Charlotte Clark and Kinsella Top the $25,000 WEC Grand Prix

An enthusiastic crowd filled the grand stands of the Sanctuary Arena this afternoon to watch both the $25,000 WEC Grand Prix and the $7,500 Futures Prix 1.30 m sponsored by Voltaire Design. The Grand Prix saw twenty two entries contest a forward-riding track designed by Bobby Murphy of Lexington, Kentucky, but ultimately it was Ohio-based Charlotte Clark and her own Kinsella (Capitalist x Jerpoint Mist) that took the win. In the Futures Prix, David Beisel and Harlow Investment Enterprises, LLC’s For Sunday (For Pleasure x Patoile T.H.) captured the win for the second week in a row, this time against a hyper-competitive field of twenty one horse and rider combinations.

No strangers to the winner’s cricle, Charlotte Clark and Kinsella once again claimed victory in the $25,000 WEC Grand Prix.

This afternoon’s $25,000 WEC Grand Prix saw another fantastic win for Charlotte Clark of Kendalwood Farm in Sunbury, Ohio and her own nine year old Irish Sport Horse mare Kinsella (Capitalist x Jerpoint Mist). The pair delivered two clear rounds with expert precision, despite several early rides in the jump off that appeared unbeatable.

Taylor Kain was the pace setter for the class, being the first to jump clear both in the first round and in the jump off aboard Eirecon Equine Sales’ Gipsy 1134 (Corlensky G x Landina), an eight year old Oldenburg mare. The pair have a great rapport and are frequent competitors at World Equestrian Center, having taken top placings in several feature classes throughout 2018 and 2019, including a $5,000 Welcome Stake 1.35 m win in January. This afternoon, Kain and the bay mare were the first pair to manage a clear first round, leaving all of the rails up in a speedy 72.800 seconds, about nine seconds under the time allowed of 82 seconds, signaling they would be hard to catch in the upcoming jump off.

Charlotte Clark and Kinsella soar over an oxer.

Charlotte Clark and her own Kinsella took to the course shortly after Kain and Gipsy 1134. Clark and her scopey mare also have a fantastic performance history at WEC, winning the $25,000 WEC Grand Prix several times, including a victory just over a month ago. In this afternoon’s Grand Prix, the pair showed off their signature quick, accurate style, riding a clear first round in 71.338 seconds, also proving to be strong competitors heading into the jump off.

Immediately after Clark and Kinsella, last week’s Grand Prix winners Wilhelm Genn and his own Van Gogh (Valentino x Calina Z), navigated a foot-perfect course. The pair have been on fire, also taking second place in Thursday’s $5,000 Welcome Stake 1.35 m. This afternoon, Genn and the eleven year old chestnut Oldenburg gelding took their time on the first course, making sure to leave all rails up in 77.084 seconds, still well within the time allowed.

Taylor Kain and Gipsy 1134 set a quick pace.

Competition heated up as entries returned for the jump off. First in the order was Taylor Kain and Gipsy 1134. The pair blazed through the course, making sure to stay tight in the turns and keep their pace. Kain and Gipsy 1134 stopped the clock at 36.381 seconds, setting a tough time to beat for the remaining entries.

Charlotte Clark and Kinsella rode about mid-way through the jump off. Entries had yet to best Kain and Gipsy 1134’s time, averaging about two seconds slower than the pair. Knowing this, Clark and Kinsella gave the short course their all, strategically riding the inside track and keeping their stride long. The pair crossed the timers at an incredible 35.519 seconds to the roar of the crowd, moving themselves into first place.

Wilhelm Genn and Van Gogh jump the WEC oxer with ease.

Near the end of the jump off, Wilhelm Genn and Van Gogh took to the short course. The pair stopped the clock at 37.841 seconds, easily settling into third place.

