Awards presentation (Cameron Green Media)
Since his first-ever grand prix victory here last year, the 9-year-old Dutch Warmblood stallion (Numero Uno--Ranna) has continued to collect accolades, including two grand prix victories on the HITS Ocala Winter Circuit (Florida) and an impressive seventh-placed finish in the HITS $1 Million Grand Prix.
While Ammeretto jumped to good ribbons this spring in Kentucky, Beisel collected a rail or two and chose to adjust his strategy here in Traverse City, Michigan. "I decided to come here and have a little more fun--maybe not try quite so hard and be a little more relaxed about it, and it seemed to pay off today," he said with a smile.
A field of 25 entries tackled the Kenny Krome-designed Welcome Prix, with eight jumping clear and qualifying for the jump-off.
Beisel and Ammeretto produced a double-clear effort in 34.61 seconds for the victory over yesterday's 1.40 Speed Stake winner Michael Dorman, who finished second with Zephyr with a clear round in 35.59 seconds. Canadian rider Kim Farlinger and Caprice Vande Brouwershoeve placed third (0-0/35.82 seconds), with Twister and Shawn Casady taking fourth (0-0/36.52 seconds).
"The first round, I just wanted to keep it smooth," he continued. "I didn't get to walk the course because I was with my daughter at the pony ring, but I'd ridden in here earlier so I had feeling for the lines. With my 'feel good' horse, I wanted to try and keep it smooth."
Beisel said he watched Casady in the jump-off before making his plan. "I had a feel then for what I could do to be a little faster and leave the jumps up, and it worked out," he said. "I definitely was more relaxed here, and it's good to be a little more mentally relaxed."
As a bonus, Ammeretto's owner Dale Nielson, of Equine Holdings LLC, in Traverse City, was on-hand to cheer them on. "It's great to have Dale here and have him see his horses go," Beisel said.
Haase and Northern Pines Sophie, her gray Thoroughbred mare, couldn't be caught in the jump-off, taking inside turns that no one else attempted and jumping clear with the fastest time of the day.
"This is so exciting," said Haase. "Sophie is 22 years old and still going strong. She's an awesome horse. I was pretty nervous for those inside turns, but I know Sophie turns on a dime. I went in just hoping it would go well, and she did it."
Haase purchased Sophie 2 1/2 years ago from trainer Melissa Hirt of Northern Pines Farm, and they've enjoyed success in the Children's jumpers. They also won one of yesterday's TAKE2 Thoroughbred Jumper Stake classes and placed second in a Low Children's Jumper class.
Haase said Northern Pines Farm Assistant Trainer Cody Beisel, of Goshen, Ohio, has 20 horses competing this week during Series I and 26 for Series II. After Friday's show concluded, the family was heading out to celebrate the Fourth of July.
"We love it here. We're taking the boat out on the lake tonight," he said. "And I want to say thanks to [show manager] Alex [Rheinheimer] and everybody for putting on a great horse show. This is the place to be."
Ella Haase also kept the hometown momentum going, as the 16-year-old from Traverse City jumped to victory in the Low Children's Jumper Classic, sponsored by Outback Steak House.
Weverstad offered her some excellent advice when she was going into the ring.
"Cody said, 'She can do it. Just keep your leg, trust her and she'll jump it.' And she did," said Haase. "This is so exciting; I don't usually win."
Haase, whose father Luke Haase owns the Traverse City Business News & Northern Express, "Northern Michigan's Largest Newsweekly," is only showing during Series I because she's starting an internship at the newspapers next week, so the victory was especially meaningful.
"This was a really good week, and I'm so happy to have it end this way," she said. "I'll do whatever [division] I can with Sophie until she's retired. She's the best horse ever."
Andrea Vllasi went third in the 20-horse Low Adult Jumper Classic, sponsored by FarmVet Inc., and then took her horse Spencer back to the barn after their double-clear performance.
So, it was a pleasant surprise for Vllasi to discover that her time held for the victory. "This is my first classic win and my first cooler!" she said. "I went early, and I couldn't believe it. This is an amazing win."
Vllasi, of Dublin, Ohio, trains with Angela Moore at Stealaway Inc., and has owned the gray Hanoverian-Thoroughbred for about three years. After eventing to the intermediate level, Vllasi has focused on show jumping with Spencer and is bringing him along along from scratch.
She described the classic course as an excellent test, and her strategy to go smooth in the jump-off worked according to plan. "I think it rode amazing, and everything flowed really well," she said. "I thought it was just great."
Vllasi divides her time in the saddle with her job in the nuclear medicine lab at Ohio State University, and this is her first visit to Horse Shows by the Bay. "I hope we come back," she said. "I really love it here."