Devon, Pennsylvania – September 11, 2026 – Following two days of standout performances in the historic Dixon Oval, the TAKE2 Thoroughbred Jumper division reached its pinnacle Friday afternoon as a champion was crowned at the 2026 Devon Fall Classic.
After sharing the Thoroughbred Jumper Championship title at the 2025 Devon Fall Classic, Michelle Korcz and Neal Shapiro’s chestnut gelding, Will Scarlett, returned to Devon this year and delivered two blue-ribbon performances on their way to claiming the 2026 championship title outright.
Korcz and Will Scarlett began their winning campaign on Thursday, racing to a fault-free, blue-ribbon finish in the first $500 Thoroughbred Jumper 1.00–1.05m class of the division.
On Friday, the pair continued to shine, claiming first place in the second $500 Thoroughbred Jumper 1.00–1.05m class. Korcz stopped the clock in a blazing 45.121 seconds, besting the second-place finisher by more than a second.
For Korcz, the back-to-back victories reflected a partnership that has continued to strengthen since she first began riding Will Scarlett a little more than a year ago.
“This whole year, we’ve been showing and I’ve been building a connection with him,” Korcz said. “As soon as we go in the ring, I can trust him, and I feel like he can trust me. If I’m good, he’s good.”
Closing out the Thoroughbred Jumper competition was the $1,000 Thoroughbred Jumper Stake 1.00–1.05m, where Liam Durm aboard Rachael Lively’s Quite a Journey raced to the top of the leaderboard. The pair completed Phase 1 in 24.259 seconds before crossing the finish in Phase 2 in 24.086 seconds to claim the blue ribbon.
Korcz and Will Scarlett finished close behind, completing their two phases in 27.178 and 26.718 seconds, respectively.
“Me and Will, I feel the best connection with him,” Korcz shared. “As soon as we go in the ring, it’s like our minds think the same thing all the time. I know he wants to win, and I know I want to do it. He’s the best teammate I could ask for.”
With two victories across the three-class division, Korcz and Will Scarlett captured the TAKE2 Thoroughbred Jumper Championship title, marking a particularly meaningful return to Devon. The 2025 Devon Fall Classic was Korcz’s first major venue with Will Scarlett, where the pair earned a class victory and ultimately shared championship honors.
“It feels really amazing to hold that title. It’s really so special—it makes me tear up,” Korcz said. “Last year, this was my first big, big venue show, so to win again this year and hold the title myself is truly incredible. I couldn’t be happier.”
One year after making their Devon debut together, Korcz and Will Scarlett returned to the Dixon Oval with a stronger partnership, two blue ribbons, and a championship title all their own.
