It's Two in a Row for Sean Jobin & Darius in the WEC $5,000 Welcome Stake 1.35m

Sean Jobin and Darius take home the blue in the $5,000 Welcome Stake 1.35 m for the second week in a row.

Sean Jobin and Foxridge Farms’ Darius (Warrant x Sanita) stole the show for the second week in a row in this afternoon’s $5,000 Welcome Stake 1.35 m sponsored by CWD Sellier. The pair were absolutely simpatico, riding each step perfectly in sync and besting twenty one entries to take home the consecutive win. However, unlike last week’s Welcome Stake where Jobin and Darius delivered the only double clear ride of the class, the pair were challenged this week by two other entries with fast, double clear rounds.

The course for this afternoon’s course for the $5,000 Welcome Stake 1.35 m sponsored by CWD Sellier was designed by Bobby Murphy of Lexington, Kentucky. It began with entries navigating a vertical on the diagonal heading home, then bent to an oxer on a slight diagonal on the quarter line. From there, entries rode up the opposite diagonal over a vertical that led to a one stride combination, then rounded the top of the ring to catch an oxer that bent to a combination on the rail and continued to a vertical near the ingate. Next, entries rode up a line on the diagonal, then jumped an oxer angled down the rail at the top of the ring. Entries then bent to a line on the rail and galloped through the timers to finish.

Wilhelm Genn and Van Gogh were first to jump double clear over the gorgeous new Flexi Equine Tack Lockers jump.

Near the top of the order was Wilhelm Genn and his own Van Gogh (Valentino x Calina Z), an eleven year old chestnut Oldenburg gelding. The pair were on fire last week after winning the $25,000 WEC Grand Prix. Genn and the scopey gelding had just come off of a short break following a fantastic Winter, stepping right back into the show ring with expert ability. This afternoon, the pair were the first to deliver a clear first round, crossing the timers at 77.016 seconds, about five seconds under the time allowed of 82 seconds.

Genn and Van Gogh continued straight to the jump off of the Table II event. The course for the jump off began over the oxer on the quarter line angled toward the ingate, then guided entries up a vertical on the diagonal. From there, entries rolled back to the combination on the rail heading home, then continued to the vertical near the ingate. Entries then jumped the in of the diagonal line, then finished by rolling back to catch the line on the rail heading home. Genn and Van Gogh increased their pace but hugged every turn, shaving crucial seconds off of their time. The pair crossed the timers with all rails up at 40.587 seconds, setting the time to beat for the remaining entries.

Samantha Mackenzie and WBS Fenise clear a vertical.

None managed a double clear round until Samantha Mackenzie and her own WBS Fenise (VDL Campbell x Wica van de Hermitage) took to the course. Mackenzie and the nine year old KWPN gelding rode a fantastic first round, jumping clear in a time of 76.142 seconds and continuing straight to the jump off. The pair were quick, and very careful, ensuring a clear round. Mackenzie and WBS Fenise stopped the clock at 42.350 seconds, securing the second place spot.

Sean Jobin and Darius jump into first place.

Near the end of the order was last week’s Welcome Stake winners Sean Jobin and Foxridge Farms’ Darius (Warrant x Sanita), an eleven year old Dutch Warmblood gelding. Along with their Welcome win last week, the pair also took third in the $25,000 WEC Grand Prix, remaining neck and neck with Wilhelm Genn and Van Gogh throughout the week. Like Genn and Van Gogh, Jobin and Darius had a successful Winter, taking several top placings at both HITS in Ocala, Florida and the Venice Equestrian Tour in Venice, Florida. This afternoon, Jobin piloted Darius through the first course in a speedy 76.104 seconds, then continued straight to the jump off. The pair worked in unison throughout the short course, both clearly knowing each other’s plan and following through flawlessly. Jobin and the bay gelding rode the inside track, making up time, but stole the win when they left out a stride in the last line, crossing the timers at 39.597 seconds with all rails up. Their quick thinking and undeniable accuracy secured the pair a first place finish, moving Genn and Van Gogh to second place and Mackenzie and WBS Fenise to third place.

We caught up with Jobin of Ocala, Florida after the Welcome Stake to chat about his second win in a row aboard Darius here at WEC. “He was my second ride this afternoon and I had a little bit more of an advantage this time going right near the end of the class. There were only about three left, so I kind of knew what I had to do to win,” said Jobin, referring to his win last week when he rode early in the order. Jobin went on to explain his strategy in the jump off, “I just tried to stay on top of it early in the turns and I figured, if I could get the six in the last line, I would probably have it. When we were walking it, it seemed like a long seven, so originally my plan was to do the seven there. We just got going in really nice and it seemed within reach, so we went for the six.”

Jobin was thrilled with Darius’ performance this afternoon and describes the eleven year old Dutch Warmblood gelding as being a quick, scopey horse with a fantastic personality, “He’s one of those horses that I really love riding,” says Jobin. Jobin clearly feels confident in Darius’ ability to succeed as a Grand Prix horse and we wish them the best as they progress throughout the Summer season.

$5,000 Welcome Stake 1.35 m Results