Darby Pease & Carel van Donderen Winning Ways Continue in the $10,000 Welcome Stake

By Jumper News USA on March 28, 2023

Wilmington, Ohio, USA – February 09, 2023 – The ninth week of the Winter Classic during the Midwest Series kicked off in World Equestrian Center – Wilmington’s Sanctuary Arena with the $10,000 Welcome Stake. It was another strong showing by Darby Pease (USA) who piloted Carel Van Donderen (Acolino x Terania Die Hoeghte)to the win besting a field of 13 athletes over a track built by FEI III course designer Anderson Lima (BRA).

The exhilarating class saw many horse-and-rider combinations negotiate solid four-fault efforts over Lima’s 12-obstacle first-round course, with only five moving onto the short course.

*Darby Pease and Carel Van Donderen. Photo by Winslow Photography.*

Pease returned second to last in the posted order aboard her top mount, Carel Van Donderen. Pease needed to post a quick and clear jump-off phase to surpass Michael Janson (USA) and Caveman Z (Carthago x Amelia Z). Early in the order, Janson laid down a double clear effort aboard Kimberly Janson’s 15-year-old Belgian Warmblood gelding, Caveman Z. Their time of 39.42 seconds held the lead for a majority of the class and was enough to secure the second-place finish until ultimately surpassed by Pease.

*Michael Janson (USA) & Caveman Z. Photo by Winslow Photography.*

Pease of Windcrest Farm, mastered the jump-off track making all of the inside turns aboard her 16-year-old Dutch Warmblood gelding to post a winning time of 35.492 seconds.

*Darby Pease (USA) & Carel Van Donderen. Photo by Winslow Photography.*

“The course was really nice, I really liked it. I watched a lot of people have the last vertical down in the first-round so I rode super carefully to that. I didn’t see anyone else do the jump-off, but I walked all of the inside turns, so I thought I might as well go for it since Carl [Carel Van Donderen] is always game,” Pease shared of her winning performance.

*Nicole Loochtan (USA) & It’s Me du Bosquetiau. Photo by Winslow Photography.*

Nicole Loochtan (USA) returned to the winner’s circle once again aboard her very own It’s Me Du Bosquetiau (Dayton Sitte x Mirette Du Bosqueatiau). The nine-year-old Belgian Sport Horse stallion returned to the Sanctuary in top form after his recent $30,000 Grand Prix win. Loochtan of Stone Creek Stables in Lexington, Kentucky, guided her talented young mount to an easy double clear and rounded out the podium in 42.152 seconds.