Lauren Kieffer and Czechmate move into second in the CCI2* on a 48.1.
Caitlin Silliman and Remington made a huge statement in their dressage test in the CCI2* this morning, scoring a 41 to leave a large gap behind her. But Lauren Kieffer and Czechmate answered back as the final ride to go in the division, scoring a 48.1 to move into second place. Czechmate was very antsy before the test, throwing in some half rears for dramatic effect as Lauren circled the arena before beginning. But Lauren settled the horse beautifully and pushed some really stunning work out of him during the test. This pair most recently won the CIC2* at The Fork and are a major definite threat here this weekend. Buck Davidson and Wiley Post, who rode second to last in the division, also put in a very good test to sit in fourth place on a 50.3. It looks like the ear bonnet Hawley Bennett-Awad had made for Buck in his signature red and yellow colors is bringing him good luck here at Jersey Fresh this weekend.
Buck Davidson and Wiley Post are in fourth place on a 50.3.
Ashley MacVaugh and Fernhill Can Do performed a workmanlike, steady test to sit in seventh place on a 52.4. They were 18th in the CIC2* at The Fork, and Ashley has put herself in an excellent position to improve on that here this weekend. Poor Liz Millikin and Masterpiece 54 started the second group off after the morning break and were having a lovely test until she got lost, picking up multiple errors. Liz seemed upbeat after the test, and we all know when it feels like to forget a test; chin up, Liz. Liz and Masterpiece 54 are tied for ninth place with Savannah Fulton and Ringfort Tinkatoo on a 56.6. Will Faudree and DHI Colour Candy are sitting just behind in 11th place on 56.7. This horse was eighth in the CIC2* at The Fork and is very good across the country. Will is also sitting in third place on his first ride, Riesling De Buissy, on a 49.8.
Ashley MacVaugh and Fernhill Can Do are in seventh place on a 52.4.
Caitlin and Remi will be tough to catch, as they’ve given themselves a very wide margin heading into the cross country. But we have a very exciting and competitive top 10, and it should be a thrilling day tomorrow as we see how cross country shakes out the leaderboard. Samantha is walking individual fences with various riders — her interview with Will Coleman at the CCI2* coffin is uploading as I type this — and I’m about to go walk the course to bring you a play-by-play of each fence on the three-star and two-star courses. The CIC2* dressage starts at 12:30 p.m. after the lunch break, and Marilyn Little will be riding RF Smoke on the Water in their final preparation before Saumur. Stay tuned for much more from Jersey Fresh.
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[Video: Shandiss McDonald and Porsch Pride]
[Video: Will Faudree and DHI Colour Candy]
