Santiago Lambre and The Diamant Rose Z Dominate WEC Fall Classic I $50,000 Grand Prix

Santiago Lambre and Diamont Rose Z. Photo by Winslow Photography

The Sanctuary Arena played host to a field of 38 international entries as WEC Fall Classic I feature jumper action continued today with the $50,000 WEC Grand Prix 1.45m and $10,00 Futures Prix 1.30m. Several double clear efforts proved time was the determining factor for the tracks designed by Bobby Murphy of Lexington, Kentucky. In the end, Santiago Lambre claimed the top spot in the $50,000 WEC Grand Prix aboard The Diamont Rose Z (Diamant Z x Toulon), while David Beisel and Vegas H (Valentino x Cobrah) took top honors in the $10,000 Futures Prix 1.30m.

A new pond feature was added to the Sanctuary area.

The $50,000 WEC Grand Prix saw 18 horse-and-rider combinations vie for the win. After the first round six entries returned for the jump-off, and five jumped double clear.  Ultimately it was Santiago Lambre and The Diamont Rose Z, a thirteen-year-old Zangershiede mare, that prevailed for the win. During the jump-off the pair went clear in 34.894 seconds, which would prove to be unbeatable. 

“I’ve had this horse for a very long time, since she was three,” Lambre said. “So I have gotten to know her very well. She’s a great horse and a fast horse! She has won many classes at WEC Ocala and other places. As for the course, I really enjoyed riding it. This is my first time at this facility and I was impressed with the footing and the arena, too – it was all perfect just like down in Ocala.”

Kristen B. Vanderveen taking on the Grand Pix with Taco.

Claiming the second spot in today’s premier event was Kristen B. Vanderveen of Bull Run Jumpers, Wellington, Florida, and Taco. While they jumped double clear, they were just two seconds behind Lambre, stopping the clock at 36.343 seconds in the jump-off. This duo was a crowd favorite and spectators roared as they crossed the timers. Vanderveen has seen much success this week, as she and Bull Run’s Divine Fortune took blue in Thursday’s $10,000 Welcome Prix.

Third place finishers, Abrahamson and Vancouver.

The first on the course and the first to manage a clear round was Kady Abrahamson of Georgetown, Kentucky and her own Vancouver (Valentino x Cocco). Abrahamson and the 12-year-old WESTF gelding were on point this afternoon, jumping a tidy first round in 79.652 seconds, and a quick jump off time of 36.787 seconds, securing the third place spot.  

David Beisel and Vegas H fly to first place in the $10,000 Futures Prix 1.30m.

The $10,000 Futures Prix 1.30m welcomed a field of 18 riders who battled for first place. Competition was fierce with 86 seconds allotted for riders to complete round one of this afternoon’s course. Ten riders advanced io the jump-off, but it was David Beisel and Vegas H who came out on top. 

Beisel of David Beisel Stables in Goshen, Ohio, piloted his own Vegas H (Valentino x Cobrah), an eight-year-old Warmblood, to his third WEC Futures Prix victory. This pair delivered a clean first round of 80.368 seconds, and returned for the jump-off with speed and precision in mind. Their jump-off time was a sharp 35.475 seconds, 0.3 seconds ahead of second place. 

Rinehart and La Dolce Vita VDL finished second.

Richard Rinehart of Rinehart Farm in Westfield, Indiana, and La Dolce Vita VDL (Zapatero VDL x Tilly) stole the second place spot, jumping double clear and stopping the clocks at 35.717 seconds in the jum-off round. La Dolce Vita VDL is owned by Allison VIinatieri and has had much success at World Equestrian Center in the past.

Catch A Star HSS and McCarthy rounded out the top three.

Rounding out the top three was Ireland’s Kevin McCarthy and his own Catch A Star HSS (Sheraton x Tolinda). This pair attacked the course in ther usual style, jumping double clear and earning a jump-off time of just 36.04 seconds. 

$50,000 Grand Prix 1.40m-1.45m Results

  1. Diamont Rose Z, Santiago Lambre – 0 | 0 | 34.894
  2. Taco, Kristen B. Vanderveen – 0 | 0 | 36.343
  3. Vancouver, Kady Abrahamson – 0 | 0 | 36.787
  4. Coquelicot VH Heuvelland Z, Sean Jobin – 0 | 0 | 39.580
  5. Van Gogh, Wilhelm Genn – 0 | 0 | 42.770
  6. Caiman des Sequoias, Nichole Loochtan – 0 | 4 | 39.260
  7. Essince W, David Q. Beisel – 4 | 67.806
  8. Finch Farm Clifford, Kristen B. Vanderveen – 4 | 72.740
  9. Any, Kady Abrahamson – 4 | 76.373
  10. VDL Gerinus T, Ryan Michael Genn – 4 | 76.400

$10,000 Futures Prix 1.30m Results

  1. Vegas H, David Beisel – 0 | 0 | 35.475 
  2. La Dolce Vita VDL, Richard L. Rinehart – 0 | 0 | 35.717
  3. Catch A Star HSS, Kevin Mc Carthy – 0 | 0 | 36.040
  4. Gyloma, Erika Thornell – 0 | 0 | 36.082
  5. Colourful S, Morgan Ward – 0 | 0 | 36.082
  6. Smokeshow 8, Morgan Ward – 0 | 0 | 37.123
  7. Ammeretto, Izzy Beisel  – 0 | 0 | 38.138
  8. Milady Des Bruyeres, Tiffany Lee – 0 | 0 | 46.168
  9. Captain America, Richard L. Rinehart –  0 | 4 | 48.395
  10. Ecuador W, Logan Taylor – 4 | 75.753

Photos courtesy of Winslow Photography.

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