Wilmington, Ohio – The $30,000 Grand Prix stole the spotlight Saturday evening at World Equestrian Center – Wilmington in the Standlee Sanctuary Arena. The crowd went silent as 13 competitors tackled international course designer Michael Pegg’s (CAN) towering tracks. At the end of blazing fast six horse jump off, it was Richard Rinehart (USA) and Vincent (Van Gogh x Nirande) that sped to the victory.
Rinehart, of Rinehart Farm in Westfield, Indiana, made a grand return to the indoor facility aboard his winningest mount, Vincent, owned by Ron Caraway.
“He is a fantastic horse. He was really fit down in Florida, so we came home and relaxed for a few weeks. I didn’t do a whole lot of prep and yesterday I realized I should have done more,” laughed Rinehart. “He is happy to be back in Ohio! He really brought his game face. Every round this week got better and better. I am so thankful for this horse and to his owner Ron Caraway.”
The 11-year-old Dutch Warmblood gelding was in top form as he returned to contest the short course. With Rinehart in the irons, the duo galloped down to the final oxer for a leading time of 40.16 seconds to earn yet another victory in the Standlee Sanctuary.
“I didn’t want to try and out run horses that hadn’t gone. I planned to start on a medium stride in the jump-off. I opened up the stride to the third fence and met it well, but he spooked a bit off the ground. At that point, I didn’t want to take big risk to open up the pace. From eight to nine I walked a very direct forward eight and I met it quite well. I asked him to get right up there, and it carried a nice momentum up to the last in and out,” Rinehart shared on his winning jump-off round.
Junior rider Izzy Beisel (USA), of David Beisel Stables in Goshen, Ohio, came in a close second place aboard Vegas H (Valentino x Cobrah). The familiar duo made light work of the tracks and negotiated an easy double clear with a jump-off time 42.061 seconds to earn second place.
Australia’s Samuel Overton, of Overton Showjumping, rounded out the podium with his talented mount Oaks Cassanova (Ego Casablanca x Oaks Alto). The 14-year-old Warmblood gelding jumped in textbook form, setting himself up for a successful debut FEI™ World Cup Finals in Omaha, Nebraska. In 45.433 seconds, the duo snagged third place.
WEC – Wilmington sponsor Vitalize presented the Blazin’ Fastest Four Faulter $500 bonus in the $30,000 Grand Prix to Sam Pegg and Formidable Diamant, who earned 72.725 seconds in the first round, finishing second in the class overall.
$30,000 Grand Prix Results:
1 Vincent, Richard Rinehart, Ron Caraway | 0 | 40.16
2 Vegas H, Izzy Beisel, David Beisel | 0 | 42.061
3 Oaks Cassanova, Samuel Overton, Samuel Overton | 0 | 45.433
4 Kinsella, Charlotte Clark, Charlotte Clark | 4 | 42.704
5 Diaz Barbotiere, Izzy Beisel, Izzy Beisel | 8 | 41.334
6 Iconic, Lani Hutchison, Lani Hutchison | 8 | 46.212
7 Classic Roc, Nick Novak, Nick Novak | 3 | 79.947
8 Formidable Diamant, Sam Pegg, Phyllis Harlow | 4 | 72.725
9 Gin Tonic 158, Sam Pegg, Ten Sixty Stables | 4 | 73.265
10 Nightshade SCF, Sarah Meier, Sarah Meier | 4 | 76.659
Drew Arnold & Chaccomo 11 Prove Unbeatable in the $10,000 Futures Prix at Winter Classic 15
The $10,000 Futures Prix of Winter Classic 15 set the tone for jumper competition in the Standlee Sanctuary Arena Saturday evening at World Equestrian Center – Wilmington. Of the 16 starters that navigated Pegg’s tracks, it was Drew Arnold (USA) aboard Theresa Kraft’s Chaccomo 11 (Chacco-Blue x Sacenta) that took an early lead to win the class.
As the first to go in the order, Arnold of Carmel, Indiana, immediately posted the fastest double clear, leaving the rest of the starters unable to catch his quick effort.
Arnold commented on Pegg’s flowing courses, “I wanted to have a nice first round, it was a really nice track. Chaccomo turns better to the right than the left, and there was a fair amount of right turns in the jump-off. I have been working on trying not to hit the brakes so much in the jump-off and just helping him do his job. I just let him take over a little bit. I went in and tried to have fun more than anything!”
Arnold guided the incredibly special 14-year-old Mecklenburg gelding to a consistent first round to move onto the immediate jump-off phase. “I have had him for two years now. He came from the Genn’s and he is probably the sweetest horse in the barn. He is super personable and has the biggest heart. He always wants to try for you. He has his own style of going but he will always give 120%,” Arnold spoke highly of his mount.
Making every inside turn and opening up a gallop to the final fence, the duo landed through the timers in 35.68 seconds for the win.
“Chaccomo has an amazing owner, so he gets all the love and care at home! The horses maybe jump once a week at home. I am really big on turnout and just letting them be horses. I focus mostly on flat work to keep them fit for the shows. Chaccomo knows his job since he is a little bit older so it is more about keeping him mentally and physically happy.”
Sam Pegg, of Ten Sixty Stables, returned on a frequent class winner, Class (Quiran x Braune) to jump an effortless double clear. The eight-year-old gelding yielded a jump-off time of 37.665 seconds to add another podium placing to his growing record with Pegg in the irons.
Vanessa McCaughley stepped up to the $10,000 Futures Prix for the first time Saturday evening aboard her own Eldorado’s Edition (Eldorado Van De Zeshoek TN x Fatendra). McCaughley, training out Olive Hill Sporthorses in Lexington, Kentucky, jumped a solid double clear with her 11-year-old Warmblood gelding for a time of 40.759 seconds to earn third place honors.
$10,000 Futures Prix Results:
1 Chaccomo 11, Drew Arnold, Therese Kraft | 0 | 35.68
2 Claas, Sam Pegg, Ten Sixty Stables | 0 | 37.665
3 Eldorado’s Edition, Vanessa McCaughley, Vanessa McCaughley | 0 | 40.759
4 Apollo, Riley Malina, Riley Malina | 0 | 42.322
5 Azealia, Cooper Beisel, David Beisel | 4 | 35.512
6 Jadina, Kevin McCarthy, Sweet Oak Farm | 4 | 76.718
7 Frere D’Arme, Charlotte Clark, Charlotte Clark | 4 | 78.143
8 Cherry Blue 2, Cooper Beisel, Stellar Farm Inc | 7 | 87.310
9 Live Lucky, Brian Leach, Christina Stuglik | 8 | 79.569
10 Quantico, Madison Tegtman, Madison Tegtman | 8 | 80.815
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Results can be found at wec.net.
All horse show images are provided by Winslow Photography and can be purchased onsite at WEC – Wilmington or online through their website.