Jessica Springsteen’s trainer Stacia Madden had a feeling that her student would have a lucky day leading into the APSCA Maclay Final today, Nov. 1. “I have a real big thing about karma,” said Madden, of Beacon Hill. “When they were doing the draw, and John said ‘pick a good one,’ the next number they pulled was Jessie’s.”

So Madden wasn’t entirely surprised when her student bested 149 riders to capture the ASPCA Maclay Championship. Springsteen, 16, edged out Victoria Birdsall, and Zazou Hoffman finished third.

According to judges Jimmy Torano and Leo Conroy, Springsteen and Birdsall stayed neck-and-neck all day. Birdsall started out on top, with Springsteen right behind her after strong rounds over the first course designed by the judges and Richard Jeffery.

“I was glad going earlier, because sometimes I over-think things,” said Springsteen, who went eighth in the order. “He’s able to extend and collect so easily and that’s what the course asked a lot.”
 
The initial course started out tough, with an oxer-vertical-oxer line right off the bat that caused plenty of stops, rails, and extra strides. Though there were no spooky fences, plenty of smaller questions added up to courses littered with mistakes.

“I thought the course was one of the better courses we’ve seen in a long time,” said Andre Dignelli of Heritage Farm, who trains Birdsall. “I think any good horse and rider could do it and even a weak horse and rider could survive it.”

After a short flat phase, the judges jostled the standings, elevating Springsteen to the top and whittling down a list to their 25 favorites for a second jumping round. Both Birdsall and Springsteen put in solid performances, but the judges called back the top four—Springsteen, Birdsall, Hoffman and Christy DiStefano—for a work-off.
 
“We felt that if Jessica came in as the last rider and nailed it, we weren’t going to test,” said Conroy. “But she had one fence that was weak. So we wanted to give the girls another chance to show us what they could do.”

Last to test, Springsteen sealed victory when she landed on the counter lead after the third fence and held the lead rather than walking through the change like the previous three riders.  The crowd started roaring before she had even cleared the last oxer or halted.

“I think everyone in the place knew it was over [after she held the counter-canter],” said Torano. “When she came out of the turn and hunted the last jump we wanted to stand up and whoop.”

The judges couldn’t have been happier with the riding in today’s competition.

“I have to say I think the trainers in this country are doing a fantastic job,” said Conroy. “The horses are phenomenal. This kid of explains the U.S. success in the last two Olympic Games. All these trainers are terrific at what they do.”

ASPCA Maclay Final Results:
1. Jessica Springsteen    
2. Victoria Birdsall    
3. Zazou Hoffman   
4. Christy DiStefano   
5. Samantha Smith   
6. Laura Pfeiffer.
7. Rachel Udelson   
8. Carolyn Curcio   
9. Lucy Davis       
10. Samantha Senft