Wilmington, OH – The 2022 Fall Classic Show Series is well underway at World Equestrian Center – Wilmington with thrilling show jumping sport. Feature class action kicked off this afternoon when sixteen elite mounts took to the beautifully decorated indoor Sanctuary Arena to vie for the top prize in the $15,000 WEC Welcome Stake. Tiffany Hammack (USA) and Foxwood Farm’s Verdi O’Merveilles (Verdi x O’My Star) found the fastest track in a competitive 11 horse jump-off.
World renowned course designer, Guilherme Jorge (BRA) built the opening tracks that asked numerous questions. Nine managed to produce a double clean effort where the placings were separated by hundredths of a second.
Hammack and the 13-year-old Selle Francais navigated a smooth first round, leaving all rails up in 75.126 seconds. Hammack expressed that Verdi O’Merveilles was feeling a bit more lively than usual, “He’s been surprising fresh here. I have been riding him for about a year, so I am unsure how much he’s shown inside. He was pretty amped yesterday, but luckily, we got a paddock here, so I was able to throw him out for a few hours this morning.”
The speedy pair advanced straight to the jump-off, “My goal was to open him up, but stay smooth. It’s been a few months since we have been able to go fast. I think I made up the time on the way to the in-and-out. He came back super well, and I think it made him more careful to come in on a gallop.”
Hammack and Verdi O’Merveilles flew through the timers stopping the jump-off clock at an unbeatable time of 32.575 seconds.
Sean Jobin (CAN) and Foxridge Farms Stable’s Eric De La Chenee (Arko x Hadja De Moricerie) snagged the second place spot in today’s $15,000 Welcome Stake. Jobin and the eight-year-old Selle Francais yielded a quick first round in 69.830 seconds, well under the time allowed of 79 seconds. The pair advanced straight to the short course, managing a tight inside turn to the second to last fence for a time of 33.019 seconds.
Darby Pease (USA) and Cumbaya W (Cabardino x Elena W) claimed the third place spot. Pease and the 12-year-old Warmblood gelding owned by Hillary Gromus delivered an effortless first round 74.530 seconds. The duo went straight to the jump-off soaring around the track, stopping the clock at 33.607 seconds to round out the top three.
$15,000 Welcome Stake Results:
1 Verdi O’Merveilles, Tiffany Hammack, Foxwood Farm: 0 | 0 | 32.575
2 Eric De La Chenee, Sean Jobin, Foxridge Farms Stables: 0 | 0 | 33.019
3 Cumbaya W, Darby Pease, Hillary Gromus: 0 | 0 | 33.607
4 Elektrisk, Erin E. Haas, North Face Farm: 0 | 0 | 33.607
5 Cuba Libre V, Sean Jobin, Foxridge Farms Stables: 0 | 0 | 33.750
6 Wellington Grey Goose, Rowan Willis, Rowan Willis: 0 | 0 | 33.855
7 Maraca LS LA Silla, Kady Abrahamson, Abrahamson Equestrian LLC: 0 | 0 | 34.346
8 Sterrehof’s Edinus, Sean Jobin, Antrim Equestrian: 0 | 0 | 35.002
9 Ghana FS Z, Tiffany Hammack, Foxwood Farm: 0 | 0 | 37.350
10 Snow White, Natalie Thornell, Loveland Equine Investments: 0 | 4 | 35.257
11 Kaatje Van Het Lindehof, Garrett Warner, Shadow Creek Ny LLC: 0 | 12 | 35.997
12 Kinsella, Charlotte Clark, Charlotte Clark: 4 | 70.213
Photos courtesy of Winslow Photography
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