Back to Back Wins for Beisel in WEC $25,000 Grand Prix & $7,500 Futures Prix

David Beisel stole the night with two incredible wins in both the $25,000 WEC Grand Prix and the $7,500 Futures Prix 1.30 m sponsored by Voltaire. Beisel dominated on Call Me Hannes (Cassini II x Sestriere) and For Sunday (For Pleasure x Patoile T. H.), both owned by Harlow Investment Enterprises, LLC. Beisel was thrilled with both of his mounts, but even more excited that longtime owner Phyllis Harlow was able to watch the action live from the grand stands of the Sanctuary Arena tonight.

$25,000 WEC Grand Prix

The $25,000 WEC Grand Prix saw a battle for first place between seven riders in the jump off, most of which had double clear rounds and extremely close times. However, it was David Beisel and Call Me Hannes (Cassini II x Sestriere) that prevailed.

The course for tonight’s $25,000 WEC Grand Prix was designed by Tucker Williams of Ocala, Florida, and featured three combinations, several single fences and plenty of options for riders to choose their best track. First in the order of go was David O’Brien aboard Spy Coast Farm’s Kir Royal SCF (Amaretto D Arco x Werly Chin de Muze), winners of the $5,000 Welcome Stake 1.35 m earlier this week and last week. The pair jumped a quiet, composed first round in 76.288 seconds, still about three seconds under the time allowed of 79 seconds.

David Beisel and Call Me Hannes clear an oxer with ease.

Next in the ring was David Beisel aboard Harlow Investment Enterprises, LLC’s Call Me Hannes. The pair were one rail shy of a win in the $5,000 Welcome Stake 1.35 m earlier this week with an impressively fast time in the jump off. Beisel and Call Me Hannes jumped around the course with ease, never touching a rail. Call Me Hannes was sure to let the crowd know he meant business tonight, jumping the fences with powerful style and his signature tail flick. The pair went clear and crossed the timers at a conservative 77.839 seconds, saving plenty of energy for the short round.

Charlotte Clark also joined the pack of seven horse and rider pairs heading to the jump off aboard her own Kinsella (Capitalist x Jerpoint Mist). The pair won the $25,000 WEC Grand Prix during Week 2 of the Winter Series of the Midwest, and were back to try to reclaim their title. Clark and Kinsella held the fastest first round time, blazing around the course and leaving all of the rails up in just 69.747 seconds.

Charlotte Clark and Kinsella take second place by just two-one-hundredths of a second.

The course was reset for the jump off, and first in the order was David O’Brien and Kir Royal SCF. The pair were quick, taking their notoriously tight turns and setting a time to beat of 38.053 seconds. David Beisel and Call Me Hannes followed directly after, picking up the pace and taking even tighter turns than O’Brien and Kir Royal SCF. The pair galloped through the timers at an incredible 37.103 seconds, challenging the five remaining entries to beat their time. Charlotte Clark and Kinsella nearly did just that, mimicking Beisel’s turns and riding at a brisk pace throughout the course. The pair crossed the timers at 37.125 seconds, just two-one-hundredths of a second behind Beisel and Call Me Hannes, leaving them in first place. Beisel received a prize pack from Horse First for his win and a $100 Dandy Products gift certificate, while his groom received the Groom’s Award for Call Me Hannes’ stunning turnout, which included $100 cash and a $50 WEC Gift Card.

We caught up with David Beisel of David Beisel Stables in Goshen, Ohio after the class to chat about his ride. “Hannes is thirteen years old, so he’s pretty seasoned,” Beisel explained. “We were in Florida last week, where his owners live, so I had planned to give him this week off, but Mrs. Harlow said, ‘Well, we’re coming up next week, we would love to watch him show,’ so I said, ‘Great, that sounds wonderful!’ I’m really happy Mrs. Harlow told me I needed to show the horse today. He went great. He had the time to win the Welcome Stake with one down, so I knew he would be fast enough. He really was jumping his heart out tonight.”

