Ringing in 2022 with a Welcome Stake win was Paul Halpern and Vanessa Lee’s Esra (Bratt Z x Ulibra) of Canada. The ten-year-old AHHA mare competed beautifully today, remaining smooth, quick and careful throughout both rounds.

Halpern and Esra were first on the course and set a competitive pace which no other competitors managed to beat. The pair jumped a clear first-round in a time of 70.560 seconds, well under the time allowed of 79 seconds. Halpern and the scopey brown mare then took to the short course, galloping through the jump-off timers at a quick 36.461 seconds for the win.

Kevin McCarthy of K&K Sporthorses in Lexington, Kentucky, and his own Catch a Star HSS (Sheraton x Tolinda) delivered their usual high-speed performance, just missing the first place mark by under one second. The lovely and daring twelve-year-old Sweedish Warmblood mare gave it her all and the pair finished the first round in only 69.855 seconds. During the jump-off, the always competitive McCarthy and Catch a Star HSS stopped the clock at 37.494 seconds for a red ribbon finish.

Rounding out the top three was David Beisel of David Beisel Stables in Goshen, Ohio, and his own Vegas H (Valentino x Cobrah). This popular team delivered a clean and clear first-round finish in 72.846 seconds. During their jump-off effort, Beisel and the nine-year-old bay Warmblood gelding crossed the timers in 38.234 seconds for third place honors.

Source:  World Equestrian Center 

Photo: World Equestrian Center