Wilmington, Ohio – Thursday afternoon at World Equestrian Center – Wilmington proved special for junior rider, Luke Rinehart (USA), as he jumped to his very first welcome stake win in the $7,500 2nd Round Equestrian Welcome Stake of Summer II.
Canada’s Michael Pegg laid the tracks for 19 horse-and-athlete combinations that saw six move onto the short course, and only three managed to jump double-clear.
Aboard a longtime resident of Rinehart Farm, Captain America 10 (Contendro), the young athlete added a special win to their developing partnership. “My dad bought ‘Captain’ when he was three months old. So, we have had him in our program forever. My dad has owned him his entire life and was able to start him. I took over when my other jumper got hurt,” Rinehart shared. “I went from the .95m to the 1.40m on Captain in the past four or five years. This is our first welcome win, so it is pretty special!”
Rinehart jumped a quick double clear effort, moving Michael Burnett (USA) and his 15-year-old Oldenburg gelding, Chagrand’s (Chacco-Blue x Centogrina), time of 38.871 seconds into second place.
Rinehart discussed where he made up time around the jump-off, “I counted from one to two. Michael [Burnett] did ten strides and I was able to get there in nine strides. I coasted around the rest of the course. I did the other bending line in eight strides and then was pretty tidy around to the last jump. He was great.”
Rinehart and his 10-year-old Hanoverian gelding crossed through the timers in a quick 38.27 seconds to snag the lead.
“I mean Izzy [Beisel] is always fast and she went right after me. These junior riders,” Rinehart laughed. “When she goes in after you, you never know! I knew I wanted to put down a good time. There weren’t that many double-clear, so I thought the risk was worth the reward.”
Lizzy Traband (USA) piloted Blue Chip Bloodstock’s 10-year-old Belgian Warmblood gelding, Ochocinco BC (Uno De Laubry x Kara BC), to third place in 41.331 seconds.
$7,500 2nd Round Equestrian Welcome Stake Results:
1 Captain America 10, Luke Rinehart, Catherine Rinehart | 0 | 38.27
2 Chagrand, Michael Burnett, Michael Burnett | 0 | 38.871
3 Ochocinco BC, Lizzy Traband, Blue Chip Bloodstock | 0 | 41.331
4 Vegas H, Izzy Beisel, David Beisel | 4 | 38.697
5 Triskel De Kerliven, Cooper Beisel, Liz Hutchinson | 4 | 45.692
6 Rublin VD Berghoeve, Lizzy Traband, Regina Liu | 8 | 44.573
7 Fire Fly, Kelly Soleau-Millar, M. Michael Meller | 4 | 66.378
8 K T Miel, Claire Austin, Claire Austin | 4 | 66.757
9 Nightshade SCF, Sarah Meier, Sarah Meier | 4 | 67.371
10 Topgear SR Z, Lizzy Traband, Ll Show Jumpers LLC | 4 | 68.762
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Results can be found at horseshowing.com.
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