones Hit the Right Note for Grand Hunter Championship at Saratoga Classic I

The Saratoga Classic I awarded the first championships of the week on Thursday, June 11, 2026, at White Hollow Farm in Stillwater, NY. Well Played, ridden by Jennifer Jones and owned by Clementina Brown, was named the Grand Hunter Champion. In the Dammerman International Ring, Christian Coyle and his own Ma Pomme de Tamerville, were fastest to win the 1.35m Welcome Stake.

Well Played is usually ridden by trainer Chrissy Serio, but after a fall last week, Jones was asked to step in as the horse’s professional rider this week. Jones rode Well Played in the ticketed warm-up on Tuesday before entering the show ring on Wednesday.

“He was perfectly prepared for me both days, so I just had to get a little feel of him, and today I thought the trips were better, just because I knew him a tiny bit better,” said Jones, who is based in nearby Clifton Park, NY, this summer. “Today I was able to fine tune a few things, and I thought that was what made the biggest difference. He's really brave, has a really nice jump, and a deceivingly long canter stride. He is so willing, and he does everything so well. He’s an absolutely beautiful horse, and he’s very nice to ride.”

The pair won every class in the Conformation Hunter division to handily take the Grand Hunter Championship.
Louise and Chrissy Serio saw Well Played, known as “Welly” in the barn, a year ago at the Blue Rock Horse Show with Jill Shull. Brown purchased Welly, and he finished his green year in 2025 before moving up to the Green Conformation Hunters in 2026. “Jill did a nice job with him, and we were just lucky to find him,” said Louise.

While Chrissy has been competing with Welly – including a model win and top ribbons at the Devon Horse Show – owner Clementina Brown will start to solely take over the reins and show in the Amateur-Owner 3’6” Hunters.

“He is a gorgeous horse,” Louise commented of the seven-year-old Westphalian gelding by Del’Arko D’Henvet. “He has been super for Tina. He’s very mellow, mild-mannered, and level-headed. There are a lot of things that make him good as an amateur horse. You walk in the ring, and you're a little ahead of the curve with that beautiful look, and he's a beautiful mover, not spooky, and has a nice stride. All those things make him lovely for anybody to ride, really.”

Serio showed regularly in Saratoga at its previous venue and has brought her business to White Hollow Farm for the past three years. “I like the showgrounds, and the competition is just right,” she described. “The ring is beautiful. They do a wonderful job keeping everything going, working the footing, and organizing the schedule. I like being close to Saratoga, and it's a great place to be in the summer.”

For riding the Grand Hunter Champion, Jones was presented with the Saratoga Award, sponsored by Glenwood Farm and Chris Brown Design Group.

Coyle Tallies Welcome Stake Victory

As first to go in the class and the fastest of four in the jump-off, Christian Coyle and Ma Pomme de Tamerville took the win in the 1.35m Welcome Stake. They finished in 40.272 seconds with a clear round ahead of Phoebe Topping and For Me D’Able, who stopped the timers in 44.930 seconds. Third place went to Alice Cassidy and Ace of Spaces, who had a time of 45.251 seconds.

It was yet another feather in the cap for “Pomme,” who regularly wins at Saratoga Horse Shows.

“She loves it here, to be honest,” said Coyle of the 14-year-old Belgian Warmblood mare by Deauville T&L x Contendro II. “It’s one of Pomme’s favorite shows. I was first to go, and I had a plan and stuck to it. Everything showed up how I liked. In the jump-off, I was pretty quick for the last three jumps. I think that's where I might have pipped it.”

“It was a lovely course, and they’ve been great all week,” he added of the design set by Juan de Dios Alvarez of Costa Rica.

Coyle feels that Pomme hasn’t changed much over the past four years, but he is learning more about her in every ride.

“From the very get go, she was competitive,” he described. “It’s not like I taught her anything. She's very clever, naturally quick, and ultra careful. Actually, I'm still figuring her out. Normally I give her a little bit of space at the jumps and the last few months, I've been putting her a little bit closer and deeper. She seems to be finding it easier that way. The back rails might be getting a little bit farther away for her, so I'm putting her closer to the front rail to make up for it. She is so quick in front that I can do that and get away with it.”

The pair will return on Saturday for the $25,000 Saratoga Grand Prix to defend their title and hope to record a sixth grand prix victory.

Learn More About Ma Pomme de Tamerville:

Favorite Treat: molasses cookies with a mint
Favorite Person: her groom, Angel, and Coyle’s daughters, Daisy and Grace
Special Talent: escaping from her stall to graze in the family’s garden
Schooling Routine: smaller, ramped jumps to warm-up – “I never try and catch her out because she’s such a trier,” said Coyle.

Gallery of Champions

Green Hunter 3’ Champion: Laredo, Jenny Jones, Redfield Farm

Green Hunter 3’3” Champion: Puccini, Lainie Wimberly, Lisa Williams

Green 3’6”/3’9”/High Performance Hunter Champion: Let’s Wait and See HX, Cory Hardy, Redfield Farm

Performance Hunter 3’6” Champion: Soane, Merry Harding, Natalia McCarthy

Performance Hunter 3’3” Champion: Never Better, Sara Taylor, Anne Keesler

Dammerman International Ring and Bainbridge Hunter Ring Scoring and Results

Full Horse Show Results

Saratoga Horse Shows would like to thank its sponsors: Triple Crown Feeds, Take2 Thoroughbreds, Marshall + Sterling, Hyatt Place Saratoga/Malta, Residence Inn, Horseflight, Santa Cruz/Ultra Cruz, Chris Brown Design Group, and Bill Rube. Champion coolers are sponsored by Ride Every Stride.