Wilmington, Ohio – Twenty jumper athletes returned to World Equestrian Center – Ohio for the first featured class of Summer II. The grand outdoor arena set the stage for the $7,500 Welcome Stake sponsored by Kentucky Equine Research. Just two horse-and-athlete combinations managed to jump a double clear effort, and it was Patricio Rodriguez (ARG) and his own firey mare Corvet Enigma (Corvet Embrujo x Remonta Protuaria) who flew to the win.
Rodriguez and his exuberant chestnut mare returned for Summer II in top form, fresh off a double clear effort in last week’s $25,000 Grand Prix. Rodriguez did not hold back and trusted his mare to the finish.
“I saw Charlie [Jayne] go and knew that he was fast. She has been so consistent, so I wanted to give it a go. She jumped double clear in the Grand Prix last week and I was a bit more conservative in the jump-off. She is super game and always careful and fast. I just need to trust her, and she will do her thing. I knew that if it went wrong, I would learn, and if it went right, I would win,” laughed Rodriguez.
Moving onto the immediate jump-off phase, the 11-year-old Warmblood mare stepped into high gear and landed through the timers in 35.929 seconds for their second $7,500 Welcome Stake win of the 2023 Spring/Summer Series.
Rodriguez commented on Joey Rycroft’s (USA) first-round track. “The first round was a nice course. There wasn’t anything super tricky about it, but there were a few oxers out of the turn that I thought might ride a bit tricky. The line after 9A-B was either eight or nine strides. So, there were definitely a few questions throughout the track, but overall, it was a great course for her.”
As the sixth pair to go in the order, Charlie Jayne (USA) held onto his podium placing with his own Millfield Kangaroo (Kannan x Millfield Cloe) through the entirety of the class. Jayne, of Wellington, Florida, was the first to post a double clear effort. The seven-year-old Anglo-European gelding set the tone for his bright future as he ultimately earned the red ribbon in 36.655 seconds.
Frequent visitors to the winner’s circle at WEC – Ohio, Devin Milan (USA) of Ann Arbor, Michigan, piloted her stylish mount, Conquest (Colestus x Excellenta C), to third place. As the final pair to enter the arena, the crowd was on the edge of their seats as Milan piloted Garo Kazan’s eight-year-old Zangersheide gelding to the quickest time of 33.045 seconds, with an unfortunate rail landing them third place.
$7,500 Kentucky Equine Research Welcome Stake Results:
1 Corvet Enigma, Patricio Rodriguez, Patricio Rodriguez LLC | 0 | 35.929
2 Millfield Kangaroo, Charlie Jayne, Charlie & Nicole, LLC | 0 | 36.655
3 Conquest, Devin Milan, Garo Kazan | 4 | 33.045
4 Idool, Stephen Foran, Freedom Woods | 4 | 35.877
5 Hendrik Wildricks, Richard Rinehart, Chris Richards | 8 | 38.768
6 Captain America 10, Luke Rinehart, Catherine Rinehart | 12 | 30.34
7 Farezzo Du Lys Wb, Aidan Reilly-Madan, Aidan Reilly-Madan | 1 | 84.511
8 Ismael, Ashley Stumm, Ashley Stumm | 1 | 84.951
9 Faberlina, Harriet McCord, Sweet Oak Farm | 4 | 76.914
10 FSS Outlaw, Kady Abrahamson, Abrahamson Equestrian LLC | 4 | 78.134