Wilmington, Ohio – The $30,000 Grand Prix of Winter Classic 12 welcomed elite show jumping athletes to the Sanctuary Arena Saturday evening at World Equestrian Center – Wilmington. Course designer Robert Barton (USA) set a challenging track for the seasoned field of athletes, but it was Sam Pegg (CAN) and Gin Tonic 158 (Graf Top x Sanjador) that returned in top form to earn their second consecutive $30,000 Grand Prix win.
Pegg of Ten Sixty Stables in Uxbridge, Ontario, conquered the technicality of Barton’s first-round track with ease, setting himself up for back-to-back grands prix wins of the 2023 Winter in the Midwest Series.
Pegg spoke on his new mount, “I have only ever had a rail in two or three classes since we’ve owned him, he has gone clear almost every time. I am quite fond of Gin Tonic. He’s got a lot of blood and a big personality, but he certainly knows the sport.”
Returning as the final pair to jump-off, Pegg needed to catch Amy Krebs (USA) and her own nine-year-old Dutch Warmblood gelding Jabantos (Corsari Van De Helle x Cassima) with their lightning quick time of 33.063 seconds. Aboard the incredibly talented ten-year-old Hanoverian gelding, Pegg raced to the finish and ultimately moved Krebs into second place with a leading time of 33.063 seconds.
“I wanted to be clean on my third one in the jump-off,” laughed Pegg. “I wanted to do nine strides from one to two, but I ended up adding in ten. So, after that I had to go a little bit, so I tried to be as fast as I could to the oxer and not hit the vertical-vertical combination. I just let him use his stride across the middle of the ring.”
Pegg shared on his future plans with Gin Tonic 158, “When we get home in the spring, if we can make one more trip south, he will be able to do the 2* division. I will try to do that with him this summer and at the fall shows at home.”
Angel Munoz Gil (ESP) piloted Spy Coast Farm’s Octavius SCF (Diktator Van De Boslandhoeve x Beluga) to their second third place effort of the week. The nine-year-old Belgian Warmblood gelding stepped up to the plate over the challenging track, posting a double a clear effort and jump-off time of 35.992 seconds to round out the podium.
WEC – Wilmington sponsor Vitalize presented the Blazin’ Fastest Four Faulter $500 bonus in the $30,000 WEC Grand Prix to Kevin McCarthy and Jadina, who earned 80.488 seconds in the first round, finishing sixth in the class overall.
$30,000 Grand Prix Results:
1 Gin Tonic 158, Sam Pegg, Ten Sixty Stables | 0 | 33.063
2 Jabantos, Amy Krebs, Amy Krebs | 0 | 33.437
3 Octavius SCF, Angel Munoz Gil, Spy Coast Farm | 0 | 35.992
4 Big Girl Z, Sam Pegg, Ten Sixty Stables | 4 | 33.044
5 Formidable Diamant, Sam Pegg, Phyllis Harlow | 8 | 35.684
6 Jadina, Kevin McCarthy, Sweet Oak Farm | 4 | 80.488
7 Caveman Z, Michael Janson, Kimberly Janson | 4 | 80.833
8 Fortysix & 2, Lyriss Jaeger, Lyriss Jaeger | 4 | 85.27
9 Iconic, Lani Hutchison, Lani Hutchison | 8 | 78.967
10 Kinsella, Charlotte Clark, Charlotte Clark | 8 | 79.251
Amy Krebs & Play To Win Race to $10,000 CWD Futures Prix Win at WEC Ohio Winter Classic 12
The $10,000 CWD Futures Prix set the tone Saturday afternoon for featured show jumping competition of the day. Amy Krebs (USA) and Play To Win (Providence x SPS Calispera S) made light work of Barton’s tracks that proved technical for the field, and posted the fastest double clear for the win.
Molly Kindness (USA) and her own HJ Blind Date (Quindao x Tupasy Cordada) were the first pair to secure a double clear effort and went straight to the top of the leaderboard with a jump-off time of 35.864 seconds.
Kindness, of Berry Hill Equestrian in Lebanon, Ohio, and her seven-year-old Warmblood mare were ultimately bested by Krebs as she immediately followed, leaving the duo with the red ribbon.
Krebs, the 15-year-old junior rider riding out of Fair Chance Farm in Franklin, Tennessee, has demonstrated experience beyond her years in the Sanctuary with her two elite mounts. Aboard her 12-year-old Warmblood gelding, Play To Win, she bested the class with a confident jump-off in a time of 32.543 seconds.
Sam Pegg (CAN) of Ten Sixty Stables in Uxbridge, Ontario, earned another podium finish with the winner of last weeks $10,000 Futures Prix, Claas (Quiran x Braune). The eight-year-old Holsteiner gelding was quick through the turns in the jump-off for a time of 34.334 seconds, but an unfortunate rail at the final fence put the duo in the third place.
$10,000 CWD Futures Prix Results:
1 Play To Win, Amy Krebs, Amy Krebs | 0 | 32.543
2 HJ Blind Date, Molly Kindness, Molly Kindness | 0 | 35.864
3 Claas, Sam Pegg, Ten Sixty Stables | 4 | 34.334
4 Kasandra, Michael Janson, Kimberly Janson | 8 | 33.023
5 Quintessential WF, Kristen Hillier, Nancy Mulholland | 4 | 83.263
6 Frere D’arme, Charlotte Clark, Charlotte Clark | 8 | 80.781
7 I Am Du Bosquetiau, Drew Arnold, Theresa Kraft | 8 | 83.376
8 Mr Miller, Dana Willie, Diana Conlon | 12 | 87.156
9 A La Bonheure, Lindsay Adams, Lindsay Adams | 20 | 85.505