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

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).

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!”

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 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.