Gift
Cards
This week at WEC Calendar Icon
World Equestrian Center logo World Equestrian Center logo
  • Ocala
    • Equestrian Events
      • Spectators
      • Shows
      • WEC Premier Cup
      • Members and Exhibitors
        • Forms
        • Prize List
        • Membership Directory
        • Points Issue
        • Standings
        • Results
        • Horses
      • Golf Cart Rental
      • Volunteers
    • Real Estate
      • Estate Lots
    • Conventions
      • Conventions Photo Gallery
    • Sporting Events
    • Visit
      • Stay
      • Shop
      • Dining
      • Resort Spa
      • Things to do in Ocala, FL
    • Canine Shows
    • Social Events
      • Catering Menus
      • Social Events Gallery
    • Facilities
      • Expo Centers
      • Arenas
      • Stabling
      • Veterinary Hospital
      • Chapel
      • Request for Proposal Form – Ocala, Florida
    • Live Stream
    • Sponsors
      • Be a Sponsor
    • Become a Vendor
      • Vendor Application
    stay-with-us-lgBtn
  • Wilmington
    • Equestrian Events
      • Spectators
      • Shows
      • WEC Premier Cup
      • Members and Exhibitors
        • Forms
        • Prize list
        • Membership Directory
        • Points Issue
        • Standings
        • Results
        • Horses
    • Facilities
      • Stabling
      • Arenas
      • Host an Event
      • Amenities
        • Dining
        • Shop
        • Dragonfly Academy
      • Chapel
    • Live Stream
    • Stay
      • Things to do in Wilmington, OH
    • Sponsors
      • Be a Sponsor
    • Vendors
      • Vendor Application
    HomenAway
  • Events
  • Contact
  • About
    • FAQ
      • Ocala
      • Wilmington
    • Careers
      • Ocala
      • Wilmington
  • Blog
  • Media
    • Media Accreditation Form
  • Worship
Gift Cards
This week at WEC Calendar Icon
WEC / Blog / Equestrian / Shows / World Equestrian Center – Ocala 2023 Winter Spectacular Show Series Week II Highlights

World Equestrian Center – Ocala 2023 Winter Spectacular Show Series Week II Highlights

18 Jan 23 | Shows | SHARE
Week II of the 2023 Winter Spectacular Show Series was filled with stunning horses and adorable ponies. Photo courtesy of Andrew Ryback Photography.

Ocala, FL – The 12-week 2023 Winter Spectacular Show Series at World Equestrian Center – Ocala hosted yet another exhilarating week of US Equestrian sanctioned hunter/jumper sport. The week opened up with Olympic Gold Medalist Will Simpson securing the $24,000 C. Jarvis Insurance Welcome Prix victory aboard the speedy Whoop De Doo. Amanda Steege and Lafitte De Muze returned to WEC – Ocala in top form, taking home the victory in the $20,000 Golden Ocala Golf & Equestrian Club 3’6”-3’9” Hunter Derby. Aaron Vale saved the best for last in the $100,000 Coca-Cola Beverages Florida Grand Prix where he returned last aboard I Adermie R 4 and captured the win. Read on for additional highlights from the week.

Watch Aaron Vale and Jacqueline Ruyle race against the clock in the $100,000 Coca-Cola Beverages Florida Grand Prix during week II of the 2023 Winter Spectacular Show Series.

Santiago Lambre & Chacco Blue II jumping in perfect form to first place. Photo courtesy of Andrew Ryback Photography.

On Sunday afternoon, Santiago Lambre (BRA) and his own Chacco Blue II stole the champion title in the $15,000 Taylor Harris Insurance Services 1.45m Jumper Classic.

“I really wasn’t going to go that fast and use the track for more training purposes, but Chacco Blue II has such a big step and he was pretty eager, so I just let him open up. I practiced a few tidy turns and ended up doing eight in the last line, but I think I could have gotten the seven because I had to make him wait for the eight.”

Aaron Vale & I Adermie R 4 jumping to a clean first round over Ben Townley’s first round track. Photo courtesy of Andrew Ryback Photography.

Aaron Vale & I Adermie R 4 captured the $100,000 Coca-Cola Beverages Florida Grand Prix win.

“After Jaci beat me by more than a second, I knew I had to really take my chances,” said Vale. “I Adermie R 4 is a bit smaller of a horse with a smaller step, so I had to gallop from one to two to get the nine done. She was balanced enough to fence two where I could grab the right rein and begin turning before we landed to get to the double combination. I think I did one less to the double than everyone else, then we were really fast back to the Lugano oxer. I did take a bit of a liberty to the navy fence, but she knew it was game on and cleared it. That gave me a little bit more room to the next jump, so I could move up to the final vertical.”

Alexanne Thibault & Cidanos Z in the $15,000 Buckeye Nutrition Futures Prix. Photo courtesy of Andrew Ryback Photography.

