Lauren Kieffer and Meadowbrook’s Scarlett. Photo by Jenni Autry.
Lauren Kieffer and Meadowbrook’s Scarlett delivered the consistent test we’ve come to expect from them today and then some, delivering their best score at the three-star level to date to lead on 42.0 about two-thirds of the way through CCI3* dressage at the Jersey Fresh International Three-Day Event. This mare has campaigned primarily in national horse trials during her career, and with only three FEI starts to date, she’s flown a little bit under the radar.
You could argue that “Scarlett,” an 8-year-old Thoroughbred/Holsteiner mare owned and bred in the U.S. by Marie LeMenestrel, had her breakout moment last year when she won the Bromont CCI2*, but now she’s really coming in hot as a serious contender for the U.S. Pan American Games team. We’ve predicted her to finish second this weekend only to current U.S. All-Time Leading Horse Ballynoe Castle RM, which should give you an idea of just how bright this mare’s future is if things continue to play out like this.
“She really doesn’t do anything wrong, and she’s just going to keep getting better as she gets older. She has such a good presence in the ring. Her whole career she’s just been a really lovely horse,” Lauren told EN after the test. “The hardest part is remembering that she is a bit green because she’s never given me any kind of trouble. She’s such a good horse in all three phases, and she’s such a trier.”
Boyd Martin and Pancho Villa. Photo by Jenni Autry.
We’ll have to wait until tomorrow morning to see if Scarlett holds her spot at the top of the leaderboard, as there are eight more combinations still to come as the CCI3* division completes dressage, including Buck Davidson and Ballynoe Castle RM, Carolina International CIC3* winners Phillip Dutton and I’m Sew Ready, Michael Pollard and Walterstown Don, and West Coast hot shots Matt Brown and BCF Belicoso.
In other notable tests this afternoon, Kelly Prather and Blackfoot Mystery returned to the good form we saw from them last fall with a beautiful test, scoring 44.2 to sit in second place. These two led after dressage in the big Plantation Field CIC3* class in September, and we saw that same quality of work today when Kelly and “B,” an 11-year-old off-track Thoroughbred gelding owned by the Blackfoot Mystery Syndicate, knocked it out of the park. It’s never a bad day when your horse’s best score comes in his very first CCI3* test.
Boyd Martin and Pancho Villa were the final pair to go this afternoon, scoring 45.5 to sit in third place currently. Silva Martin helped them warm up before the test — while sporting an adorable baby bump — and Boyd said after the test that “Pancho,” a 12-year-old Selle Francais gelding owned by the Pancho Villa Syndicate, was a little more up in the ring than he expected.
Jessica Phoenix and A Little Romance. Photo by Jenni Autry.
This is the first time that horses have done dressage in the Grand Prix ring at the Horse Park of New Jersey, and it’s a very different atmosphere than we’ve had in the past here for this phase. The brand new VIP tent (you can buy tickets here!) sits at one end of the arena, and horses have to go right past it when entering the ring. The blue and yellow flags in Jersey Fresh’s colors were flapping for most of the day in the wind, and it definitely created a certain energy in the air.
If the key theme of the CCI2* division was how much all the horses, especially the Pan Ams contenders, stepped up to the plate and delivered nice tests, the theme of the CCI3* division so far has to be “what might have been.” The highly anticipated combination of Matt Brown and Super Socks BCF had a disappointing test as the very first pair out, when “Flaxen” made it very clear he was not a fan of the double bridle Matt was using; they scored 57.9.
Matt tasted redemption with his second of three rides in the division, as Mary McKee’s Happenstance, a 9-year-old Holsteiner gelding, delivered a lovely test to sit in sixth place on a score of 47.7, which was perhaps judged a bit harshly. You’ll notice quite a spread amongst the judges when looking at many of the scores from today across both divisions.
Michael Pollard and Ballingowan Pizazz. Photo by Jenni Autry.
Michael Pollard and Ballingowan Pizazz, who led this division after dressage last year, unfortunately had a break to the canter during the extended trot. While they recovered quickly and well to score 46.5 to sit in fifth place, that’s still a costly mistake to make with Pan Ams selection on the line. Michael is also in Pan Ams contention with Cyrano, who currently leads in the CCI2*.
U.S. Chef d’Equipe David O’Connor is scrutinizing every test ringside, and while I haven’t spotted any of the selectors yet, they’re here somewhere; they’re always watching. Here’s a look at the horses and riders who are in the hot seat at Jersey Fresh this weekend with this event being the final selection trials for the U.S. team.
Holly Payne and Santino delivered their personal best score at this level in front of a large cheering squad of family and friends to sit in fourth place on 46.3. The Payne family are longtime supporters of this event, and it was great to see them all here today to cheer on Holly and “Sunny.” Holly’s mom and well-known dressage judge Marilyn Payne was particularly thrilled with the test and asked that everyone help bail her daughter out of “jail,” as Holly is one of five riders under “stall a-rest” this weekend.
Colleen Rutledge and Escot 6. Photo by Jenni Autry.
“Bad to the Bone” Buck Davidson, “Lawless” Lauren Kieffer, “Wayward” Tik Maynard, “Hooligan” Holly Payne and “Crooked” Kristin Schmolze all must raise $1,000 by Saturday night in order to make bail. All proceeds benefit Jersey Fresh and the Horse Park of New Jersey’s Capital Campaign for Footing Refurbishment.
So far, Tik leads with $560, followed by Lauren with $360, Holly with $325, Kristin with $235 and Buck with $275. The rider who raises the most money for these two great causes will win the “Big Dog” title and take home a special prize. Click here to make a donation and help bail your favorite rider out of jail.
It’s a busy weekend around Eventing Nation, with the final selection trial for the U.S. Pan American Games team here at Jersey Fresh running concurrently with the Mitsubishi Motors Badminton Horse Trials in England. Check out videos from Jersey Fresh courtesy of Thehorsepester below, and be sure to read Samantha Clark’s fantastic coverage and interviews from Badminton at this link. Go Eventing.
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