Tamra Smith and Mai Baum (Shannon Brinkman Photo)
Piloting the 2006 German Sport Horse in the gelding’s first CCI3*, Smith (Murrieta, Calif.) executed an accurate and expressive test. “He was phenomenal; he is just getting better and stronger. I am really pleased with how he felt; he had one little bobble in the second change, but other than that, he was super,” explained Smith of Mai Baum, owned by Alexandra Ahearn, Ellen Ahearn, and Eric Markell.
Sitting second in The Dutta Corp./USEF Three-Star Eventing National Championship and third overall in the CCI3*, Phillip Dutton (West Grove, Pa.) and longtime partner Mighty Nice had a strong test to head into the weekend on 43.5. “I thought this was Mighty Nice’s best test; he seems to be getting better and better, and I think I might be getting better so it’s exciting,” said Dutton of the 2004 Irish Sport Horse gelding, owned by Michael Bombar, Evie Dutton, Ann Jones, Kevin Keane, and Caroline Moran.
Speaking to tomorrow afternoon’s cross-country phase, Dutton said, “It’s going to be a good educational course for [Mighty Nice]. Fitness is going to play a part, probably more so than a lot of other courses, so that will also be educational for all the horses and riders. I am looking forward to it.”
Jessica Phoenix of Canada and Pavarotti currently hold second place in the CCI3* division on 39.2.
Will Coleman and Tight Lines (Shannon Brinkman Photo)
Going late in the CCI2* order, Coleman (Gordonsville, Va.) and Tight Lines soared to the top of the leaderboard. “I was happy; it’s probably the best test I’ve ever done on that horse,” said a very pleased Coleman of the 2007 French Thoroughbred gelding, owned by The Conair Syndicate. “We’ve been working really hard on his dressage; a lot of the credit goes to my dressage trainer Allison Brock, my wife, and the team of girls we have at home who have all done a really great job with him.”
Looking forward to tomorrow morning’s cross-country, Coleman said “Everyone probably feels pretty good about the course in the beginning, then it builds and builds, and then the last third has two or three very significant questions. With the younger up-and-coming horses it’s going to be important that the riders keep the horses on their game.”
Peter Barry of Canada sits in second in the CCI2* division with a score of 44.5 on Long Island T.
In an identical position in The Dutta Corp./USEF Two-Star Eventing National Championship, Dutton sits in second in the National Championship and third overall in the CCI2* with Z, a 2008 Zangersheide gelding owned by Suzanne Lacy, Jacqueline B. Mars, Simon Roosevelt, and Thomas Tierney. Scoring a 45.3, Dutton said of his test with relatively new partner, Z, “It was a good test. I felt I left a few marks on the table and could have done a little better. I was a fraction disappointed coming out because he’s a beautiful mover, but I think he’s eventually going to do a really good test so I’m excited about him.”
On Saturday’s cross-country phase Dutton said, “It’s a championship course and will be a great education for horses and riders. We are fortunate in this country to have a real proper championship-level course, whether it’s in the two-star or three-star, to finish the year on. I think it’s a good barometer to see where you’re at and how your horses go.”
Tomorrow’s cross-country begins at 9:15 a.m. ET with the CCI2* and continues in the afternoon with the CCI3*.
Complete Dressage Results