By the Numbers: AEC Adequan USEA Gold Cup Advanced Final

The American Eventing Championships presented by Nutrena Feeds has made its way as far west as it’s ever been and the eventing population west of the Mississippi has responded with enthusiasm. With competition well underway and the Adequan USEA Gold Cup Advanced Final set to begin dressage this afternoon, the Colorado Horse Park is hopping.

The Field

Colorado Horse Park, site of the 2018 AEC. Photo by White Fence Equine Photography.

  • Colorado Horse Park, in Parker, Colorado, will be the sixth venue to host the American Eventing Championships. Every venue has had its own influence on results, with no particular patterns emerging.
  • In general, the AEC has a higher-than-average completion rate, with 87% of entries completing versus 73% at a typical Advanced. This is likely indicative of a higher-than-average quality field contesting a championship division.

Dressage Divas

Tamie Smith and Mai Baum. Photo by Jenni Autry.

  • After three years on the sidelines, Mai Baum returns to the Advanced level this weekend by tackling the national championships. Nearly undefeated at the Advanced and three-star level (he won five of his six starts back in 2015), Tamie Smith and Mai Baum will solidly control the division from the first phase. These two average a 26.0 at this level, with a personal best of 22.8.
  • Revitavet Capato and Jordan Linstedt are the only pair who could catch Mai Baum on day one. Although their two-year average for the level hovers just under 70%, their average for this year shows improvement, with the pair cracking into the 20s in three of their five starts.

Cross Country Machines

Emilee Libby and Jakobi. Photo by Sherry Stewart.

  • Tamie Smith and Mai Baum also have the fastest track record in the field, averaging only 5.2 time penalties in their Advanced/CIC3* runs. Although they’ve not yet finished inside the time other than at a CCI3*, they’ve been either the fastest pair on course or within eight seconds of the fastest pair in all but one of their A/3* runs.
  • Emilee Libby and Jakobi have averaged 6.8 time penalties in two starts at the level this year. More notably, the horse was nearly 30 seconds behind the cross country leader in his first start, but improved on his second start to be within eight seconds of the fastest round.

Show Jumping Powerhouses

  • Amistoso and Alexa Ehlers have only three starts under their belt at this level, but they are three for three with clear jumping rounds. Time penalties could be a factor but they recently jumped their first round inside the time at Millbrook.
  • Jakobi had a rail and time in his initial start at this level but then notably put in the only clear stadium round of the division at the Rebecca Farm CIC3* in July.

PREDICTED WINNER: Tamie Smith and Mai Baum

Keep Your Eye On:

  • Emilee Libby and Jakobi
  • Tamie Smith and Fleeceworks Royal
  • Jordan Linstedt and Revitavet Capato

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