Podium finishers Lillie Keenan (center), Taylor Landstrom (left) and Clara Propp (right) are joined by Dean Shaw of INEOS. Photo © Shannon Brinkman
Amenia, N.Y. – October 3, 2026—Lillie Keenan of New York, N.Y., celebrated early on Saturday—a day before her birthday—with a victory in the $24,999 INEOS 1.40m Classic riding Alicia Santa Rosa at the 2026 Discovery Land Company Masters during opening week of the Autumn Invitational at Highlands.
Coming off a summer representing the USA—highlighted by an appearance at the FEI World Show Jumping Championship in Aachen, Germany—Lillie Keenan of New York, N.Y., is back and winning stateside.
Alicia Santa Rosa, a 12-year-old Mexican-bred mare (Presley Boy x Cornet Obolensky), is owned by Patricio Pasquel and leased by Keenan’s student Isabel Coxe. After a summer campaigning with Coxe at the international level, Alicia Santa Rosa was last to return in an eight-horse jump-off over Nick Granat’s (USA) track. The winning time was a blazing 28.566 seconds.
“We believe in our system, and in order for us to help it run the best, I will occasionally jump the horses to stay in touch with how they are feeling,” said Keenan about her taking over the reins on Alicia Santa Rosa this week. “If [Isabel] is working on something, I always try to think about how I can help her better, and we have been focused on being faster in the jump-off.
“I had two in the jump-off, which is definitely an advantage,” continued Keenan of her bookends to the jump-off which led off with longtime partner Agana van het Gerendal Z. “I got to have fun with Alicia and let her rip. I wanted to see how far I could push an envelope, and I never took my foot off the gas.”
A second off the pace, Taylor Landstrom of Excelsior, Minn., settled for second riding her own Balounita to a jump-off time of 29.709 seconds. Clara Propp of New York, N.Y., rounded out the podium placings in 31.803 seconds aboard Stakantura for owner Aquitaine Equine.
For complete results from the $24,999 INEOS 1.40m Classic, click HERE.
Earlier in the picture-perfect fall afternoon, Reese Merna of Mendham, N.J., topped the $15,000 Frank & Eileen 1.30m Classic with her own Havanna C2, and 11-year-old Holsteiner mare (Carrico x Cascavelle). In a competitive 13-horse jump-off, the 20-year-old rider took the win with nearly a second to spare.
Argentina’s Lautaro Pena, who is based out of North Salem, N.Y., stopped the clock at 31.510 seconds to Merna’s 30.790. He rode S&L Erving, owned by S&L Farms, while Ireland’s Michael Hutchinson of Wellington, Fla., capped the podium on Cool Lady, owned by Kathryn Eppinger, with a time of 31.591 seconds.
“She’s been an incredible partner for me; she took me around my first 1.30m classes, and has taken me all the way up to the 1.50m,” said Merna, who trains under the direction of John and Beezie Madden, and also jumped Havanna C2 to claim the champion title for the division. “It’s been really special to have her.
“It’s always special to win, especially when there’s so many top competitors that compete at such high levels—you never really expect it, but you can also never count yourself out. It’s a very special show, and I love competing here.”
Complete results from the $15,000 Frank & Eileen 1.30m Classic can be found HERE.
Competition during the Discovery Land Company Masters features exceptional offerings for amateur athletes in a breathtaking setting, as well as three-star FEI competition culminating in Sunday’s featured Discovery Land Company 3* Grand Prix. General admission is free all week, and streaming is available at ClipMyHorse.Tv. For more information on ticketing, special events and schedules, visit www.highlandshudsonvalley.com.
Juan Palacio, Ellen Halle Score Junior/Amateur Victories
Juan Palacio of Wellington, Fla., opened the day with a win in the Horse Pilot 1.0m Junior/Amateur Speed riding Bertille de Feurte, owned by Blue Star Investments. Leading the round of honor for the Alliant Private Client 1.10m Junior/Amateur Speed was Ellen Halle of Baltimore, Md., in the irons of Darido for owner Layla Lane.
Competition at Highlands continues to a peak on Sunday with junior/amateur classics for the YETI 1.20m, Skyline Windows 1.10m and Daily Harvest 1.0m. The Discovery Land Company Masters comes to a celebrated close in the $116,500 3* Grand Prix at 3:30 p.m. Complete results from Highlands Hudson Valley can be found HERE.
About Highlands Hudson Valley
Highlands is a 1,000-acre destination in New York’s Hudson Valley where world-class equestrian competition, luxury hospitality, automotive culture, art, and philanthropy come together. Home to The Autumn Invitational—a collection of signature events including the Discovery Land Company Masters, Highlands Cup, and Bridlemont Concours—it creates immersive experiences that celebrate sport while supporting meaningful community impact throughout the Hudson Valley. Highlands activations include The Gallery Experience, curated by acclaimed artist Brendan Murphy, as well as a Kid Zone, Fan Zone, The Shops at Highlands, and more. Highlands Horse Show Inc. is a New York 501(c)(3) nonprofit corporation. To learn more, visit www.highlandshudsonvalley.com.