Dressage at Devon Day Two Produces Grand Champion of Breed Division Beatrice VDL

Grand Champion Beatrice VDL (Prestige VDL) (Photo: Stacy Lynne)

Quality dominated in the second day of competition at America's premier dressage and breed show, Dressage at Devon. The day began with large suitable and material classes and later concluded with championship rounds. High Valley Hanovarians went two for two with Don Fredric HVH (Don Frederic) rode to an 82.2 percent to best a class of 14 to take the Four-And -Five-Year-Old Stallion and Gelding Materiale class and also a second year repeat in the mare materiale  with the modern, uphill Radiance HVH (Rotspon). Don Fredric later won the Materiale Championship against his stablemate and Melinda Walton's fancy leggy chestnut gelding Benefactor RRS (Bonheur), ridden by Silva Martin.

"I'm really proud of this win and to have a horse physically and mentally of this quality," said Ashley Marascalco. "He really stays with me."

In the six year olds Beaumont ISF (Rampal) handily took the class over the dark bay gelding Picasso (Parabol). Continuing to the Four-Year-And-Older Stallions and Geldings under saddle class Meradith Douthit's Sirah (Sir Donnerhall) was the surprise upset over Heather Blitz and Oak Hill Ranch's Ripline (Hotline).

"I was excited to be placed but to win in a quality class was thrilling," said Becca Vick, Sirah's rider.

By mid morning it became the ladies turn totaled center stage. Starting with Akinori (Enrico Caruso) to take the Four-Year-Old and Older Yeld Mare class and followed up by the classy Dazzle (Jazz) in the Four-Year-Old Maiden Mares, owned by Taylor Minnucci and bred by Victoria Wanner.

Dazzle was later edged out of Mature Horse Champion by Beatrice VDL (Prestige VDL) bred by Pieter Ruig. The bright bay mare with foal still at her side showed exceptionally well with Best Handler winner Brendan Curtis over Dazzle and Couer D'Amour (Conteur) the Stallion Champion.

Sirah (Sir Donnerhall) with Rebecca Vick (Photo: Crystal Lee)

Beatrice VDL finished her win by laying down a thrilling run at Dixon Oval to earn Grand Champion of Dressage at Devon.

"Oh my God," exclaims Dee Osbourne, who manages the mare for owner Ruig. "I'm on top of the word, I've been going since 1986, ribboned in everything but this is my first Grand Championship. It couldn't be with a more deserving horse and owner."

Iron Spring Farm continued their winning ways in the group classes with easy wins with their KWPN horses in the Get of Sire, Produce of Dam, and Breeders Group. In Amateur Handler the Andalusian gelding FMR Eclipse (Bravio XVI) won with Gweneth Bohara leading. 

Born in the USA concluded the second day. The program which has had over $70,000 contributed to it since its inception awards breeders and owners of American-bred horses. While each age has their own award the Denise McCabe Memorial Trophy was awarded to Dazzle, who further added to her accolades as the highest scoring horse in the Born in the USA awards.