Sean Steffee and Bella Diamond win Gulf Coast Week III Lucky Sevens Welcome © Flashpoint Photography

PENSACOLA, FL (February 23, 2006) — Despite being the final week of this year’s Gulf Coast Winter Series, the heated competition continued to burn strong heading into this afternoon’s Lucky Seven’s Welcome presented by The Exchange. This afternoon it was Bella Diamond’s time to shine. Sean Steffee of Carencro, LA, rode to victory for owner Karen Cobb.

Known around the circuits as “Big Horse,” not because of his stature but because “He’s got the biggest heart of any horse I ride! Always gives 100 percent and then some,” Steffee said of the 14 year-old Irish Sporthorse gelding. The pair had one of the quickest clear first round times of 73.458. “I was a little worried going in, both the boys (referring to his second mount Caretino Z) have been off work for awhile but the course was very inviting and rode great,” Sean commented of the layout.

Allen Rheinheimer of Zionsville, IN, created a track of 11 obstacles with several rollbacks, sweeping turns, and two double combinations of oxer in and tall vertical out. “Just wanted to give them a good ride before this weekend’s Grand Prix finale,” the designer stated about this afternoon’s course. The bigger test came in the 7-effort jump off design with hair pin turns into a double combination and bending stretch into the last tight two jumps that offered the truly daring an option of taking a sharp inside turn to shave precious seconds or a safer route but pushing to make the time allowance of 42 seconds and stay faultless. “That rollback to fence 2 was tricky. In the first round Allen had the V shaped pair of verticals in the right hand corner, fence #2 and #10, so in the jump off you really had to be looking or run the risk of the horse being unsure of which one was right,” Steffee said of the final round.

Happy Z, the 8 year-old Dutch Warmblood gelding owned and ridden by Wilhelm Genn, took second honors with a second round clean time of 35.887. Rider Bill Lowry claimed the third and fourth positions for owners Winsor Farm Sales, Inc. with 10 year-old Westphalian gelding Polygraff in 36.956 seconds, and Rio Corde the 9 year-old Hessian gelding with a time of 36.999 seconds. Finishing out the top five was owner-rider Terry Gonzalez aboard 10 year-old Irish Thoroughbred gelding Shamrock with a second round time of 38.692.

Finishing out the Young Jumper Qualifiers for the series found Wilhelm Genn taking the top call in all three age divisions. Cohiba piloted by owner Genn was the 5 year-old champion. Loredo again with Genn in the irons for owners Dr. Patrick Fortune and Micaela Kennedy claimed the 6 year-old victory, and Chantal owned by Laura Ryan-Barnaclo became the 7 year-old champion for week three.

Russell Frey and Sinners Prayer Green Conformation Champions © Flashpoint Photography

Russell Frey and Sinners Prayer completed the series with their third championship in the Green Conformation Hunters for owner Bridget Moseley, as well as the championship in the 2nd Year Green Working Hunters. Harold Chopping aboard Lexus for owner Booth Parker followed suit with a second championship in the Regular Working Hunters. Jetset with Michael Tokaruk riding for owner Lindsay Strafuss also took home a second championship in the 1st Year Green Working Hunters.

This Saturday evening will showcase the finale of the Gulf Coast Winter Series, the exciting $25,000 Nutrena Grand Prix. The public is invited out for one last opportunity to see some the country’s best equestrian athletes compete. Activities begin at 7:00PM and admission is free.

For more information or results on the Gulf Coast Winter Series visit www.ClassicCompany.com or call the show office at (850) 944-7703.