Wilmington, Ohio – Seventeen decorated horse-and-athlete combinations put on a show in the Standlee Sanctuary over FEI Level III course designer Anderson Lima’s (BRA) tracks for the $30,000 Grand Prix. In the end, speed was the name of the game for Canada’s Sam Pegg and Gin Tonic 158 (Graf Top x Hauptstutbuch).
Pegg and his fiery mount came back in top form after their Grand Prix win from Winter Classic 1 and sped past the 13-horse jump-off.
In his typical fashion Richard Rinehart (USA) went early in the second round and set a quick pace with Ron Caraway’s Vincent (Van Gogh x Nirande) of 42.024 seconds. Rinehart’s lead held until ultimately surpassed by Pegg by nearly two full seconds, landing them in second.
Pegg discussed where he made up time around the short course, “I was quite quick back to the skinny and did eight strides to the vertical. Gin Tonic is very smart, and you can turn him in the air and when he hits the ground his first three strides are very quick. He kind of ducks down and gets away from the jump.”
Though his 11-year-old Hanoverian gelding takes time to play on his way down the ramp, the rideability is simple for Pegg.
“In a way, he is simple to ride. He has a lot of blood, but his stride is so adjustable and that is what makes him so easy. You can do seven, eight, or nine strides in any line and end up with power at the end of it. Even if he is on a short stride, he wants to go forward and has a lot of power and is not overly strong in the mouth. I flat him with a stick and have to keep him working, he isn’t so motivated until its game time!”
In 40.29 seconds, the duo impressed the crowd once again to take home another win.
“He has worked his way up to a barn favorite! He has had a really exceptional year. We got him in the middle of January last year, and he has won eight or 10 grands prix already, including our first FEI Grand Prix together,” said Pegg.
Sarah Meier (USA) piloted her own 10-year-old Belgian Warmblood gelding Nightshade SCF (Baldev x Olisina) to a respectable third place finish amongst the quick crowd in 42.646 seconds, just shy of second place.
$30,000 Grand Prix Results:
1 Gin Tonic 158, Sam Pegg, Ten Sixty Stables | 0 | 40.29
2 Vincent, Richard Rinehart, Ron Caraway | 0 | 42.024
3 Nightshade SCF, Sarah Meier, Sarah Meier | 0 | 42.646
4 Quincidence, Wilhelm Genn, Wilhelm Genn | 0 | 46.675
5 Triskel De Kerliven, Liz Hutchinson, Liz Hutchinson | 0 | 47.063
6 Honneur T&L Z, Rebbeca Gutstein, Rebecca Gutstein | 0 | 47.075
7 Corvet Enigma, Patricio Rodrigeuz, Patricio Rodriguez LLC | 4 | 41.769
8 Formidable Diamant, Sam Pegg, Phyllis Harlow | 4 | 42.581
9 Chagrand, Michael Burnett, Michael Burnett | 4 | 43.868
10 Vegas H, Izzy Beisel, David Beisel | 4 | 44.825
Captain America 10 Strikes Again with Luke Rinehart in $10,000 Futures Prix of Winter Classic 2
Captain America 10 (Contendro) jumped to the top of the leaderboard once again, this time with Luke Rinehart (USA) in the irons in the $10,000 Futures Prix.
After a win in the $10,000 Welcome Stake Thursday evening with Richard Rinehart, the 10-year-old Hanoverian gelding was in top form for the junior rider.
Though his plan slightly changed from the walk to the ring, Rinehart demonstrated experience beyond his years in the jump-off, “Our plan changed a lot after we saw the first couple go. In the jump-off, there was an inside turn at the far end of the ring that was riding differently than we thought it would. I changed my plan a bit walking in and I went around, and it worked out well.”
With a time to beat of 38.694 seconds posted by Izzy Beisel and the nine-year-old Dutch Warmblood gelding, Contigo (Carombolle), Rinehart was confident in the jump-off and stepped on the gas pedal, ultimately landing Beisel in second.
“The 1.30m felt a lot more comfortable after jumping 1.40m,” Rinehart laughed. “The confidence definitely helped today.”
In 37.427 seconds, Rinehart piloted his winning mount to his second featured win of the week.
Rinehart commented on his friendly family competition with his father, Richard Rinehart, since his recent step up to grands prix, “It is so fun. I’m going to get him one of these times!”
Charlotte Clark (USA) and her 13-year-old Irish Sport Horse mare, Kinsella (Capitalist x Jerpoint Mist) found there back to the podium in a time of 38.702 seconds to round out the top three.
$10,000 Futures Prix Results:
1 Captain America 10, Luke Rinehart, Catherine Rinehart | 0 | 37.427
2 Contigo, Izzy Beisel, David Beisel | 0 | 38.694
3 Kinsella, Charlotte Clark, Charlotte Clark | 0 | 38.702
4 Game Time – MS, Danielle Grice, Amanda Lorinc | 0 | 39.949
5 Eldorado’s Edition, Vanessa McCaughley, Vanessa McCaughley | 0 | 40.844
6 Harones, Louise Graves, Camwood Farm | 0 | 42.14
7 Karlina T, Devin Milan, Garo Kazan | 4 | 38.058
8 Claas 30, Sam Pegg, Ten Sixty Stables | 4 | 41.636
9 HJ Blind Date, Molly Kindness, Molly Kindness | 4 | 66.843
10 Masoranta, Rebecca Gutstein, Rebecca Gutstein | 4 | 67.548
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Results can be found at wec.net.
All horse show images are provided by Winslow Photography and can be purchased onsite at WEC – Wilmington or online through their website.