Elizabeth Bortuzzo on Omina at Plantation Field CIC*. Photo by Dave Taylor.
The one-star riders tackled the cross country course this morning while the two-star riders were putting it down in show jumping. The course, designed by Nina Fout, spanned 2,632 meters making great use of the rolling hills of Plantation Field. With a total of 28 obstacles, which contains five combinations and two water jumps, the optimum time was set at 5 minutes, 4 seconds.
In division A, Elizabeth Bortuzzo on Omina remains the leader heading into Sunday. With a great double clear round put in, less than a rail separates her from Kristen Bond and Enough Already as we look forward to stadium. A three-way tie remains between Ryan Wood on Ruby, Erika Nesler on Right Above It, and Kelly Prather on D.A. Calimero for third place.
Kristen Bond and Enough Already at the Ruins Plantation CIC*-A. Photo by David Taylor.
Buck Davidson holds sixth and seventh places on Legion Kat and Riviera, and Phillip Dutton on D.O.D. Rockefeller rounds out the top either. A total of 34 rider and horse combinations will be moving onto the show jumping tomorrow morning.
Division B had a decent shake-up of the top 10 at the conclusion of cross country. Phillip Dutton on Icabad Crane made this course look easy putting in one of the 10 double clears for the division. Phillip holds on to his dressage score of 41.1 and moves into first place with a fast round 19 seconds inside the time. Icabad handled his first FEI cross country round with an expert attitude.
Phillip Dutton and Icabad Crane. Photo by Jenni Autry.
Caitlin Silliman and Vagabon de Champdoux are drafting closely behind Phillip in the number two position. Adding only .8 time penalties to their dressage score has them sitting on a 42.1 as they look ahead to the main arena tomorrow. During her ride she was held before fence 15 due to a downed rider: “When I was held I didn’t know if James would pick back up again upon restart, but he did and kept jumping really well.”
Thinking about tomorrow: “I’m exactly one point behind Phillip now, and Phillip always puts in an amazing show jump round,” Caitlin said. “I’m always a nervous show jumper, but James is a really good jumper, and if we can ride and jump well together, I’d be happy finishing behind Phillip.”
Caitlin Silliman and Vagabon de Champdoux over 9A the Plantation Log. Photo by David Taylor.
Sitting on Caitlin’s six is Ellie MacPhail and RF Panamera. Ellie picked up 4 time penalties, dropping her back into third on a 42.4, a whisker behind Caitlin. “The course was great today. Everything rode really well but was definitely a challenge especially on the back end of the course with the angled fences and the corners.”
“The first combination was a a bit sticky. She took a peak before the first element, and it wasn’t as smooth as I wanted. She seemed to hold on to it for a little bit, but let go by the fist water where she really clicked in,” Ellie said. When asked about show jumping, Ellie says: “Pax is a really good show jumper, but is still green in the arena in regards to turning questions. I’m confident in her abilities though and am looking forward to tomorrow.”
Elinor MacPhail and RF Panamera over jump 18c at Plantation Field CIC* Photo by Dave Taylor
The top five are separated by less than 3 points, making this anyone’s game looking forward. A single rail down can shake up the leaderboard once again. Tomorrow’s course is designed by Marc Donovan and should be a blast to watch the one-star divisions have their go. The first ride for division A starts at 9 a.m. EST, and division B kicks off at 10:30 a.m. EST. Go Plantation Field International. Go Eventing.
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