Wilmington, Ohio – Devin Milan (USA) continued her hot streak at World Equestrian Center – Wilmington Spring Forward in the $30,000 Grand Prix sponsored by Tribute Equine Nutrition.
The stands in the Standlee Sanctuary were full of eager exhibitors as they saw five competitive horse-and-athlete combinations advance to the jump-off over Michael Pegg’s (CAN) tracks.
Out of four double clear efforts, Milan proved unbeatable once again with Garo Kazan’s Conquest (Colestus x Excellenta C).
Returning for the jump-off, Milan adjusted her plan as she entered the ring. “I was debating doing five strides in the first line, but when I saw Nicole [Loochtan] do five, she had a hard time making a turn back to the next vertical. She told me to do six on her way out, so I opted for six strides. It made more sense for my horse too; he can be flat at the verticals.”
Milan made up time on her way to the sponsor jump, “When I turned from the swan oxer to the long run to the Tribute oxer, I saw the long one and I just committed to it and kept galloping. ‘Hot Dog’ didn’t have a problem!”
The stylish nine-year-old Zangersheide gelding crossed the timers in 35.759 seconds for the win.
“I think Hot Dog knows when it matters. He is getting really relaxed, especially over by the crowd. When I saw the combinations, I thought those would be my issues, but he has gotten smarter.”
When asked about her winning streak, Milan laughed, “I am fiercely competitive. My family is super competitive, so I feel like I have something I have to keep living up to.”
Richard Rinehart (USA) was the final entry to jump off aboard the 11-year-old Hanoverian gelding, Caesar (Chalet x Glorielle). A slightly slower approach across the middle of the ring added two seconds to the clock, securing the red ribbon in 37.795 seconds.
Rounding out the top three in 39.999 seconds was the first double clear duo of the night, Wilhelm Genn (GER) and his own 11-year-old Danish Warmblood mare, Quincidence (Charleston K x Quilotte).
$30,000 Tribute Grand Prix Results:
1 Conquest, Devin Milan, Garo Kazan | 0 | 35.759
2 Caesar, Richard Rinehart, Catherine Rinehart | 0 | 37.795
3 Quincidence, Wilhelm Genn, Wilhelm Genn | 0 | 39.999
4 Piranha SCF, Hanna Toering, Spy Coast Farm | 0 | 41.756
5 Kupardie, Nicole Loochtan, Nicole Loochtan | 4 | 39.878
6 Kinsella, Charlotte Clark, Charlotte Clark | 4 | 72.568
7 Ayrton Du Faurieu Z, Richard Cheska, Richard Cheska | 4 | 79.206
8 Captain America 10, Richard Rinehart, Catherine Rinehart | 8 | 74.644
9 Fortysix & 2, Lyriss Jaeger, Lyriss Jaeger | 8 | 75.434
10 Duc De Jentiere, Lani Hutchison, Lani Hutchison | 12 | 70.575
Megan Bash Saves the Best for Last in the $10,000 Dechra Futures Prix
Seventeen horse-and-athlete combinations took to the Standlee Sanctuary early Saturday evening for the $10,000 Futures Prix sponsored by Dechra. Michael Pegg (CAN) set the appropriate track that allowed seven partnerships to move onto the jump-off.
Megan Bash (USA) entered as the final to contest aboard her own Jackson VDL (Zirocco Blue VDL x Design O), taking the reins from her son for the day.
“This is a horse that I have been very successful on in the grands prix. At the beginning of this year, I gave him to my 16-year-old son Aiden to do in the junior jumpers. I just borrowed him for today. I haven’t ridden him in a class in a while and, boy, was he great! I give Aiden a lot of credit for keeping him going well and tomorrow I give the reins back to him.”
Wilhelm Genn (GER) set the time to beat aboard Klaus Mauer’s coming eight-year-old Oldenburg mare, Katinka (Kannan x Maylin), in 38.182 seconds, though it didn’t stick for long.
Bash entered with her 10-year-old Dutch Warmblood gelding planning to stick to the track she walked, “I didn’t watch Wilhelm’s [Genn] jump-off. I turned so tight back on the pink oxer, and I wasn’t even planning on turning that tight. I just saw it. My plan was to ride my track, it didn’t have anything to do with chasing the time. It just ended up stopping the timers the best.”
The duo stopped the clock in 35.615 seconds, nearly three full seconds faster than Genn to take the lead.
“He is just a consistent winner. He is fast and he’s careful. I have owned him since he was six and he is 10 now. We have brought him all the way along, and he just makes my heart smile. He always gives me 200%,” Bash spoke highly of Jackson.
Hanna Toering (USA) was the first to jump a double clear effort with one of Spy Coast Farm’s rising stars, Rural Juror SCF (Presley Boy x Derly Chin De Muze). The coming seven-year-old Belgian Warmblood gelding showcased a promising future, rounding out the top three in 44.561 seconds.
$10,000 Futures Prix Results:
1 Jackson VDL, Megan Bash, Cleveland Equestrian | 0 | 35.615
2 Katinka, Wilhelm Genn, Klaus Mauer | 0 | 38.182
3 Rural Juror SCF, Hanna Toering, Spy Coast Farm | 0 | 44.561
4 Donatella Du Barquet, Philippe Lacasse, Philippe Lacasse | 4 | 34.135
5 Karlina T, Devin Milan, Garo Kazan | 4 | 35.482
6 Flex Star, Raquel Mazur, Raquel Mazur | 8 | 37.665
7 Junior BC, Abigail Hemauer, Abigal Hemauer | 14 | 46.555
8 Lagerfeld, Ashley Stumm, Ashley Stumm | 4 | 66.331
9 HJ Blind Date, Molly Kindness, Molly Kindness | 4 | 66.874
10 Igor Van Gogh, Amy Taylor, Amy Taylor | 4 | 71.183
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 horseshowing.com.
All horse show images are provided by Winslow Photography and can be purchased onsite at WEC – Wilmington or online through their website.