Wilmington, Ohio – The ladies and the mares stole the show in the Standlee Sanctuary at WEC – Wilmington Winter Classic 14 as they dominated the podium for the $30,000 Grand Prix. Robert Barton crafted the track leading to a five-horse jump-off, where Lanie Thomas, Summer Justus and Maria Blankemeyer ultimately battled it out for the top three spots on their fiery mares.
In the end it was Thursday’s Welcome Stake winner, Lanie Thomas, that piloted Neil Badcock’s Zendaya (Zirocco Blue x Cola) to her second win of the week, and first career grand prix win.
Thomas was elated after she came out on top of the competitive class, “This is her first grand prix win. I feel amazing, that was so fun. I am learning to ride her faster and trust her scope and her heart. Fun is the only word I can use to describe it!”
Justus led the way of double clears with her 14-year-old Belgian Warmblood mare, La Belle SCF (Diktator Van De Boslandhoeve x Belle Bleu S), making a quick effort to stop the clock in 37.239 seconds.
Thomas followed with the nine-year-old Warmblood mare, utilizing her natural footspeed around the short course to land a time of 36.265 seconds to move into the lead and put Justus into second place.
“I tried to ride it smooth and forward. She is super rideable and can bounce up and down really easily, so I am trying to learn to keep coming forward all the time instead. I wanted to be smooth because is naturally so fast across the ground,” Thomas commented on her plan for the jump-off.
Thomas noted, “WEC has been amazing,” in developing their partnership together. “The atmosphere is fantastic, and the footing is great. The courses are always tough, but fair. Everyone that competes here is really friendly. She is not the easiest in the warmup ring so everyone kind of helps me out,” she laughed.
Last to jump off, Blankemeyer and her eight-year-old Belgian Warmblood mare, Reina Van Hellehof (Gino H), suffered an unfortunate four faults with the quickest time of 34.647 seconds to round out the top three.
$30,000 Grand Prix Results:
1 Zendaya, Lanie Thomas, Neil Badcock | 0 | 36.265
2 La Belle SCF, Summer Justus, Andrea Simpson | 0 | 37.239
3 Reina Van Hellehof, Maria Blankemeyer, Angela Moore | 4 | 34.647
4 Claas, Elizabeth Rinehart, Catherine Rinehart | 4 | 41.264
5 Essenar Crixus, Anna Antrobius, Elan Farm | 4 | 43.327
6 The Diamant Rose Z, Luke Rinehart, Luke Rinehart | 4 | 69.935
7 Maverick, Danielle Urban, Leah Kennedy | 4 | 73.843
8 Triskel De Kerliven, Liz Hutchinson, Liz Hutchinson | 4 | 74.287
9 Duc De Jentiere, Lani Hutchison, Lani Hutchison | 4 | 74.503
10 Falco De Vesquerie, Danielle Urban, Danielle Urban | 4 | 76.293
Karston Gundry Scores First $10,000 Futures Prix Win with Kasper at Winter Classic 14
Seventeen horse-and-athlete combinations met for the $10,000 Futures Prix of WEC – Wilmington Winter Classic 14 where nine pairs raced for the win with jump-off times just tenths of a second apart.
Karston Gundry ultimately rose to the challenge, snagging his first futures win aboard Kim Gundry’s Kasper (Harley VDL x Tinca).
Gundry followed Emma Linton and her own 12-year-old Dutch Warmblood gelding, Victory Rw Broekkant Z (Vigo D’arsouilles x Evolution), who posted a quick double clear effort to slide into the top spot in 35.247 seconds.
Gundry entered to find the winning time with ease, moving Linton into second. “He is such a big guy, that on the long run back to ten he carried a nice big stride. I knew I would have some time to spare there,” he shared.
“He is not as handy in the turns, so I knew I needed to really have him moving and stepping up underneath himself. To that last combination, I kept his hind end underneath of him and made it home!”
The duo has jumped many clear rounds in the class at WEC – Wilmington and has developed a strong partnership in the Standlee Sanctuary. “He really is an amazing horse. This is our first futures win together, and he has been jumping phenomenally as of recently, so it has been awesome. He is super cool.”
“WEC is such a fabulous place. It is our favorite show destination. The courses and the classes offered are just phenomenal. We have spent a lot of our time building our partnership here. We have done this class a few times and it has been awesome to work up the levels and figure it out together.
In a swift time of 35.189 seconds, Gundry and his 10-year-old KWPN gelding scored the win.
Samantha Wertz and her eight-year-old Hanoverian gelding, Dario S (Diamant De Plaisir x Carole S), rounded out the top three with a double clear effort in 35.295 seconds.
$10,000 Futures Prix Results:
1 Kasper, Karston Gundry, Kim Gundry | 0 | 35.189
2 Victory Rw Broekkant Z, Emma Linton, Shady Lane Ranch LLC | 0 | 35.247
3 Dario S, Samantha Wertz, Richard Rinehart | 0 | 35.295
4 Killbunny Vossilli, Lisa Perri, Monkeyfish Investments LLC | 0 | 35.377
5 FF A’lady, Megan Bash, Cleveland Equestrian | 0 | 35.62
6 Mademoiselle-A, Anleigh Ahlert, Grier School | 0 | 35.877
7 Cilienna W, Victoria Andersen-Helwig, Victoria Andersen-Helwig | 0 | 37.593
8 Legend of Diva, William Dow, Jaime McGrath | 0 | 30.359
9 Van Koning, Michelle Vandal, Michelle Vandal | 0 | 41.501
10 Darius De W, Elizabeth Parish, Natalie Parish | 4 | 46.457
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.