Watch David Beisel and Call Me Hannes jump to the win, courtesy of ShowNet

$25,000 WEC Grand Prix Results

Call Me Hannes, David Beisel – 0 | 0 | 37.103
Kinsella, Charlotte Clark – 0 | 0 | 37.125
Kir Royal SCF, David O’Brien – 0 | 0 | 38.053
Lazuli II SCF, Jennifer Waxman – 0 | 0 | 43.304
Starridor, David O’Brien – 0 | 4 | 41.222
Essince W, David Beisel – 0 | 4 | 43.614
Pourkoipa Fontaine, David O’Brien – 0 | R | R
Mauna Lani, Lanie Thomas – 4 | 74.094
Five Star, David Beisel – 4 | 76.392
Gotye, Neil Badcock – 4 | 78.608

$7,500 Futures Prix 1.30 m

The $7,500 Futures Prix 1.30 m sponsored by Voltaire Design not only saw a second fantastic win by David Beisel, but Beisel also took second place in the class and his student, Logan Taylor, took fourth place. The course for the Futures Prix was also designed by Tucker Williams of Ocala, Florida and, like the Grand Prix, featured three combinations, many single fences and plenty of opportunities for quick turns.

First to go in the class was Logan Taylor and REV Media Marketing, LLC’s With A Little Help Sir (Sir Shutterfly x Hauptstutbuch Lissy). With A Little Help Sir is a newer mount for Taylor, but she managed his power impeccably, riding a quiet, patient first round, leaving all of the rails up in a time of 72.945 seconds, well within the time allowed of 79 seconds. The pair continued straight to the jump off of the Table II event, picking up the pace and taking quick, tight turns. Taylor was all smiles as the pair went clear and crossed the timers at 40.031 seconds, setting the time to beat for the remaining entries in the class.

David Beisel rode Maarten Huygens’s Angelo (Conthargos x Grand Ronja) midway through the class. The pair have a great rapport, placing second in the Futures Prix during Week 1 of the Winter Series of the Midwest. Beisel and Angelo were also patient in the first round, conserving energy for the jump off. The pair crossed the timers with all rails up at 75.629 seconds and continued to the short round. Beisel piloted Angelo through a quick, precise course in the jump off, crossing the timers at 38.889 seconds and moving themselves to the top of the leader board.

David Beisel and For Sunday soar over an oxer.

Beisel also had the final ride of the class aboard Harlow Investment Enterprises, LLC’s For Sunday (For Pleasure x Patoile T. H.). The pair took first place in the $7,500 Futures Prix 1.30 m during Week 4 of the Winter Series of the Midwest, and brought their A-game again to the class tonight. The pair were careful and fast in the first round, stopping the clock at 74.281 seconds and continuing to the jump off. Beisel and For Sunday put their speed into overdrive, galloping around the course and never touching a rail. The pair blazed through the timers at 38.373 seconds, moving themselves into first place for the win in the class.

Beisel was equally as happy with his placings in the $7,500 Futures Prix 1.30 m sponsored by Voltaire. “For Sunday was my winning ride,” said Beisel, “She’s definitely her own type. I’ve been riding her for four years. She’s always competitive and loves to go. She had some great ribbons in Florida, but couldn’t quite get a win, so it was nice to come back here and get a win for her. She just did one warm up class yesterday, then she felt great today.” Beisel also had great compliments for his second place ride, “Angelo is eight years old and I’ve been riding him for two months. Maarten Huygens owns him. He’s super fun, super careful and very competitive. It’s nice to have a team of competitive ones!”

Beisel’s student, Logan Taylor, took fourth place in the $7,500 Futures Prix sponsored by Voltaire aboard With A Little Help Sir. Beisel was extremely pleased with Taylor’s ride, saying, “Logan was fourth on her new horse. I watched her go and thought she was going to be pretty hard to beat. It’s always hard going first and I know she would have liked to have been faster, but she was double clear and fast, so that was great!”