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.