Artemis and Ali Wolff (Arian Booker Photography)
After concluding her first round performance aboard Lanoo, Wolff discovered he was missing a shoe. Unfortunately, no one could find it, and he was unable to return for the seven-horse tiebreaker. Thankfully, Wolff's Artemis, a bay, Zangersheide mare, stepped up to save the day.
"I'm super excited to win this class, and it's such a great venue," said Wolff. "She's relatively new and 8 years old, and we just kept moving up. She's jumping fantastic, and showing good form. We've just been so happy with her."
Wolff went second in the jump-off and posted a quick clear round in 33.92 seconds, which no one else could catch.
"The first person fell off, so I didn't get to see anybody go in the jump-off," she said. "I was contemplating the [inside] turn right around the gazebo--that the first girl looked she was going to do--but it looked like it might be too weavey. But, I figured she's a fast horse, so fast around the jump would be my best shot, and it was."
Wolff, 23, of New Albany, OH, and trainer Michele Grubb found Artemis (Chamberlain Z--Odette) in Europe last winter and have brought her up the levels gradually.
"I try with her to go for a smooth round," said Wolff. "The more I fuss with her head the more she loses her shape. If I just let her study the fences herself, she's more careful that way. I just try to stay out of her way and be as smooth as possible around the corners so I don't have to adjust as much. The rest she takes care of herself.
"She won [her first high] classic the last show I did in Kentucky," added Wolff. "This week [at Horse Shows by the Bay] is her second time in the highs, so she's shaping up to be really good."
Wolff also earned top ribbons in the High Junior/Amateur-Owner Jumper section, sponsored by Kilkenny Insurance & QBE North America. She finished tied for the reserve championship with two mounts, Caya and Lanoo, 1 point behind champion Belle Bleu S and rider Kaely Tomeu.
To view a video of the the winning round, please click here.
Martha Ingram also picked up a reserve championship and classic win Saturday, but her top calls came in the R.L. Polk Family Main Hunter Ring. She guided Absolut to the victory in the Junior Hunter Classic, sponsored by CWD Sellier, after earning the Large Junior, 15 and Under, reserve tricolor, which was sponsored by DJ's Car Wash, Inc.
Horse Shows by the Bay Series I was Ingram's first competition with the veteran Absolut, an 11-year-old KWPN gelding by Cassini.
"We got him two weeks ago from Tracy Scheriff-Muser. He's very sweet and loves to do his job," said Ingram. "I'm just excited to get to know him better."
Ingram, 15, of Nashville, TN, showed Absolut in the 3'3" Performance Hunters on Thursday, and then they made their debut together in the juniors on Friday.
"He's really comfortable and has an amazing jump," said Ingram. "You think you're not going to get to the distance, but he just powers off the ground. He has such a big stride that you go slow, and I like that."
Absolut and Ingram won the first round of the Junior Hunter Classic with a score of 85, and then returned to earn an 83, which clinched the victory. Trainer Tom Wright told Ingram to just go out and have fun.
"I tried not to put pressure on myself because I don't know him," she said. "I was doing this for the experience. I always get nervous. Sometimes I do well under pressure, and sometimes I don't. It kind of depends on the day, and today was a good day."
Even though Kirklen Petersen's day didn't start out as well as she would have liked, it finished on a positive note. Petersen topped the Small Junior Hunter section with Jessica Stitt's On The Hour and also took the Hunterpointe Grand Junior Hunter Championship.
"He was awesome," she said. "I wouldn't be anywhere without these amazing horses!"
"Yesterday I had a great day," Petersen continued. "Dancing Solo won the first class and the under saddle, and On The Hour was first, second, and second in the under saddle, so they were amazing. And then this morning I made a few mistakes. It wasn't their fault whatsoever, but I fixed it finally. It took long enough, though!"
On The Hour, an 11-year-old warmblood, and Petersen jogged in sixth in the first over fences class Saturday. and then claimed the top call in the handy for 32.5 points and the grand honors.
"He's a little horse, but he's amazing and has the stride of an 18-hand horse," she said. "He's got a great jump, and he's my favorite horse in the barn, for sure. Whenever I ride him I have so much fun."
Petersen, 15, is from Great Falls, VA, and rides with Larry Glefke, Kelley Farmer and Lane Change Farm out of Keswick, VA. "I started with them about 1 ½ year ago," she said. "I'm so lucky and have so many wonderful opportunities."
Other featured winners Saturday included:
Large Junior Hunter, 15 and Under, Champion sponsored by DJ's Car Wash, Inc. - Nobility, owned by Melissa Wight and ridden by Sophie Simpson
Large Junior Hunter, 16-17, Champion sponsored by Huntsover Farms and Cindy Orr - Infinity, owned by Silver Oak Farms LLC and ridden by Kelsie Brittan
Children's Hunter, 14 and Under, Champion sponsored by Brawley Farms - All In Time, owned by Bitsy Woods and ridden by Jake Wasson
Children's Hunter, 15-17, Champion sponsored by Sugar Run Farm and Jennifer Nadalin - Callucci, owned and ridden by Kendall Whitt
Action continues tomorrow in all five rings, with the Grand Prix Ring streaming live thanks to ShowNet LLC and this week's free streaming partner, HRTV. They're bringing the action right to your screen every day, beginning at 8 a.m. Go to www.horseshowsbythebay.com and click on "Watch It Live."