Thermal, Calif. – The $75,000 PGA West Grand Prix came down to a closely contested, two-horse jump-off before Avery Griffin and Oh My Star Van Strytem galloped away with the win on Saturday afternoon, February 7, at Desert International Horse Park.
Avery Griffin and Oh My Star Van Strytem. Photo by High Desert Sport Photo
Peter Holmes set a challenging track on the Grass Field for the Desert Circuit 5 featured jumper class, with rails and time faults proving to be a factor for all but Griffin and Emily Esau Williams on Cascarado. In the jump-off, Griffin paved the way, stopping the clock in 41.212 seconds to eventually secure the win by a very narrow margin.
“We knew coming in that [the first round] was pretty challenging,” said Griffin, who trains with Martien Van Der Hoeven. “I got to go kind of middle of the class, so I definitely got to watch a few. [Oh My Star Van Strytem] jumps really, really well on grass. He’s been jumping beautifully lately, so I just stuck to my plan and tried to be very careful in the places that I noticed other people were struggling.”
Avery Griffin and Oh My Star Van Strytem. Photo by High Desert Sport Photo
Griffin continued, “In the jump-off, it was kind of the same thing. I have a fast horse. His feet move very quickly. We just wanted to create a plan and stick to it and make [Emily] chase me a little bit. It ended up working out in my favor.”
Williams and Cascarado, owned by McKee Sport Horses LLC, certainly gave Griffin a run for her money, but they came up just over one-tenth of a second shy of the win to take second in 41.329 seconds. Finishing in third place with three time faults in the first round were Tali Dejong and her own Cas Final.
At just 18 years old, Griffin was also presented as the winner of the $5,000 Perfect Products U25 held concurrently.
Avery Griffin was also presented as the winner of the $5,000 Perfect Products U25 held concurrently. Photo by High Desert Sport Photo
Griffin has been partnered with Oh My Star Van Strytem – a 12-year-old Belgian Warmblood gelding owned by PBC Equine Investments LLC – for roughly two years, and throughout that time, they have garnered experience jumping on the grass. However, this week marked Griffin’s first time taking to the spacious grass at DIHP.
“It was a really, really incredible experience,” said Griffin. “I did one of my other mares out here this morning, and they’re all just flying. They have so much stride. It’s really an incredible field.”
Longtime members of PGA West were among those joining Avery Griffin in her winning presentation. Photo by High Desert Sport Photo
Fittingly, given the sponsor of Saturday’s grand prix, Griffin’s family just became PGA West members last week as they continue to spend much of their winter at DIHP, both horse showing and enjoying much of what the Coachella Valley has to offer.
“[DIHP] was actually one of our first shows together, so it’s really been a great venue for us throughout our partnership,” said Griffin in speaking of her winning mount. “I think this is my fourth year here. I came and did a Gold Star Clinic out here, and it was really incredible. Then we came back, and I jumped some of my first bigger high junior classes out here. I won my first high junior classic out here. It’s just been really nice to realize how much I’ve grown each time I’ve come out here.”
To view full results of the $75,000 PGA West Grand Prix, click here.
Second place went to Emily Esau Williams on Cascarado. Photo by High Desert Sport Photo
With 10 weeks of top-caliber competition, Desert Circuit at Desert International Horse Park continues through March 15, 2026. To learn more and to view a complete schedule of events, visit deserthorsepark.com.