Wilmington, Ohio – The Standlee Sanctuary was abuzz with excitement tonight as just tenths of a second separated the top three of 11 quick double clear efforts in the $10,000 Clinton County Convention & Visitors Bureau Welcome Stake. The luck of the Irish prevailed for Ireland’s Kevin Gallagher and Mardinie (Spartacus x Wardinie VDL) as they turned their way to the top of the leaderboard for the first featured win of Midwest Indoors II at World Equestrian Center – Wilmington.
Gallagher, of Marigot Bay Farm, caught the ride on Kelly Arani’s (USA) 11-year-old mare in preparation for Arani to take the reins on Saturday evening.
Gallagher was pleased with the opportunity to pilot Mardinie for the class, “She is an incredible mare. She gets better and better every time she gets in the ring. I was lucky that Kelly was away today so I could show her. Kelly will jump her in the grand prix on Saturday. I said I would give her a school today in the Welcome and she was unbelievable!”
Richard Rinehart (USA) was the first to go and the first to produce a double clear with Captain America 10 (Contendro). In typical fashion, Rinehart set the pace and had the rest of the field chasing his fast time of 35.858 seconds, which ultimately landed him third place after 18 entries.
Charlotte Clark (USA) emerged from the middle of the pack with her trustworthy mare, Kinsella (Capitalist x Jerpoint Mist) to catch Rinehart. In 35.719 seconds, Clark and her 13-year-old Irish Sport Horse mare deftly slid into second place.
Lacking the natural footspeed that Kinsella and Captain America 10 possessed, Gallagher used the race for the win as a schooling opportunity for the mare, “Mardinie is not naturally that fast, so she has to be taught to be tidier than every other horse. Rolling back to the second to last fence after the combination made all of the difference in the jump-off.”
Gallagher rode every step to cross through the timers in 34.949 seconds to take the win.
“Kelly had Mardinie training in Europe with Laura Kraut all summer. She had a great summer and got some very good results. She is happy to be here in the U.S. now. She had two great weeks at the last tour here in Ohio and she was unbelievable again today,” Gallagher commented on Mardinie.
$10,000 Clinton County CVB Welcome Stake Results:
1 Mardinie, Kevin Gallagher, Marigot Bay Farm | 0 | 34.949
2 Kinsella, Charlotte Clark, Charlotte Clark | 0 | 35.719
3 Captain America 10, Richard Rinehart, Catherine Rinehart | 0 | 35.858
4 Chaccomo 11, Drew Arnold, Theresa Kraft | 0 | 36.069
5 Nightshade SCF, Sarah Meier, Sarah Meier | 0 | 37.262
6 Corvet Enigma, Patricio Rodriguez, Patricio Rodriguez | 0 | 37.885
7 VDL Ivar, Kait Meggenhofen, Windara Farms LLC | 0 | 39.38
8 Lausbub 458, Summer Hill, Summer Hill | 0 | 40.287
9 Cruemmel 3, Trinity Beitler, Trinity Creek Farms | 0 | 42.885
10 Olympic Van De Noordheuevel, Summer Hill, Mark Bluman | 0 | 42.885
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Results can be found at wec.net.
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