EVENTING NATION

Investigation, Week 2: Phillip Dutton—Robot? Scene: Fair Hill. Evidence: Burger. Hypothesis: Prop? Credit: Steven Berkowitz for this addition to the file; further evidence sought (tips@eventingnation.com)

Good Morning, and prepare yourselves, EN: It's been a busy weekend of horse sports. Here's hoping Chris Burton and Mario Gutierrez are still celebrating their victories in the Saumur CCI*** and Preakness Stakes, respectively. High-fives, Chris and Mario.

The Kiwis had a good weekend, too: At Saumur, Andrew Nicholson finished third on Viscount George in the horse’s first three-star; Mark Todd qualified NZB Grass Valley for the Olympics with a seventh place finish… [New Zealand Herald]

And down Taupo, New Zealand, way, Emily Cammock and Dambala led four other South Islanders to the top of the CCI*** leaderboard. [NZH]

In the good ol’ USA, Sarah Dunkerton and Matapeake finished on their dressage score to lead Chattahoochee’s CIC** wire to wire; Alexandra Green and Falkonet also led wire to wire in the CIC*, and Michael Pollard and Schoensgreen Hanni, recently spun at Jersey, came back with a vengeance to win the advanced. [Scores]

No surprises at Fair Hill: Sally Cousins and Sylvester Z won Intermediate A; Boyd won Intermediate B on Cold Harbor and Open Prelim B on Steady Eddie; Bruce Davidson and Here's Lola won Open Prelim A, and Jacqueline Imholte and Asterix won Open Prelim B. [Scores]

At the NWEC May Classic, Karen O'Neal and True Avenue finished on their dressage score to win the intermediate; Maya Black and Doesn't Play Fair topped the Open Prelim, and Ashlynn Meuchel and Morning Star brought home the Prelim Junior blue. [Scores]

Ann Bower and Rejuvenate won Otter Creek’s intermediate by nearly 10 points, and Lisa Marie Fergusson and Uni Sprite won the prelim by nearly 5. [Scores]

Emelie Williamson and Genuine Bull topped the intermediate, and Lynne Partridge won the prelim and Open Training on Zoe and El Cid, respectively, at Feather Creek. [Scores]

At the Greater Dayton HT, Jennifer Lewandowski and Park Avenue III took the P title, James Nealon and Next Generation the OT. [Scores]

Sara Vitkus and Season O' Reason moved up from second to first with clear jump rounds to win the prelim/training at Kelly’s Ford. [Scores]

At Hitching Post, Katherine Cooper and Unimpeachable topped the prelim, and Gayle Davis and Theatre Royal topped the OT. [Scores]

Anthony Han and Benny were the victors in the Kent School’s prelim/training. [Scores]

And finally, a round of applause for the CCC Spring Gulch HT winners, whose results I haven’t managed to find online. [Website]

There’s a neat parallel between Mario Gutierrez and Steve Cauthen, who piloted Affirmed to the most recent Triple Crown in 1978. Like Gutierrez, Cauthen had never ridden in a Triple Crown race before his victories. And Cauthen sees similarities in Affirmed and I’ll Have Another’s techniques… [Blood-Horse]

I’ll Have Another has already shipped to Belmont Park, “one of the most idiosyncratic racetracks in the world,” for his three-week lead-up to the big day: “Horsemen call it Big Sandy because of its wide sweeping turns and distinct footing.” [New York Times]

A study in articulating disappointment under pressure, possibly with footing on your face: HRTV has compiled a “Preakness Losing Interviews” video worth watching. [HRTV]

Eric Davies, president of the Welsh Pony and Cob Society, will carry the Olympic torch atop home-bred Welsh cob mare Maesmynach Angerdd at 5 p.m. on May 27, from Aberaeron, Wales. [Horse & Hound]

Top of the Tweets: Hamish Cargill: A win for Chris Burton at Saumur CCI3* proves once and for all that Crunchy Nut Cornflakes really are the breakfast of champions.

Because remember this?

