David Beisel and Ammeretto celebrate victory with, from left, Dale Nielson, Alex Rheinheimer and Patrice Schreiber

Traverse City, MI – David Beisel and Ammeretto seem to have found the secret to success in the Horse Shows by the Bay Grand Prix Ring. They finished the 2013 series with victory in the $30,000 Cherry Capital Classic Grand Prix, and they returned this year to claim the festival’s first $10,000 Positive Step Farm Welcome Prix. 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.

David Beisel and Ammeretto

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.

Beisel, of Goshen, Ohio, has 20 horses competing this week during Series I and 26 for Series II. After today’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 and Northern Pines Sophie with trainer Cody Weverstad

Ella Haase also kept the hometown momentum going today, as the 16-year-old from Traverse City jumped to victory in the Low Children’s Jumper Classic, sponsored by Outback Steak House.

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 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, the Northern Express, “Northern Michigan’s Largest Newsweekly,” and The Ticker, is only showing during Series I because she’s starting an internship at the Northern Express 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 today’s 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.”

Other Featured Winners Today Included:

• Washington Equitation Hunter Phase, sponsored by Ogilvy Equestrian – Martha Ingram riding Tenacious 
• Washington Equitation Jumper Phase, sponsored by Ogilvy Equestrian – Brett Burlington riding Rock Star 11 
• WIHS Pony Equitation – Mimi Gochman riding True Love 
• THIS National Children’s Medal, sponsored by Stealaway, Inc. – Helen A. Voss riding Cashmere 
• Ariat Adult Medal, sponsored by Stealaway, Inc. – Carrie Smith riding Pharm It Out
•  USEF Pony Medal – Vanessa Mazzoli riding Find The Love 

Horse Shows by the Bay Fast Facts Horse Shows by the Bay is a United States Equestrian Federation (USEF) Premier (AA) Hunter and Level 4 Jumper competition.

Dates

• Series I: July 2-6 
• Series II: July 9-13 (USHJA/WCHR Member Event) 
• Series III: July 16-20 ($25,000 USHJA International Hunter Derby) 
• Series IV: July 23-27 (HJAM Equitation Medal Finals) 
• Weekly $40,000 Grand Prix 
• Weekly $10,000 Open Jumper Welcome Prix 
• Weekly $2,500 USHJA National Hunter Derby 
• Weekly $1,000 USHJA Pre-Green Incentive Program Stake Classes 
• Weekly TAKE2 Thoroughbred Hunter/Jumper Classes 
• Weekly Charity Fundraisers & Special Spectator Days 

Featured events for Horse Shows by the Bay Series I – July 2-6:

• $10,000 SJHOF High Jr/AO Jumper Prix – Saturday, July 5 
• $2,500 USHJA National Hunter Derby, presented by Walgreens – Sunday, July 6
• $2,500 NAL/WIHS Children’s Jumper Classic – Sunday, July 6 
• $2,500 NAL/WIHS Adult Jumper Classic – Sunday, July 6 
• $7,500 NAL Low Junior/Amateur-Owner Jumper Classic – Sunday, July 6 
• $40,000 Grand Prix of Traverse City – Sunday, July 6

 Special Exhibitor functions during Series I include: a weekend ice cream social sponsored by the Gochman Family; and the Morgan Stanley VIP/Sponsor Luncheon on Sunday during the Grand Prix.

Spectators are encouraged to attend this Saturday July 5 for the Team Elmer’s Kid’s Day and 4H Fundraiser from 10 a.m. to 2 p.m. Activities include Clear Round Ribbon Jumping, the Team Elmer’s Super Sandbox, “Find the Petosky Stones,” pony rides, and a variety of other activities and games. All kids under 18 are admitted for free. The remainder of the weekend the general admission fee is $10/person. Competition starts at 8 a.m.