Skylar Wireman Dominates $10,000 WEC Wilmington Welcome Stake at Winter Classic XIV

Skylar Wireman and Karen! take top $10,000 Welcome Stake honors. Photo courtesy of Winslow Photography.

Edited Press Release

Wilmington, OH – Feature class action for week XIV of the Winter Classic circuit kicked off in the Sanctuary Arena, where 16 speedy competitors brought their best for the $10,000 Welcome Stake 1.35. The forward track featured several long approaches and many inside options, where riders opted to shave time off their rounds. 

Nine riders qualified for the jump-off, where they laid down their finest efforts. Just fractions of a second separated the top three placings, however, none could top 2022 Premier Equitation Cup Champion Skylar Wireman out of Bonsall, California, and Mkt Investments LLCs, Karen! (Levistano x Cleopatra).

All smiles in the winner’s circle for the West coast team. Photo courtesy of Winslow Photography.

The talented junior rider went clear in the first round, advancing directly into the jump-off. Wireman and the 10-year-old Hanoverian mare topped the leaderboard midway through the class after going double clear and producing a 39.333 final time. 

“Karen is a newer ride for me. I had the chance to work with her some last year and this year. I’ve now shown her for a few weeks and we’ve recently moved up to the 1.35m,” Wireman said. “The track was nice and I enjoyed the course. The lines were good, some longer than others and the jump-off went really well. There were options for insides and I took advantage of that, which ended up paying off!”

Esra and Halpern delivered their usual performance; quick around the arena and light on their feet. Photo courtesy of Winslow Photography.

Last week’s $30,000 Grand Prix winners, Paul Halpern and Esra (Bratt Z x Ulibra) claimed today’s second-place podium spot. Halpern of Nova Stables in Quebec and Vanessa Lee’s careful 10-year-old Holsteiner mare produced a double-clear jump-off round, stopping the clock at 39.710 seconds to take home the red ribbon.

Wireman soared to third riding Coolio 23. Photo courtesy of Winslow Photography.

Wireman accepted another top-three finish, this time aboard a fifteen-year-old Oldenburg named Coolio 23 (Contendro I x Saphhira). Wireman and Coolio 23  produced a smooth first round, directly promoting them into the jump-off where they blazed the tracks in only 39.857 seconds to take home third place honors. 

$10,000 Welcome Stake 1.35m Results: 

  1. Karen!, Skylar Wireman: 0 | 0 | 39.333
  2. Esra, Paul Halpern: 0 | 0 | 39.710
  3. Coolio 23, Skylar Wireman: 0 | 0 | 39.857
  4. Caiman Des Sequoias, Nichole Loochtan: 0 | 0 | 42.204
  5. Big Girl Z, Sam Pegg: 0 | 0 | 42.864
  6. Pacifica, Sam Pegg: 0 | 0 | 43.485
  7. Vincent, Richard Rhinehart: 0 | 4 | 38.598
  8. Balugata, Liz Hutchinson: 0 | 4 | 54.496
  9. Cornet’s Lady, Chloe Parker: 0 | EL
  10. Tinka’s Soldier, Chloe Parker: 4 | 69.049

Photos courtesy of Winslow Photography.

 

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