Sam Pegg of Uxbridge, ON, won the $10,000 New Balance Welcome Stake, presented by Manchester Designer Outlets, on Thursday, July 27, during the fourth week of competition at the six-week Vermont Summer Festival running through August 13 at Harold Beebe Farm in East Dorset, VT.
Pegg and his winning mount, Shaia de Macheco, were one of three pairs to advance to the jump-off over a track set by Canadian course designer and 1976 Olympic individual silver medalist, Michel Vaillancourt. Pegg produced one of only two double-clear efforts, stopping the jump-off clock in 32.11 seconds while Tracy Magness of Baltimore, MD, settled for second place after crossing the timers just fractions off the lead in a time of 32.38 seconds riding Intenz van HD. Lainie Wimberly of Ridgefield, CT, took third place riding RF Quarterman with a four-fault jump-off round in 36.16 seconds.
Ireland’s Jordan Coyle, now based at Old Salem Farm in North Salem, NY, piloted Escalette to the fastest four-fault effort in the opening round for fourth place. Rounding out the top five, Jimmy Torano of Wellington, FL, pulled a single rail in the first round riding his Welcome Stake winner during week two, Diamant des Biez.