A note from D. Lee, recent winner of our Success Equestrian Contest:

“I took my EN Success pad out in public!  I don't get out much (too much stall cleaning!), but I got to ride my 4yo TB homebred, Annie, with Peter Atkins this weekend at Champagne Run in Lexington, a very big deal, her first clinic ever.  It was a fabulous lesson and I do love that pad!   Thanks again,  D. ”

The view from the grandstands as I'll Have Another and Mario Gutierrez make their way toward the winner's circle.

Hooked: It’s what I heard someone say leaving Pimlico yesterday, where a record crowd of 121,309 assembled to watch Bodemeister and I’ll Have Another surge toward the wire. Hooked—and I had to smile, because I would’ve been, too, if I wasn’t already, completely. Even better than the Derby, I thought—and even now, hours later, I can’t get over it. Only three weeks before the Belmont, and in the meantime, I won't doubt I’ll Have Another's history-making potential.

But since Affirmed won the Triple Crown in 1978, 11 horses have won both the Kentucky Derby and Preakness before coming up short in the Belmont. "The horse deserves the credit," jockey Mario Gutierrez humbly told the Thoroughbred Times.  “He has proven himself in the run. I just want to prepare. I want to be on the same level as him. He's an amazing horse, and I'm happy to be riding him." [TT]

What are his chances for another? Bodemeister's trainer Bob Baffert has said his colt won’t run in the Belmont. But Dullahan, who was third in the Derby before skipping the Preakness, is expected to make an appearance. [ESPN]

Following the success of his on-site Preakness preps, trainer Doug O’Neill will ship I’ll Have Another to Belmont Park today. [Washington Times]

Saumur CCI*** Update: Following cross-country, Aussie Chris Burton is one-two on Holstein Park Leilani and Haruzac; Tiana Coudray’s sitting 16th after a run-out; Canadian Lindsay Pearce is 20th on Saniki, with whom she added only time penalties to her score, and 39th on Candar van het Neerveld, with whom she had one stop, and Julian Stiller was eliminated on both of her horses. [Scores] [Photos via Uptown Eventing]

Clayton Fredericks, who was hospitalized after a fall from Be My Guest in the CCI***, is said to be “well and relaxing in the Angers hospital. He feels fine, a little pain but needs a few quiet days and will be scanned again before he comes home.” [Team Fredericks]

With just 12 time penalties cross-country, Mark Todd’s “No. 2 horse,” NZB Grass Valley, is almost qualified for the Olympics. [Stuff]

Saumur's CIC** show jumping starts at 5:15 a.m. ET, and CCI*** at 9:45 a.m. ET. Unfortunately, it doesn’t look like it'll be live streamed, but if we find out otherwise we’ll update you. [Saumur]

Back stateside, so many events are underway this weekend. Notably, Sarah Dunkerton and Matapeake are leading Chattahoochee’s CIC**, Alexandra Green and Falkonet are ahead in the CIC*, and Becky Holder and Courageous Comet are atop the advanced. [Scores]

NWEC May Classic [Website] [Times/Scores]

Otter Creek [Website] [Scores]

Feather Creek [Website] [Times/Scores]

Greater Dayton Horse Trials [Website] [Times/Scores]

Kelly's Ford [Website] [Scores]

CCC Spring Gulch HT [Website]

Fair Hill [Website] [Scores]

Hitching Post Farm HT [Website] [Times/Scores]

Kent School May HT [Website]

There’s also a show underway in Sighisoara, Central Romania, combining eventing, dressage, show jumping, archery and “riding acrobatic skills.” [Romania Insider]

Wet ground at Greenwich has forced the removal of 15cm of soil from underneath the Olympic equestrian venue's grandstands. The waterlogged ground posed a safety risk and will be replaced with stone or steel. [BBC]

An amendment to the FEI’s 21-penalty frangible pin rule is scheduled for submission/consideration this week: “It suggests that if a competitor breaks a pin without falling, the rider continues penalty-free. Then there is an enquiry by the ground jury and technical delegate who assess the video footage.” [Horse & Hound]

Top of the Tweets: I'll Have Another: Me/Bode = 2012's Affirmed/Alydar? Hey Bode, you make me a better a racehorse, so thanks @ZayatStables @Midnightlute

Save on the Samur XC course: