Wilmington, Ohio – Lani Hutchison (USA) rose to the top of the leaderboard once again at WEC – Wilmington Winter Classic 9, marking her second consecutive $30,000 Grand Prix victory with her own Duc De Jentiere (Vagabond De La Pomme).
Anderson Lima designed the tracks that Hutchison found technical, “I try to ride in the moment. Today was probably one of the more difficult tracks that I have jumped. I was super happy with how I rode from 11 to 12. Typically, when I am clear, the last line is a make it or break it moment. He was super today. I couldn’t have asked for anything more.”
Despite the difficulty, Hutchison proved dominant in the class as the only one to jump a clear effort to take the win.
Hutchison was thrilled with her 12-year-old Selle Francias gelding’s back-to-back wins and was accompanied by the cheerful team at Kendalwood Farm in the winner’s circle.
“It is crazy winning two in a row! I have worked so hard to figure out this horse. Going into today, I was thinking of last week. He jumped super on Thursday. I went out with the mentality that if I could go clear, maybe it would be a short jump-off again. He just blows me away every day.”
Rachael Lively piloted A Horse Of Course LLC’s eight-year-old Warmblood gelding, Wavo Alvaro (Cento Lano Arcus x Wavo Aretha), to second place with four faults in 82.461 seconds.
Third place honors were awarded to Kendra Gohr and Bethany Parins’ 13-year-old Oldenburg gelding, Rocsegreto (Roc USA x Mercedes), with eight faults in 80.34 seconds.
$30,000 Grand Prix Results:
1 Duc De Jentiere, Lani Hutchison, Lani Hutchison | 0 | 76.307
2 Wavo Alvaro, Rachael Lively, A Horse Of Course LLC | 4 | 82.461
3 Rocsegreto, Kendra Gohr, Bethany Parins | 8 | 80.34
4 Necolas, Owen Reich, Owen Reich | 8 | 87.97
5 Curious George, Aiden Udelson, Rileigh Tibbott | 9 | 84.84
6 Gold D’elle, Charlotte Clark, Charlotte Clark | 10 | 85.617
Mademoiselle-A Carries Anleigh Ahlert to Victory in the $10,000 Futures Prix
Anleigh Ahlert (USA) led the victory gallop for Saturday afternoon’s $10,000 Futures Prix at Winter Classic 9 aboard Grier School’s Mademoiselle-A (Corland x Jonka-A) and was celebrated with the loudest cheering section in Standlee Sanctuary.
Ahlert felt grateful for the talented mare after their first move up to the 1.30m, “She belongs to the Grier School, where I ride. We just got her donated to the school about two months ago. She is incredible. She has shown in the grands prix and this is my first time doing 1.30m with her. She is an incredible horse, and it is a wonderful experience to be able to ride her. I am just so grateful. She is amazing.”
Anderson Lima’s tracks welcomed the group of horse-and-rider combinations where three pairs jumped double clean.
“I thought the course was great. She felt really good going into it. I did the 1.20m and it didn’t go as well, so this was a good redeemer,” Alhert laughed. “It rode really well, and I couldn’t have asked for more from her today. She was jumping amazing.”
Alhert and the 13-year-old Belgian Warmblood mare were the winners by over two seconds, stopping the clock in 41.4 seconds.
“WEC is a beautiful facility. We went to WEC – Ocala and showed for the very first time together and it was great. But coming here was definitely more of a step up for us because this was our first time moving up, but it was a great experience,” Alhert shared.
Thursday’s Welcome Stake winners were just behind – Sarah Sturges (USA) and her own Labyrinth (Zirocco Blue VDL x Warone). The nine-year-old American Warmblood gelding jumped another consistent double clear effort in 43.79 seconds for second place.
Laura Hauser (USA) and her own 13-year-old Hanoverian gelding, Donizetti 42 (Diarado x Sevilla), rounded out the top three in 45.809 seconds.
$10,000 Futures Prix Results:
1 Mademoiselle-A, Anleigh Ahlert, Grier School | 0 | 41.4
2 Labyrinth, Sarah Sturges, Sarah Sturges LLC | 0 | 43.79
3 Donizetti 42, Laura Hauser, Laura Hauser | 0 | 45.809
4 Lucky Star Van’t Eigenlo, Laura Hauser, Laura Hauser | 4 | 71.806
5 Fountain Blue, Jaafar Reza Quovase, Jaafar Reza Quoavase | 4 | 72.252
6 Borsalino Birdavenue, Leighton Goldberg, Leighton Goldberg | 8 | 69.196
7 Fortysix & 2, Lyriss Jaegar, Lyriss Jaegar | 12 | 72.521