Wilmington, Ohio – Winter Classic 2 concluded Sunday, December 10 at World Equestrian Center – Wilmington. Sam Pegg (CAN) and Gin Tonic 158 (Graf Top x Hauptstutbuch) scored back-to-back wins in the $30,000 Grand Prix Saturday evening, while Captain America 10 (Contendro) struck again with Luke Rinehart (USA) in the $10,000 Futures Prix. Greg Crolick (USA) swept the $15,000 USHJA National Open Hunter Derby Friday evening, and Richard Rinehart (USA) began the week with a win in the $10,000 CWD Welcome Stake.
Speed was the name of the game for Pegg and his fiery 11-year-old Hanoverian gelding in the $30,000 Grand Prix as they sped by a 13-horse jump-off to take the win by nearly two full seconds.
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.”
Junior rider Luke Rinehart piloted his 10-year-old Hanoverian gelding to the win in the $10,000 Futures Prix.
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.”
Greg Crolick was unstoppable in the $15,000 USHJA National Open Hunter Derby with all four of his entered mounts in the top twelve, and Addison Mae King’s Douglas De Riverland (Sunday De Riverland x Presence De Riverland) taking the top spot with scores of 88 and 90.
Crolick spoke highly of his new, winning ride, “Doug is a new ride for me. I didn’t know where he was going to go, he did the 3’6” for the first time this week. He went around lovely for me. He is really a pleasant horse to ride and easy to get to the ring. He really shined in the 3’6” and was jumping so well today.”
Alisa Berry ultimately held the lead in the $15,000 USHJA National Non-Pro Hunter Derby with her own On Point (Cola Zero x Lolita) with scores of 91 and 90.
“The courses suited him today. There was the long eight stride to a vertical going away from the gate, so that helps to balance and reset them. The jumps were enough to look at, so it held their eye. The course rode great. The candy cane trot jump was fun. They decorate incredibly here. You can’t beat the facility and the decorations, and the jumps are all beautiful. They all jump a little bit better here and they are just sharper.”
Richard Rinehart set the tone for the week with Captain America 10’s first featured win in the $10,000 CWD Welcome Stake.
Rinehart mastered Anderson Lima’s (BRA) tracks and set an early lead with the nine-year-old Hanoverian gelding, “I was just hoping to jump clean. I thought Anderson built a technical track tonight. There were a lot of questions, but it wasn’t set overly large. It was a good introduction to the week for the horses.”
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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.