WEC Summer 2 kicked off Thursday afternoon with an exciting $10,000 Welcome Stake 1.35m, which boasted an impressive field of 19 horse and rider combinations. The well-constructed course was designed by Bobby Murphy of Lexington, Kentucky.
Only five entries managed to make it into the jump off, with just three riding double clear rounds, but it was Wilhelm Genn and his own 13- year-old Oldenburg gelding, Van Gogh (Valentino x Calina Z), that nabbed the win with a one-second lead.
“I thought everything went really well. He jumped all the rounds clear,” said Genn of Rheinland Farm, Lebanon, OH. “I’m happy that they rolled the course before the class. It made a big difference in the footing for tonight. The horses thank WEC a lot for that!”
Coming in second place, with 0 faults and a splendid jump-off time of 40.503 seconds, was Wilhelm’s son, Ryan Genn and VDL Gerinus T (Arezzo VDL x Rosalina). Genn and the 10-year-old Dutch Warmblood gelding easily managed a clear first round in 71.615 seconds, well under the time allowed of 77 seconds. The pair returned last for the jump-off and gave the course their all for a second clear round in 40.503 seconds.
Rounding the top three was last week’s $25,000 Grand Prix Winner, Kady Abrahamson of Georgetown, Kentucky, atop Maraca LS La Silla (Quintero La Silla x Marimba La Silla), a 14-year-old Mexican Sporthorse. The pair jumped a clear first round of 74.706 seconds, followed up by a clear second round of 41.981 seconds.
$10,000 World Equestrian Center Welcome Stake 1.35m
- Van Gogh, Wilhelm Genn – 0 | 0 | 39.472
- VDL Gerinus T, Ryan Michael Genn – 0 | 0 | 40.503
- Maraca LS La Silla, Kady Abrahamson – 0 | 0 | 41.981
- Lancome, Colleen Acosta– 0 | 4 | 39.169
- Vigo Du Levant, Jaelynn Downing – 0 | 8 | 43.769
- Everyday Hero, Heren R. Lee – 0 | 8 | 45.436
- Catch A Star HSS, Kevin Mc Carthyl – 4 | 71.001
- Barclay B, Ella Mauritzson – 4 | 72.492
- Happy Feet B, Lauren S. Hester – 4 | 73.070
- Himini, Colleen Acosta – 4 | 73.130
Photos courtesy of Winslow Photography.
