Stats: age 36, Round Hill, Va.
High Patriot: ch. g., 16.3 hands, 12 years, U.S.-bred Oldenburg (Point Maker—Bird Aloft), owned by rider and Irish Oaks Farm, LLC, Middleburg, Va.
Last year, they finished second in the Jersey Fresh CIC*** (N.J.), fourth in the Bro-mont CCI*** (Que.), fifth at the Richland Park CIC*** and seventh at the Wits End CIC***-W (Ont.). This spring, they placed second in an intermediate division at Red Hills (Fla.), eighth at advanced at Southern Pines (N.C.) and ninth in the advanced at The Fork (N.C.).
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Jimmy’s Prediction: Mara will certainly sparkle in the dressage phase, but given the intensity of the competition here, she must maintain her recent improvement in the jumping phases. She’s an Olympic veteran and should easily be able to finish in the top 10.
