Wilmington, Ohio – The crowd in the Standlee Sanctuary cheered loudly as 16-year-old Amy Krebs (USA) earned her first ever grand prix win in the $30,000 Grand Prix sponsored by Tribute Equine Nutrition at WEC – Wilmington Winter Classic 5.
Krebs, the youngest rider in the field, and her own Jabantos (Corsari Van De Helle x Cassima) bested an eight-horse jump-off of nearly all professional riders.
Not only were they celebrated by their supportive friends and family of Fair Chance Farm, but the entire Saturday evening crowd including her competitors, “I have come so close to winning. I have been second twice, third and fifth. To finally be able to come out on top just feels so good. And the crowd here is so awesome. As I was cantering up to the last combination, I could hear them all already yelling, and I knew I could get it done!”
The junior rider of Franklin, Tennessee, rose to the pressure of the speedy field and spoke on her mindset as she entered for Joe Carnicom’s (USA) jump-off track.
“I had two in it tonight. It made me feel really confident knowing that I had two chances. I think having Jabantos second gave me a bit more confidence because I have been his partner for so long, we know each other inside and out. There were eight in the jump-off, so I knew I had to turn it up a notch. My first one was quick, but I had a rail. I checked the board when I came out to see what I had to do. I just tried to be speedy around the ends, and I have so much trust in him I was able to push it.”
As the second to last to go with her ten-year-old Dutch Warmblood gelding, Sam Pegg (CAN) was still to follow Krebs with his winningest Gin Tonic 158 (Graf Top x Hauptstutbuch).
Pegg posted the fastest time of 33.28 seconds with an unfortunate four faults out of the combination, securing Krebs’ first place position in 33.547 seconds. The young rider also claimed sixth place with her own Ike (Spartacus x Twister).
“I have so much support and everyone loves Elijah [Jabantos]. I think hands down he is everyone’s favorite in the barn. I might be a little biased, but he is so sweet, and he knows he is a good boy. He deserves it,” said Krebs.
Paul Halpern (CAN) and Vanessa Lee’s 12-year-old Holsteiner mare Esra (Bratt Z x Ulibra) capped off their two week stay at WEC – Wilmington with another confident second place finish in 35.721 seconds.
Last week’s dominant duo, Nicole Loochtan and her 10-year-old Belgian Sport Horse stallion It’s Me Du Bosquetiau (Dayton Sitte x Mirette Du Bosquetiau), rounded out the top three with an efficient time of 35.855 seconds.
$30,000 Tribute Equine Nutrition Grand Prix Results:
1 Jabantos, Amy Krebs, Amy Krebs | 0 | 33.547
2 Esra, Paul Halpern, Vanessa Lee | 0 | 35.721
3 It’s Me Du Bosquetiau, Nicole Loochtan, Nicole Loochtan | 0 | 35.855
4 Dolla 3, Sam Pegg, Sam Pegg | 0 | 38.568
5 Gin Tonic 158, Sam Pegg, Sam Pegg | 4 | 33.28
6 Ike, Amy Krebs, Amy Krebs | 4 | 35.381
7 Fortysix & 2, Lyriss Jaeger, Lyriss Jaegar | 4 | 41.914
8 Horales, Dan Kreitl, Kay Dixon | 8 | 40.087
9 Formidable Diamant, Sam Pegg, Harlow Investment Enterprises LLC | 4 | 69.81
10 Quincidence, Wilhelm Genn, Wilhelm Genn | 4 | 71.504
Devin Milan & Karlina T Race to Win in the $10,000 Tipperary Equestrian Futures Prix
The $10,000 Futures Prix sponsored by Tipperary Equestrian at WEC – Wilmington Winter Classic 5 saw a field of horse-and-athlete combinations race to the finish, but none could catch Devin Milan (USA) and Garo Kazan’s Karlina T (Cabrio Van De Heffinck x Goberlina T).
As the second pair to go, Milan set an immediate quick time to beat and waited anxiously with a historically fast group of riders to follow.
“My heart was kind of pounding out my chest! Richard and Luke [Rinehart] are always fast, so I was nervous. It definitely had my adrenaline going a bit,” laughed Milan.
A recent tack change led to success for Milan and her mare, “I started riding in hackamore this week. I think she really likes it because when I collect her it doesn’t disrupt the canter so much and she really likes to go forward to the jumps in it.”
The nine-year-old KWPN mare was in careful form and galloped around the short course in 31.036 seconds to ultimately clinch the win.
“Karla doesn’t take a lot of time in the air. I have been really working on not pulling through the turn and not second guessing myself. I was just trying to make the inside turns. I had done the seven in the first line in the first round so that came up nicely again in the jump-off. She turns really quick on the back side, so I landed, and she was already turning for me and I could just let go in the corner,” Milan commented on the jump-off.
Richard Rinehart (USA) piloted the newest mount to his Rinehart Farm, Lorstakov (Lordanos x Milena V) to a close second place. The experienced 15-year-old Holsteiner gelding jumped an easy double clear in 31.107 seconds, just shy of Milan’s time for second place.
The first to go in the order, Paul Halpern (CAN) held onto a spot in the top three with Elizabeth Thomassin’s Schillino Rold TF (Christian x Schillino Rold). The nine-year-old Danish Warmblood gelding came off a second-place finish in last week’s Futures Prix and rounded out the top three at Winter Classic 5 in 31.933 seconds.
$10,000 Tipperary Equestrian Futures Prix Results:
1 Karlina T, Devin Milan, Garo Kazan | 0 | 31.036
2 Lorstakov, Richard Rinehart, Richard Rinehart | 0 | 31.107
3 Schillino Rold TF, Paul Halpern, Elizabeth Thomassin | 0 | 31.933
4 Kupardie, Nicole Loochtan, Nicole Loochtan | 0 | 32.610
5 Rokeechobee STB, Sam Pegg, Brockelsby Inc | 0 | 33.263
6 Flex Star, Raquel Mazur, Raquel Mazur | 0 | 34.477
7 449 Bravo Zulu, Lynsey Whitace, Lynsey Whitacre | 0 | 34.652
8 Claas 30, Sam Pegg, Sam Pegg | 0 | 34.674
9 Captain America 10, Luke Rinehart, Catherine Rinehart | 4 | 30.79
10 Masoranta, Rebecca Gutstein, Rebecca Gutstein | 4 | 34.75
Make sure to visit the WEC Blog and follow us on social media @worldequestriancenter for full coverage on all feature classes!
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.