Jennie Brannigan and Cambalda lead at the break on a 50.
After a freak accident kept Jennie Brannigan and Cambalda from competing at Rolex, the pair are back in action here at Jersey Fresh this weekend and have just taken the provisional lead in the CIC3* on a 50. Ping escaped on the longe line the morning of Day 1 of dressage at Rolex and slipped on the pavement, injuring himself enough to keep him out of Kentucky, but not enough to keep him from shining here today. Jennie and Ping performed the accurate test we’ve come to expect from them and will be in good position going into the cross country on Saturday. Lauren Kieffer and R.F. Cosima put in a lovely, correct test to take second place on a 51.2. This mare is a stunning mover and really looked very relaxed throughout the test, allowing Lauren to push her for more at all the right moments. Lauren and R.F. Cosima retired on cross country at The Fork and will be looking for redemption here.
Lauren Kieffer and R.F. Cosima are in second place on a 51.2.
Emily Beshear and River King, who most recently finished in seventh at the Ocala Horse Properties CCI2*, put in a lovely test to sit in third place on a 51.3. River King broke to canter in the trot work, but had a very consistent test aside from that. Samantha wants me to send a personal apology to Emily’s husband, Jeff, as she walked right in front of him by accident while he was videoing Emily’s test on his iPad. Nicole Parkin and Lexus are in fourth place on a 53.8. The horse was a bit argumentative and tossed her head a bit during the shoulder-in, but still had some very lovely moments throughout the test. Phillip Dutton is riding Crackerjack for Boyd Martin this weekend, as Boyd is recovering from surgery to repair torn tendons and ligaments. He is sitting in fifth place on a 56, and Samantha and I agree that Phillip looks super on a grey horse and needs to add some to his string.
Emily Beshear and River King are in third place on a 51.3.
Marilyn Little and RF Black Pearl are right behind Phillip and Crackerjack in sixth place on a 57.7. Marilyn is riding with her shoulder in a brace, as she’s recovering from a Grade 3 separation of her shoulder, but she didn’t seem to be in too much pain today and put in a nice test, aside from a slight bobble in the first flying change and the final halt. South African Hayley Parker is riding the very lovely Pigrela Des Cabanes, who was third in the Fair Hill CCI2* last fall with Clayton Fredericks in the irons. They are sitting in seventh place on a 64.6. Will Faudree and Andromaque kick things off for us after the break at 2:37 p.m. We should see some exciting tests in the last group, with Hannah Sue Burnett, Marilyn Little, Sally Cousins, Jessica Phoenix and Phillip Dutton all set to ride. Stay tuned for much more from Jersey Fresh.
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[Emily Beshear and River King]
[Marilyn Little and RF Black Pearl]
[Phillip Dutton and Crackerjack]
