Exhibitors crowded the Standlee Sanctuary Arena Saturday afternoon for the $50,000 Grand Prix of WEC – Wilmington Fall Classic II, where Robert Barton (USA) designed the technical track for an esteemed group of athletes. Only five horse-and-athlete combinations moved onto the jump-off phase, where Canada’s Sam Pegg and his quickest mount Gin Tonic 158 (Graftop x Sanjador) proved their dominance against the field.
The duo has won numerous grands prix in Wilmington and returned in top form for the 2024 Fall Classic Series. Following a clear round in Thursday’s Welcome Stake, Pegg felt his horses were well prepared for today’s track. “Thursday was a nice class to come back here and get the horses used to being back inside. Today, the time was right on and it was technical. If you went around everywhere, you had to keep galloping to make it, or you could take the risk and make the inside turns. Robert did a very nice job today,” said Pegg.
Returning for the jump-off, Pegg followed Laura Douglas (USA) and Steven Bluman’s Legend (Voltaire x Charlie’s Angel), who held the leading time of 36.963 seconds.
Pegg shared his plan for the tie-breaker, “I decided to stay on nine strides to one-to-two in the jump-off. I tried to focus on the turns and get away from the back side of the jumps. There were two right hand turns, and that’s his favorite way. I thought I didn’t have to try to perform a miracle but make tight turns and keep his feet moving.”
Making up time with a swift turn back on the final oxer, Pegg clinched the lead in 36.466 seconds with his 12-year-old Hanoverian gelding, moving Douglas and her eight-year-old Dutch Warmblood mare into second.
“He basically knows that you’re turning to the last jump when you’re doing it. He was able to turn quite short and sneak back through the combination and catch the last on a good gallop,” Pegg noted.
Charlotte Babbitt (USA) and her own 11-year-old Oldenburg mare, Vivianne Blue PS (Vivant Van De Heffinck x Chacanne), were quick and clear in 37.913 seconds to round out the podium.
$50,000 Grand Prix Results:
1 Gin Tonic 158, Sam Pegg, Sam Pegg | 0 | 36.466
2 Legend, Laura Douglas, Steven Bluman | 0 | 36.963
3 Vivianne Blue PS, Charlotte Babbitt, Charlotte Babbitt | 0 | 37.913
4 Martini VDL, Kady Abrahamson, Abrahamson Equestrian LLC | 0 | 38.745
5 Ultimately Cooley, Loic Cannaert, Orpen Horses | 4 | 38.191
6 Ivaro N, Lisa Goldman-Smolen, Barbara Disko | 4 | 84.308
7 Magic, Loic Cannaert, Orpen Horses | 4 | 84.421
8 Sovereign, Lisa Goldman-Smolen, Barbara Disko | 4 | 85.255
9 Formidable Diamant, Sam Pegg, Harlow Investment Enterprises | 4 | 86.625
10 Easter Lily ODF, Maggie Jayne, Alex Jayne | 4 | 86.931
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