For their win, Clark and Kinsella received the lion’s share of the prize money, along with a prize pack from Horse First and a $100 Dandy Products gift certificate. Clark stuck around after the awards presentation to chat with us about her strategy for the class. “Going into the class, I knew that there was a lot of really good people and horses, so I was just happy to get through the first round,” explained Clark, “Kinsella had a little over a month off from showing and I think she came back really fresh and ready to go. I just did one class earlier in the week and she felt really great. In the jump off, I actually added one step in the first line that I didn’t plan on doing, then I thought I was quick back to the vertical in the middle, good to the double, then I left the stride out to the skinny and did one less in the last line than I did in the first round. She’s just always there, no matter what. You can go fast, you can go slow…she always does her best to get her legs out of the way.”

Kinsella’s groom, Layne Turner, received the Groom’s Award for the mare’s stunning turnout, which included $100 cash and a $50 WEC Gift Card. Clark commented, “My groom, Layne Turner, takes amazing care of the horses. They always look and feel amazing. They have everything they need and I’m so grateful to have a great team behind me. My Mom got to come today, too, which was great. She’s like my biggest fan.” Clark also added, “I’m always happy to be here, it’s my favorite place to show. I think they do a great job. The footing, the staff…everything is really great.”

Kinsella, Charlotte Clark – 0 | 0 | 35.519
Gipsy 1134, Taylor Kain – 0 | 0 | 36.381
Van Gogh, Wilhelm Genn – 0 | 0 | 37.841
Banco Du Moulin, Sean Jobin – 0 | 0 | 38.046
Darius, Sean Jobin – 0 | 0 | 38.815
United M, Robert Mendoza – 0 | 4 | 36.094
Anastasia du Park, Kady Abrahamson – 0 | 4 | 38.065
Chanel, Sarah Meier – 0 | 4 | 38.121
WBS Fenise, Samantha Mackenzie – 0 | 4 | 41.403
Strawberry, Molly Kindness – 0 | 4 | 42.227

David Beisel and For Sunday win the $7,500 Futures Prix 1.30 m for the second week in a row.

This afternoon’s $7,500 Futures Prix 1.30 m sponsored by Voltaire Design also saw thrilling Jumper action with last week’s winners, David Beisel and Harlow Investment Enterprises, LLC’s For Sunday (For Pleasure x Patoile T.H.), taking home another win. The pair faced tough competition, though, with Futures Prix newcomers Natalie Thornell and Loveland Equine Investments’ Snow White (Clinton x Jung Laguna) hot on their trail.

David Beisel and For Sunday race through the first round.

David Beisel rode Harlow Investment Enterprises, LLC’s For Sunday (For Pleasure x Patoile T.H.), a nine year old Dutch Warmblood mare, about midway through the order of go in the Futures Prix. Only one entry had jumped double clear thus far, and the pair were looking to repeat last week’s win. They are no strangers to the Futures Prix at World Equestrian Center, also taking a win in the class in February. This afternoon, Beisel and the chestnut mare delivered a quick, definitive first round, leaving all rails up in a time of 74.499 seconds, about six and a half seconds under the time allowed of 81 seconds. The pair continued straight to the jump off of the Table II event, racing through the course and flying over each fence in their signature style. Beisel and For Sunday stopped the clock at 31.518 seconds, setting the new pace for the remaining entries to attempt to beat.

Natalie Thornell and Snow White jump into second place.

Shortly after, Natalie Thornell and Loveland Equine Investments’ Snow White (Clinton x Jung Laguna), a ten year old Westphalian mare, entered the ring. The pair are new to the Futures Prix, recently moving up to the 1.30 m height. Snow White, a former mount of Wilhelm Genn’s, and Thornell, a student of Genn’s, were well-schooled for this afternoon’s class, navigating the first round like seasoned professionals going clear in just 74.579 seconds. The pair continued to the jump off, riding a well-planned inside track and keeping a brisk pace. Thornell and Show White crossed the timers at 32.042 seconds for a very respectable second place finish.