Elkton, Md. – Cross-country day dawned cold and dry at The Dutta Corp. Fair Hill International as large fields in The Dutta Corp./USEF Three- and Two-Star Eventing National Championships contested the Derek di Grazia-designed cross-country course. Holding onto her overnight lead in the CCI3*, Tamra Smith guided Mai Baum to a double-clear finish over the track, staying on a score of 38.5. In the CCI2*, Will Coleman maintained his lead, also on the strength of a double-clear cross-country effort, remaining on his dressage score of 42.5.

Over a course that challenged a fair number of combinations, Smith (Murrieta, Calif.) put in a confident ride on the 2006 German Sport Horse gelding owned by Alexandra Ahearn, Ellen Ahearn, and Eric Markell. The pair was one of only eight combinations to make the optimum time of 10 minutes, finishing in 9:46.

“He was fantastic. I went out of the box and he was sticky to the first two [jumps]; I gave him a little encouragement and after that he was right in my hand and galloped around the course phenomenally,” said Smith. “He’s so adjustable and rideable. Everything was really smooth; he has a great stride and is really light on the ground.”

Climbing one spot on the CCI3* leaderboard, Phillip Dutton (West Grove, Pa.) and longtime partner Mighty Nice were foot-perfect as they hit the optimum time without a second to spare in exactly 10 minutes, heading into show jumping on their dressage score of 43.50. The 2004 Irish Sport Horse gelding, owned by Michael Bombar, Evie Dutton, Ann Jones, Kevin Keane, and Caroline Moran performed enthusiastically over the course despite a hold early in the go.

Not affected by the hold, and despite a lack of cooperation out of the start box, Dutton said of Mighty Nice, “You can’t get a better cross-country horse than he is. He wouldn’t be the fastest horse I’ve ever had, but he’s got one speed and has great wind, he kept going and didn’t tire.”

Boyd Martin (Cochranville, Pa.), who rode four entries in the CCI3*, delivered three of the eight rides within the time. Aboard Blackfoot Mystery, he moved from fifth after dressage to third, remaining on 44.6.

The challenging CCI2* track demanded accurate riding over well-presented questions along the galloping course. Coleman (Gordonsville, Va.) and Tight Lines, a 2007 French Thoroughbred gelding owned by The Conair Syndicate, made light work of the course, finishing with no jumping penalties and well within the optimum time of 8:19, coming home in 8:09.

“He was great. He is an incredibly fast horse. I’ve never had one that builds in speed the whole way around like he does. He settled down a lot; he’s much more rideable than he was earlier in the year and keeps getter better, so I am thrilled with him,” said Coleman of newer partner Tight Lines.

Moving up one spot on the leaderboard thanks to a solid double-clear round was Dutton and Z, now in second on their dressage score of 45.3. The 2008 Zangersheide gelding, owned by Suzanne Lacy, Jacqueline B. Mars, Simon Roosevelt, and Thomas Tierney never looked in doubt as he and Dutton boldly took on the course, crossing the timers in 8:08.

Explaining how the gelding handled his first CCI2* course, Dutton said it was “Pretty easily actually, I was very impressed with him. Hopefully he will come out of it well and it will be a good experience for him.”

Moving into third-place was Allison Springer (Upperville, Va.) and Mary Ann Ghadban’s Cascani, a 2006 Holsteiner gelding, also going double-clear to head into the show jumping phase on 46.1.

National Champions will be crowned at the conclusion of each division tomorrow. Show jumping begins for the CCI2* at 10 a.m. ET and at 1 p.m. ET for the CCI3*.

Complete Results after cross-country