Phillip Dutton and Mr Candyman are your leaders in the CIC3* at Fair Hill today after moving up to take the lead following a double clear show jumping round. Phillip and the 10-year-old Holsteiner gelding owned by Ann Jones, Bridget Colman, Caroline Moran and Tom Tierney earned a 48.9 in the dressage to sit behind early leaders Boyd Martin and Bonito.
Ryan Wood and Powell will be in second looking ahead to cross country with one rail added today for a total penalty score of 50.7, followed by Phillip again on Z, who remains on his dressage score of 50.9.
There is also a 4* Combined Test going on at Fair Hill this weekend for those putting the finishing touches on their Rolex preparations, and we have a tie for the leaders after dressage on a score of 46.5: Colleen Rutledge with fan favorite Covert Rights, tied with Matt Brown and Super Socks BCF.
Looking to the Advanced at Fair Hill, Boyd Martin is in control after two phases, moving up from sixth with a double clear show jumping round to remain on a score of 34.9. Lillian Heard and LCC Barnaby also had a clear round that was rewarded with a move up, from seventh into second on a 35.2. Third place will be Ryan Wood and Fernhill Classic on a score of 34.5. Several of the Advanced horses are heading for Rolex next, so expect a nice easy run tomorrow as a final fitness run and tune-up for many of these pairs.
On the West Coast, Tamie Smith and Fleeceworks Royal are your CIC3* leaders on a score of 47.9. This is the first CIC3* start for “Rory”, who completed the Young Event Horse Championships at Le Lion d’Angers last year in the top 25.
In second are Mackenna Shea and Landioso, who are recipients of this year’s Karen Stives Eventing Endowment Fund from the USEF this year and will tackle the Houghton Hall CICO3* and Bramham CCI3*-U25, will be your second placed pair on a score of 50.5.
Robyn Fisher and Betawave, another alumni of the Le Lion d’Angers CCI2* last year, are closely in third on a 50.6.
The CIC3* will show jump this afternoon beginning at 4:55 p.m. PST, and you can watch the action thanks to Ride On Video’s live stream here.
Ocala International is also running a CCI4* CT this weekend, and Hannah Sue Burnett and RF Demeter have taken the lead on a 41.3 following dressage. Not one to outdo herself, Hannah Sue also holds second and third aboard Under Suspection (41.8) and Harbour Pilot (45.0) heading into show jumping this afternoon.
The hotly anticipated FEI divisions at Ocala are quite large and competitive this weekend, and Liz Halliday-Sharp will be your early leader in the CCI2* with Deniro Z on a score of 36.1, the only score in the 30s of the field. This is the first CCI2* run for Deniro Z, who has won two CIC2*s this year already.
Doug Payne and Getaway, a 10-year-old Oldenburg gelding by Contendro owned by Lisa Wall, are your second placed pair on a score of 40.3. This is also the first CCI2* start for Getaway.
Buck Davidson completes the top three on Victor B Z, a 7-year-old Zangersheide gelding owned by Buck and Carl Segal. Victor B Z finished in the top 10 in the end of the year CCI1* at Hagyard Midsouth last year and this year has had several competitive placings at the Preliminary and Intermediate levels.
And finally, we’d like to congratulate Megan Lynn and The Natural E for besting a ginormous CCI1* division to win the dressage on a score of 38.1, one of just two scores in the 30s. It’s no small feat to win the dressage in general, and to win it in grand fashion over a seriously deep field is a big one! Time will tell how the remainder of the weekend plays out, but enjoy that feeling Megan!
We’ll bring you much more from Fair Hill, Twin Rivers and Ocala over the weekend, so keep it locked right here!