Alexanne Thibault (CAN) and her own Cidanos Z rose to the top of the leaderboard and galloped away with the victory in the $15,000 Buckeye Nutrition Futures Prix.

“I know this class is very competitive here and always has a lot of entries, so I knew I had to give it my all. I preferred taking the risk and going fast rather than being too conservative. Cidanos is very quick and careful off the ground, so I knew he would leave the fences up.”

Penny Brennan & Vertigo Delorme winning the $15,000 1.40m Jumper Classic. Photo courtesy of Andrew Ryback Photography.

On Friday afternoon, Penny Brennan scored her second feature class victory aboard Vertigo Delorme in the $15,000 1.40m Jumper Classic.

Amanda Steege & Lafitte De Muze in the $20,000 Golden Ocala Golf & Equestrian Club 3’6″-3’9″ Hunter Derby. Photo courtesy of Andrew Ryback Photography.

Amanda Steege & Lafitte De Muze notched the $20,000 Golden Ocala Golf & Equestrian Club 3’6”-3’9” Hunter Derby victory.

“I could trust Lafitte’s jumping style to be recognized by the judges, but I knew I had to be as handy as I could and show off a little pace to win it,” remarked Steege. “I was the only one that did the inside turn back to the trot fence. Lafitte and I have such a trusting partnership at this point, I just thought about turning and he was right there with me. Then he found the trot fence perfectly and landed left. I was so happy that he landed all of his leads, because that has been something we have really been working on. He was perfect through the combination and jumped so well over the last.”

Timothy Maddrix & Cypress in the $15,000 UF Veterinary Hospital 3′ Open Hunter Derby. Photo courtesy of Andrew Ryback Photography.

Timothy Maddrix & Cypress prevailed in the $15,000 UF Veterinary Hospital 3’ Open Hunter Derby.

“I ended up sticking with my original plan. A lot of people were having trouble with the trot jump, but my horse isn’t spooky at all, so I knew that wasn’t going to be an issue. The only turn I was second guessing was to go inside to the last jump, but I didn’t because he was so fluid everywhere else. I didn’t want to risk stepping off the lead and shifting. I just tried not to lose,” joked Maddrix.

Luke Sassi & Waterfall Z in the $15,000 WEC Ocala 3′ Jr/Am Hunter Derby. Photo courtesy of Andrew Ryback Photography.

Luke Sassi and Waterfall Z landed the $15,000 WEC Ocala 3’ Jr/Am Hunter Derby win.

“Waterfall is my sister’s horse. She does the junior hunters with him and when she can’t show I get to show him in the derbies. He’s so much fun to ride. You just have to keep his attention on the jumps, and he is perfect. He is never spooky and wants to do a good job for you.”

Will Simpson & Whoop De Doo in the $24,000 C. Jarvis Insurance Welcome Prix. Photo courtesy of Andrew Ryback Photography.

Will Simpson navigated a top finish aboard Whoop De Doo in the $24,000 C Jarvis Insurance Welcome Prix.

“Spooner did the seven beautifully in the first line. Whoop De Doo has such a quick step, I was thinking of doing the bowing seven, because I knew we could be just as fast as the horses that did six.”

“But, then, Tracy went in on Apple and that pair know each other like the back their hand. She walked down the six in the first line, then was super tight back to the vertical. Then she went ahead and did six to the double combination, which I didn’t even think of doing and I didn’t want to go there quite yet,” laughed Simpson.

Sophia Street & Rollingwoods California Cookie winning the $2,000 WEC Ocala Pony Hunter Derby. Photo courtesy of Andrew Ryback Photography.

Sophie Street and Rollingwoods California Cookie emerged victorious in the $2,000 WEC Ocala Pony Hunter Derby.

Finley Mattos & Love Story in the $3,500 WEC Ocala 2’6″ Junior Non Pro Hunter Derby. Photo courtesy of Andrew Ryback Photography.

Due to a large number of entries in the $3,500 WEC Ocala 2’6” Non Pro Hunter Derby, the class was split into two sections; Junior and Amateur.

Finley Mattos and her own Love Story had a storybook ending in the $3,500 WEC Ocala 2’6” Junior Non Pro Hunter Derby, besting 18 other competitors.

Camryn Halley & Make Way accepting their first place award after winning the $3,500 WEC Ocala 2’6″ Amateur Non Pro Hunter Derby. Photo courtesy of Andrew Ryback Photography.

In the $3,500 WEC Ocala 2’6” Amateur Non Pro Hunter Derby, Camryn Halley took home the top prize aboard her own Make Way.

Congratulations to all competitors on another successful week of equestrian sport!

