Allison Springer and Arthur took advantage of the inviting grassy gallops at The Fork today, April 3, to put in a clean, fast round and take the lead in the CIC***.
Springer had been tied with Buck Davidson on My Boy Bobby after dressage, but she finished cross-country just 4 seconds over the time, while Davidson incurred 4 time penalties and moved down to second, 2.4 penalties behind Springer.
Instead of his traditional red and yellow, Davidson rode cross-country in orange and blue, his grandmother’s colors. Mrs. Nancy Penn Smith Hannum died March 30 at the age of 90.
Davidson and Springer weren’t the only ones to skip around Mark Phillip’s course with minimal penalties. Although only two riders went double clear—Michael Pollard on Wonderful Will who sits fourth (47.0) and Buck Davidson on Ballynoecastle RM who sits sixth (47.9)—37 of the 45 starters had no jumping penalties.
“It was a beautiful course,” said Springer. “They did a really good job with the footing. They got out there and aerated and watered. The course was a little bit softer this year, but it was good that way. I liked that we got to have a better gallop around.”
Like many riders on course, Springer planned The Fork as her last outing before the Rolex Kentucky CCI**** with her 11-year-old Irish Sport Horse gelding.
“This event, it’s great to do well, and it’s nice to be where I am, but most importantly it’s the preparation for Kentucky. That’s what matters most,” she said. “I was absolutely thrilled with my horse today. He really is a gift to ride. I’m excited because he’s matured so much. It was exactly the run that I wanted prior to Kentucky.”
Not every rider could say the same unfortunately. Mara Dean suffered heartbreak when Nicki Henley pulled up on three legs after the Turtle Pond at 13AB.
ADVERTISEMENT
“We’re pretty sure he’s reinjured his tendon,” said Dean. (He suffered a serious injury in 2007 at the Pan American Games.) “It’s not life ending, but he’ll be in my retirement field when he’s ready. We gave it a try.”
Ronald Zabala-Goetschel of Ecuador also saw his hopes for Rolex Kentucky dashed when he fell off Che Italica at 13B, a maximum table coming out of the Turtle Pond. Zabala-Goetschel broke his collarbone in four places.
A few other riders suffered spills on course. Holly Payne and Madeline took a dip in the water jump at 21A. Payne was fine, and Madeline was sore, but OK. Michelle Mueller had an unlucky fall when Amistad slipped coming around the corner before fence 4. Mary Bess Sigman popped off Guinness X at the corner at 7B.
In the advanced division, Phillip Dutton took over the lead with a speedy round aboard Jan Byyny’s Waterfront. He moved up from 12th place by finishing just 1 second over the time allowed of 6:32.
Davidson was close behind him on Titanium (33.0), followed by Bonnie Mosser on Merloch (34.0), Hannah Sue Burnett on St. Barths (34.1) and Kristin Bachman on Gryffindor (35.1).
Dutton started riding Waterfront and Inmidair (who currently sits ninth in the three-star) after Byyny had a serious accident at Pine Top in February.
“She’s put so much time and effort into the [Waterfront]. She felt she’d like to see him continue his spring,” said Dutton. “He’s not getting any younger. The thought was to run him here and then evaluate whether he goes to Kentucky.”
Dutton said Waterfront, a 15-year-old Thoroughbred, went well on course. “He’s not the most forward thinking horse I’ve ever ridden, but I felt it was a good course for him. He felt better at the end then he did at the beginning.”
ADVERTISEMENT
Dutton rode five horses in the CIC*** and the advanced divisions. Four of them are in the top 10 after cross-country, and the only one that isn’t—Connaught—hasn’t run cross-country since Rolex Kentucky last year.
“I was pleased with all my horses,” said Dutton. “It was Connaught’s first run for the year. I was glad for him to come out and enjoy himself and jump so well.”
One rider jumped double clear in the advanced division—Robert Meyerhoff and Smooth Rider. They moved up from 25th after dressage to ninth place (38.3).
Of the 37 riders that started cross-country, 29 jumped clean. The dressage leader, Becky Holder on Courageous Comet, suffered an unfortunate run-out at the corner at 7AB.
Erin Sylvester was eliminated for stops with Armani IV after he incurred his fourth run-out on course at 10C, the corner after the water. Laura VanderVliet was eliminated with King Billy for three refusals at the Thorn-Clark Wine and Cheese complex at 8. The run-outs that did occur were spread out among the jumps, and no one fence accounted for more than its share of trouble.
CIC*** riders jog at 8 a.m. tomorrow morning and show jump following the intermediate divisions. Advanced will show jump after the three-star.
For complete results, visit EventEntries.com.
