Bowery Tops Welcome Stake, Wimberley Wins Grand Championship at Saratoga Classic II

The Saratoga Classic II Horse Show began on Wednesday, June 17, 2026, and major awards were presented on Friday, June 19, at White Hollow Farm in Stillwater, NY. Laura Bowery sped to the top two spots in the $5,000 1.35m Welcome Stake with Eldorado WP Z and Kyrlanthe, both owned by Sea-Aire, Inc. Lainie Wimberley of North Salem, NY, rode Alfa Boy, owned by Mary S. Canner LLC, to the Grand Hunter Championship.

Bowery Takes Top Two

In a class of 20 entries, Laura Bowery of Southampton, NY, handily took the top two spots in the jump-off with Eldorado WP Z and Kyrlanthe. While she had originally set the time to beat at 38.501 seconds with Kyrlanthe, she was able to top that, to her surprise, on Eldorado WP Z in 38.341 seconds. Bowery’s student, Scarlett Samuels, rode Confidence, owned by Channel Equestrian LLC, to third place in 41.238 seconds.

“There was a long gallop to a single vertical, and he really opened up his stride,” explained Bowery. “Kyrlanthe made an inside turn that no one else had done. That's why I didn't think I could beat her on El Dorado because on El Dorado I did the outside turn. He made up so much time on that long run to the vertical at the far end of the ring. That's where I think he got her.”

Bowery found both horses from U.S. Olympic team gold medalist McLain Ward. “The best horses I’ve had in my career have come from McLain,” she noted. “Eldorado is a lot of fun. He's really big part of our family, and he has been very good for me.
“He's a very good feeling horse,” she continued of the 14-year-old Zangersheide gelding by Eldorado vd Zesheok TN x Calvados. “He plays a lot between the jumps on the ground. He's a big teddy bear, really sweet, very spoiled, but a very kind horse in the barn.”

“Kira is more of a shy horse,” said Bowery. “She has a lot of blood, so I've really taken my time with her.” The talented KWPN mare by Otangelo x Gran Corrado turns 11 next month and has shown up to the 1.50m level; Bowery has high hopes for her.

This is Bowery’s first time competing at White Hollow Farm, and she complimented the multiple riding areas, stabling, footing, and management, plus the space for horses.

“We go to a lot of big horse shows, but it’s not always super horse friendly,” she remarked. “I think this horse show is very horse friendly. There are beautiful areas to graze the horses and big schooling areas. It’s been such a nice experience so far. I would definitely come back.”

Meet Eldorado WP Z:

Barn Name: Dorito
Favorite Snack: Bananas, but “he will eat anything,” including Doritos chips
Status at Sea-Aire: Barn favorite, especially for Bowery’s daughter and assistant trainer Kelsey Calabro, who rides him in the mornings before competition
Special Talent: Leaving out stride

Alfa Boy Leads the Way

Wimberley and Alfa Boy took three firsts and a second over fences and won the under saddle to handily take the Green Hunter 3’ championship as well as the Grand Hunter Championship.

Originally a three-day eventing horse, Alfa Boy was imported from Europe by Maarten Huygens. Wimberley started riding “Maarty” in November of 2025 with the aim to produce the horse for a client she had in mind.

“Mary Canner, who is quite a lovely rider and a much older adult, was looking for a horse, and I thought this would be such a wonderful match,” she said of the nine-year-old Selle Francais gelding. “He's so beautiful with a very delicate head and is such an exquisite mover. Her first show on him was here last week, and he has been a really outstanding horse for her. I'm excited to be able to keep him in the barn, produce him, and bring him along for her.”

Wimberley noted that Maarty’s great character, forgiving nature, and sweet personality have made him the barn favorite.

“I'm really thrilled with him,” she expressed. “Of course, the first time you put a client on a new horse in the show ring, you're always nervous, but he really made me feel at ease. I know it'll be a great match for a long time. He's got all the characteristics you would want for a junior or an amateur rider.”

Wimberley enjoys returning to the Saratoga Horse Shows every time. “One of the top priorities for me is footing,” she said. “The footing is great in the ring, the schooling area, and the lunging area, so that's premier. They build beautiful courses, the jumps are solid, they're well decorated, the ring is really big, and they have great course designers. I really love the facility.”

Gallery of Champions

Green Hunter 3’3”: Laredo, Christina Serio, Redfield Farm
Green Hunter 3’6”/High Performance: Enlightened, Jen Bauersachs, LCJM LLC
Performance Hunter 3’3”: Incognito, Laura Bowery, Justine Ryan