Photos courtesy of Andrew Ryback Photography.
Videos available at ClipMyHorse.TV

Follow us on social media!
Facebook | Instagram

Post navigation

Previous: Santiago Lambre & Chacco Blue II Steal the $15,000 Taylor Harris Insurance Services 1.45m Jumper Classic Victory
Next: World Equestrian Center – Wilmington Winter Classic #5 Highlights

Recent Posts

  • World Equestrian Center – Wilmington Winter Classic #8 Highlights
    |  Shows
    Read
  • World Equestrian Center – Ocala 2023 Winter Spectacular Show Series Week V Highlights
    |  Shows
    Read
  • World Equestrian Center – Wilmington Welcomes Kentucky Equine Research to Family of Sponsors
    |  Wilmington, OH
    Read
  • Ocala Sunday Spotlight: Isabel Harbour
    |  Shows
    Read
  • Brooks Hull & Zechariah 3:9 Top the $15,000 Taylor Harris Insurance Services 1.45m Jumper Classic at WEC – Ocala
    |  Shows
    Read
  • Wilmington Sunday Spotlight: Joshua Graves
    |  Shows
    Read
  • Athlete Information for 2023 WEC Premier Equitation Cup Championship Powered by Gary Yeomans Ford
    |  Shows
    Read
  • Aaron Vale & Cristo Beech Best the Field in the $100,000 Alltech Grand Prix at WEC – Ocala
    |  Shows
    Read
  • Nicole Loochtan & It’s Me Du Bosquetiau Earn Second Consecutive Win in $30,000 Grand Prix at WEC Ohio Winter Classic #8
    |  Shows
    Read
  • Lisa Goldman-Smolen & Sovereign Prevail in the $15,000 Buckeye Nutrition Futures Prix
    |  Shows
    Read

Categories

  • Magazine Issues
  • Shows
  • Uncategorized
  • Results
  • Ocala, FL
  • Equestrian News
  • Wilmington, OH
  • Facilities
  • Sponsors
  • Equestrian
  • Featured
  • Conventions & Trade shows
  • Weddings
  • News Releases
  • Visit

Our Affiliates

TAKE2 second career thoroughbred program
OPHA
us equestrian
ushja
ohio hunter jumper association
wisconsin hunter jumper association
hunter jumper association of michigan

Join Our Mailing List

Ocala

  • Equestrian Events
  • Visit
  • Real Estate
  • Conventions & Tradeshows
  • Sporting Events
  • Canine Shows
  • Weddings
  • Facilities
  • Sponsors
  • Vendors

Wilmington

  • Equestrian Events
  • Stay
  • Facilities
  • Sponsors
  • Vendors
  • About

  • Events

  • Contact

  • Blog

  • Media

  • Worship

  • Careers

Follow Us

  • WEC
  • Ocala
  • The Gathering Place

Follow Us

  • WEC
  • Ocala
  • The Gathering Place
Contact Us
Ocala Equestrian Operations: 352.414.7900
Hotel Reservations: 866.478.9267
Wilmington Equestrian Operations: 937.382.0985
X
Quality. Class. Distinction.
Privacy Policy | User Agreement | © 2023 World Equestrian Center, Wilmington OH & Ocala FL, Inc. All Rights Reserved.
  • Ocala
    • Equestrian Events
      • Spectators
      • Shows
      • WEC Premier Cup
      • Members and Exhibitors
        • Forms
        • Prize List
        • Membership Directory
        • Points Issue
        • Standings
        • Results
        • Horses
      • Golf Cart Rental
      • Volunteers
    • Real Estate
      • Estate Lots
    • Conventions
      • Conventions Photo Gallery
    • Sporting Events
    • Visit
      • Stay
      • Shop
      • Dining
      • Resort Spa
      • Things to do in Ocala, FL
    • Canine Shows
    • Social Events
      • Catering Menus
      • Social Events Gallery
    • Facilities
      • Expo Centers
      • Arenas
      • Stabling
      • Veterinary Hospital
      • Chapel
      • Request for Proposal Form – Ocala, Florida
    • Live Stream
    • Sponsors
      • Be a Sponsor
    • Become a Vendor
      • Vendor Application
  • Wilmington
    • Equestrian Events
      • Spectators
      • Shows
      • WEC Premier Cup
      • Members and Exhibitors
        • Forms
        • Prize list
        • Membership Directory
        • Points Issue
        • Standings
        • Results
        • Horses
    • Facilities
      • Stabling
      • Arenas
      • Host an Event
      • Amenities
        • Dining
        • Shop
        • Dragonfly Academy
      • Chapel
    • Live Stream
    • Stay
      • Things to do in Wilmington, OH
    • Sponsors
      • Be a Sponsor
    • Vendors
      • Vendor Application
  • Events
  • Contact
  • About
    • FAQ
      • Ocala
      • Wilmington
    • Careers
      • Ocala
      • Wilmington
  • Blog
  • Media
    • Media Accreditation Form
  • Worship