Wilmington’s Sanctuary Arena was packed with exciting jumper action this afternoon for both the $30,000 Word Equestrian Center Grand Prix and the $10,000 Futures Prix 1.30m. Fractions of a second separated the top placing horses in both classes.
This afternoon’s $30,000 World Equestrian Center Grand Prix hosted a competitive field of twenty-five entries vying for the win over a technical course designed by Bobby Murphy of Lexington, Kentucky. Eight entries advanced to the jump-off, but it was Kady Abrahamson of Georgetown, Kentucky who jumped the fastest double-clear for the win. Abrahamson is no stranger to the Grand Prix winner’s circle, as, at WEC Spring 2, Kady and Banco Du Moulin topped the leaderboard taking home the blue ribbon and impressing the crowd.
“She has a big stride and is very brave. I took a chance with her on the bigger jumps because I know if she has a good pace to support it she will do great. Today I left strides out in the rollbacks, and that really helped us.”
Tonight the first horse on course and the first to manage a clear round in the $30,000 Grand Prix was Abrahamson and Maraca LS La Silla, a fourteen-year-old Mexican Sporthorse. The pair were on point this afternoon, jumping a clear first round in 76.835 seconds, well under the time allowed of 79 seconds, and securing a spot in the jump-off.
In the jump-off, Abrahamson and Maraca LS La Silla jumped clear with a time of 36.371 seconds to win the $30,000 World Equestrian Center Grand Prix.
“A year ago was my first Grand Prix win on her (Maraca LS La Silla), and it was my mom’s birthday. My mom claims that Maraca is her horse, so this is so special because my mom’s birthday is tomorrow!”
Just behind Abrahamson, second place went to Ireland’s Kevin McCarthy, of Georgetown, Kentucky, and his own Catch A Star HSS (Sheraton x Tolinda). The duo’s first round was a clear 74.65 seconds. In the jump-off, the pair flew through the timers at 36.930 seconds to slide into second.
Third place David Beisel and Essince W fly to third place
David Q. Beisel of Goshen, Ohio, and Essince W galloped to win a third-place spot in this afternoon’s $30,000 Grand Prix. The twelve-year-old KWPN gelding finished with a first-round fastest time of 74.013 seconds, followed by a jump-off of 37.162 seconds.
$30,000 World Equestrian Center Grand Prix
- Maraca LS La Silla, Kady Abrahamson – 0 | 0 | 36.371
- Catch A Star HSS, Kevin McCarthy – 0 | 0 | 36.930
- Essince W, David Q. Beisel – 0 | 0 | 37.162
- Caiman Des Sequoias, Nicole Loochtan – 0 | 0 | 37.344
- Banco Du Moulin, Kady Abrahamson – 0 | 0 | 37.723
- First Finch, Logan Taylor – 0 | 4 | 39.477
- Ryan Genn, Ryan Michael Genn – 0 | 8 | 38.664
- Bugatti, Wilhelm Genn – 0 | 14 | 55.637
- Kinsella, Charlotte Clark – 4 | 75.743
- Ecuador W, Logan Taylor – 4 | 78.534
Lani Hutchison and Light Show Take the $10,000 WEC Futures Prix 1.30M Win
Lani Hutchison and Light Show(Quasimodo Z x Predente) 13-year-old bay Dutch Warmblood gelding proved unstoppable this afternoon, taking the win in the $10,000 WEC Futures Prix 1.30M. In April at WEC, Hutchison and her new mount took third in the WEC Futures Prix, eager to return for victory.
Lani Spoke with us about today’s Futures Prix Course and her new mount.
“Coming up on a shorter first jump was a little challenging, but it was fun and he rode great for me. I started riding him earlier this year and he has been a great step up horse to take me into the bigger classes”
Hutchison of Columbus, Ohio, and Light Show topped the class with a quick first round of 72.602 seconds, followed by a fierce jump-off round of 35.194 seconds. The pair plans to return in August and has future goals of entering the Grand Prix’s.
Speeding into second place double clear was Ella Mauritzson and her own Kir Royale SCP(Amaretto D Arco x Werly Chin de Muze). Mauritzson raced against the clock with a speedy first-round time of 72.754 seconds, followed by a quick and nimble jump-off time of 36.210 seconds.
Summer Hill and Helmig-K also had a noteworthy double clear round. Hill and Helmig-K managed a first-round time of 74.129 seconds, followed by a jump-off of 36.862 seconds.
$10,000 World Equestrian Center Futures Prix 1.30m
- Light Show, Lani Hutchison – 0 | 0 | 35.194
- Kir Royale SCP, Ella Mauritzson – 0 | 0 | 36.210
- Helmig-K, Summer Hill – 0 | 0 | 36.862
- Gyloma, Erika Thornell – 0 | 0 | 37.922
- Himini, Colleen Acosta – 0 | 0 | 38.354
- Dolla 3, Charlotte Clark – 0 | 0 | 41.669
- Ammeretto, Izzy Beisel – 0 | 4 | 34.243
- Metro Lass, Abby Lockwood – 0 | 4 | 35.157
- Isla La Palma, Devin M. Milan – 0 | 4 | 35.207
- Vanov Van Sombeke, John Gilpin – 0 | 4 | 36.894