Ocala, FL – Week VII of the 2023 Winter Spectacular Show Series played host to yet another exhilarating week of equestrian sport. Luis Sabino Goncalves (POR) galloped away with two victories in the $24,000 C. Jarvis Insurance Welcome Prix and $100,000 Florida Coast Equipment Grand Prix aboard Sigma Stables LLC’s Vick Du Croisy. Samantha Schaefer and In The Know added yet another win to their list in the $20,000 Golden Ocala Golf & Equestrian Club 3’6”-3’9” Hunter Derby. Read on for additional highlights from the week.
Watch Luis Sabino Goncalves and William Simpson race against the clock in the $100,000 Florida Coast Equipment Grand Prix.
Kyle Dewar (CAN) and Clever Van De Helle captured the $15,000 Taylor Harris Insurance Services 1.45m Jumper Classic victory on Sunday afternoon.
“I have had Clever for nine years. He isn’t jumping the big classes anymore because he is a bit older, but he’s still very capable. He’s actually going to transition to my daughter when she’s strong enough for him, and I just know he will be great for her. He has had an incredible career and was the leading national Canadian horse two or three years in a row. He doesn’t owe me anything.”
Luis Sabino Goncalves (POR) and Vick Du Croisy led the way in the $100,000 Florida Coast Equipment Grand Prix.
“The question was to do the six or the seven from one to two, but I was first in, so I wanted to put the pressure on so the rest would have to go after me. She walked down the six and we found everything else forward. The double combination was big, but my mare is so careful, I trusted her quality and she proved herself. To the last, I just went for it. I am not even sure how many I did to the last fence. I even asked my team, and they couldn’t even tell me because they were all just focused on the clock.”
On Friday night, Taylor Marie Land and Escobar WW snagged the $15,000 Buckeye Nutrition Futures Prix victory.
“I didn’t have a great sense of how fast Andre had been. I was watching on the screen in the schooling area, and knew he hadn’t done the tightest track, but he did leave out in some places. I wanted to go fast enough and be smooth in the roll backs, so I could catch each fence forward. I didn’t want to risk going too slow, but my horse really rose to the occasion.”
Earlier on Friday, Vicente Guillen (VEN) and Evolene De Carles landed the $15,000 1.40m Jumper Classic win.
Samantha Schaefer and In The Know prevailed once again in the $20,000 Golden Ocala Golf & Equestrian Club 3’6”-3’9” Hunter Derby.
“We were all pretty close coming into the second round. I knew what I wanted to do turn wise. Josh Dolan had two incredible rounds and was sitting first and second, so I knew I had to be tidy to stay on top.”
Sam Meadows and UFeelMe emerged victorious in the $15,000 UF Veterinary Hospital 3’ Open Hunter Derby.
“UFeelMe is a five turning six-year-old. When I came down in December, his owners from South Carolina called me asking if I would like to take him to sell, and when they sent him to me, I recommended they should keep him because I had a feeling he was going to be something special.”
Luke Rinehart and Hero captured the $15,000 WEC Ocala 3’ Jr/Am Hunter Derby win with two impressive scores in the 90s.
“I think I have only received two scores in the 90s before and today I doubled that. I am still a bit shocked. I was a little worried about the wind, but Hero was incredible. It was so much fun to ride out in that ring today, it’s very impressive.”
Luis Sabino Goncalves and Vick Du Croisy opened their week with a win in the $24,000 C. Jarvis Insurance Welcome Prix.
“It was a nice first round. It was Leopoldo Palacios’ style. He is a very recognized designer that likes to add some elaborate and unconventional jumps that surprise some of the horses. However, Vick Du Croisy didn’t bat an eye at today’s jumps and the track rode beautifully for her.”
Chandler Wilks and Charlotte Sturdevant’s Qantar’s Chico prevailed in the $2,000 WEC Ocala Pony Hunter Derby.
Molly Gfroerer and her own Fortune bested the field in the $3,500 Junior 2’6” Non Pro Hunter Derby, while Emily Smith and her own Ipanema won the $3,500 Amateur 2’6” Non Pro Hunter Derby.
Congratulations to all entries on another thrilling week of equestrian sport!
Photos courtesy of Andrew Ryback Photography.
Videos available at ClipMyHorse.TV