Wilmington, Ohio – Exhibitors crowded the Standlee Sanctuary Arena Saturday afternoon for the $50,000 Grand Prix of WEC – Wilmington Fall Classic II, where Robert Barton (USA) designed the technical track for an esteemed group of athletes. Only five horse-and-athlete combinations moved onto the jump-off phase, where Canada’s Sam Pegg and his quickest mount Gin Tonic 158 (Graftop x Sanjador) proved their dominance against the field.
The duo has won numerous grands prix in Wilmington and returned in top form for the 2024 Fall Classic Series. Following a clear round in Thursday’s Welcome Stake, Pegg felt his horses were well prepared for today’s track. “Thursday was a nice class to come back here and get the horses used to being back inside. Today, the time was right on and it was technical. If you went around everywhere, you had to keep galloping to make it, or you could take the risk and make the inside turns. Robert did a very nice job today,” said Pegg.
Returning for the jump-off, Pegg followed Laura Douglas (USA) and Steven Bluman’s Legend (Voltaire x Charlie’s Angel), who held the leading time of 36.963 seconds.
Pegg shared his plan for the tie-breaker, “I decided to stay on nine strides to one-to-two in the jump-off. I tried to focus on the turns and get away from the back side of the jumps. There were two right hand turns, and that’s his favorite way. I thought I didn’t have to try to perform a miracle but make tight turns and keep his feet moving.”
Making up time with a swift turn back on the final oxer, Pegg clinched the lead in 36.466 seconds with his 12-year-old Hanoverian gelding, moving Douglas and her eight-year-old Dutch Warmblood mare into second.
“He basically knows that you’re turning to the last jump when you’re doing it. He was able to turn quite short and sneak back through the combination and catch the last on a good gallop,” Pegg noted.
Charlotte Babbitt (USA) and her own 11-year-old Oldenburg mare, Vivianne Blue PS (Vivant Van De Heffinck x Chacanne), were quick and clear in 37.913 seconds to round out the podium.
$50,000 Grand Prix Results:
1 Gin Tonic 158, Sam Pegg, Sam Pegg | 0 | 36.466
2 Legend, Laura Douglas, Steven Bluman | 0 | 36.963
3 Vivianne Blue PS, Charlotte Babbitt, Charlotte Babbitt | 0 | 37.913
4 Martini VDL, Kady Abrahamson, Abrahamson Equestrian LLC | 0 | 38.745
5 Ultimately Cooley, Loic Cannaert, Orpen Horses | 4 | 38.191
6 Ivaro N, Lisa Goldman-Smolen, Barbara Disko | 4 | 84.308
7 Magic, Loic Cannaert, Orpen Horses | 4 | 84.421
8 Sovereign, Lisa Goldman-Smolen, Barbara Disko | 4 | 85.255
9 Formidable Diamant, Sam Pegg, Harlow Investment Enterprises | 4 | 86.625
10 Easter Lily ODF, Maggie Jayne, Alex Jayne | 4 | 86.931
Annalice Weithofer Conquers the $10,000 Clinton County CVB Futures Prix at Fall Classic II
The $10,000 Clinton County CVB Futures Prix was the first featured class of the afternoon at WEC – Wilmington Fall Classic II. Annalice Weithofer (USA) and her seasoned mount, Trig Happy Wind Van Het Eikenhof, ultimately were the only duo to conquer Robert Barton’s tracks and move onto the jump-off phase.
Weithofer discussed her partnership with her longtime partner, “I have had him for the past three years now. When I first got him, I started in the 1.15m. He has helped me grow as a rider and has really shown me the ropes in the bigger classes. I have jumped a few small grands prix on him. He is 17 now, so we pick and choose what classes he will show in. He is just keeping me going and I am enjoying still being able to show him!”
Aboard her 17-year-old Belgian Warmblood gelding by Cupido Van Het Eikenhof x Aphrodite Van De Kolmen, Weithofer conquered the short course to secure the win.
“The track was pretty technical compared to last week. That is one thing about being on a more experienced horse, I felt confident walking into a class like that,” Weithofer noted. “The oxers were really square. I even had a little bit of difficulty in the jump-off, but he tried his heart out for me and everybody in the class did a really great job.”
$10,000 Clinton County CVB Futures Prix Results:
1 Trig Happy Wind Van Het Eikenhof, Annalice Weithofer, White Oak Equestrian | 0 | 15 | 60.396
2 Jazil Du Houssoit, Anabel Ricigliano, Beliano LLC | 0 | 76.692
3 Rising Diktator HE, Lauren Hester, Hester Equestrian LLC | 4 | 75.857
4 Excel Star Kallista, Corinne Davies, Corinne Davies | 4 | 77.229
5 FF Olive, Sarah Vince, Freestyling Farms LLC | 4 | 77.945
6 Billy Jonas, Hayley Barnhill, Hayley Barnhill | 4 | 80.855
7 Lagerfeld, Ashley Stumm, Dawn Stumm | 8 | 70.84
8 Clarity, Laura Douglas, Wendy Janesky | 8 | 75.773
9 Geronimo, Lilly Yinger, Ameera Fullen | 12 | 78. 326
10 Icon NR, Savannah Embly, Embly Stables LLC | 36 | 112.334
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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.