Wilmington, Ohio – The $30,000 Grand Prix stole the spotlight Saturday evening at World Equestrian Center – Wilmington, where Michael Pegg (CAN) set a first-round track that saw four horse-and-athlete combinations move onto the jump-off. Ultimately, the only junior rider in the field, Amy Krebs (USA) came out on top.
Aboard her own, Jabantos (Corsari Van De Helle x Cassima), the pair is no stranger to the winner’s circle, and Krebs was happy to find her place back on top after a troublesome first two rides in the class.
“I was a little bit down after my first two having trouble in the same spot. I knew Jabantos wouldn’t have a problem with it. I trust him so much. He’s not spooky, he’s not quirky. I knew he would be perfect,” Krebs stated.
Krebs shared her thoughts on Pegg’s technical first-round track, “It was a little tricky. There were a few blind turns like the purple jump by the in gate and a lot of short turns at the far ends of the ring. It was probably one of the more complicated ones out of the tracks that I have jumped here.”
During her last grand prix debut at WEC – Wilmington, Krebs was just shy of the leading time and knew to step on the gas pedal, “I was in the same position tonight. Devin [Milan] really had a strong, quick round. I knew the only place that I could get her was in the last line, so I landed and had to do six strides,” Krebs laughed.
As the final entry to return for the short course, Krebs did what she does best with her 10-year-old Dutch Warmblood gelding and galloped around the track in 31.571 seconds for the win.
Last week’s grand prix winner, Devin Milan (USA) was just shy of the win aboard Garo Kazan’s nine-year-old Zangersheide gelding, Conquest (Colestus x Excellenta C). In a time of 31.821 seconds, the duo settled for the red ribbon.
An unfortunate four fault score in 32.361 seconds landed Shannon Sullivan (USA) and her own 17-year-old Polish Warmblood gelding, Downtown’s Main Event, in third place.
$30,000 Grand Prix Results:
1 Jabantos, Amy Krebs, Amy Krebs | 0 | 31.571
2 Conquest, Devin Milan, Garo Kazan | 0 | 31.821
3 Downtown’s Main Event, Shannon Sullivan, Shannon Sullivan | 4 | 32.361
4 Kinsella, Charlotte Clark, Charlotte Clark | 8 | 32.32
5 Quintessential WF, Kristen Hillier, Windswept Farm II | 4 | 73.782
6 Wheeler, Mara Kranz, Mint Hill Farm | 4 | 80.877
7 Quincidence, Wilhelm Genn, Wilhelm Genn | 8 | 77.324
8 Ike, Amy Krebs, Amy Krebs | 22 | 100.829
Devin Milan Stays on Top with Karlina T in the $10,000 Futures Prix
Devin Milan (USA) returned to the winner’s circle to claim her third featured win in the past two weeks in the $10,000 Futures Prix with Karlina T (Cabrio Van De Heffinck x Goberlina T) to kick off Saturday show jumping action.
The young professional of Ann Arbor, Michigan, set an immediate quick pace as the second rider in the posted order, and the first to post a double clear effort.
Milan attributed her success to a recent change of tack for the nine-year-old KWPN mare, “I was doing her in a happy mouth snaffle, but earlier this week I felt like I was having to manage her quite a bit and she wasn’t very responsive. She has a long neck and a long back, so putting her together is something we are always working on,” said Milan.
“We decided to try her in a pelham on Thursday and the first time that I rode her in it was right before the welcome. She really respected it and has been able to keep her hind end underneath her. I was able to ride a lot lighter today.”
Milan found each fence on an open gallop around the jump-off track for a time of 38.155 seconds and was unable to be caught by the remainder of the field to take the win.
“She was in the right spot today and she was really focused. I was able to leave her alone a lot today. She jumped really soft and was a lot straighter over the fences. She didn’t twist or shift left, so it all worked out today,” Milan was pleased with the mare’s rideability.
Wilhelm Genn (GER) guided Klaus Mauer’s coming eight-year-old Oldenburg mare, Katinka (Kannan x Maylin) to a confident double clear effort in 39.926 seconds for second place, adding a significant success to the young mare’s record.
Melissa Crain’s 13-year-old Selle Francais gelding, Boxted Boy, carried Ann Holiday (USA) to an efficient time of 42.039 seconds to round out the top three.
$10,000 Futures Prix Results:
1 Karlina T, Devin Milan, Garo Kazan | 0 | 38.155
2 Katinka, Wilhelm Genn, Klaus Mauer | 0 | 39.926
3 Boxted Boy, Ann Holiday, Melissa Crain | 0 | 42.039
4 Igor Van Gogh, Amy Taylor, Amy Taylor | 0 | 42.253
5 Downtown’s Chicago, Shannon Sullivan, Shannon Sullivan | 0 | 44.226
6 Dominant Z, Christopher Schenk, Christopher Schenk | 4 | 38.854
7 Chaccomo 11, Drew Arnold, Theresa Kraft | 4 | 50.418
8 I Am Du Bosquetiau, Drew Arnold, Theresa Kraft | 4 | 76.431
9 Trig Happy Wind Van Het Eikenhof, Annalice Weithofer, White Oak Equestrian | 4 | 78.632
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Results can be found at horseshowing.com.
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