Phillip Dutton has now won three of the four Red Hills CIC*** events in Tallahassee, Fla.—with The Foreman in 2006 and 2005 and with Nova Top in 2003.

In 2004, when Darren Chiacchia won the event, Dutton finished second with Nova Top. He had two rails down today, March 11, aboard Annie Jones’ winner, one at the liverpool at fence 7, five strides after a one-stride in-and-out, and again at fence 10, a vertical off a right turn. Dutton said that “Chip” was a little spooky in the spectator-lined ring today, since it was only his second event of the year.

 “I was lucky to have two down and still win. I got in the ring and he wasn’t all that attentive,” said Dutton. “He looked at the liverpool and had that down, and I might have been a little weak off the turn [to fence 10]. He was not as in synch with me, but I’m not too concerned about it.”

 Fortunately for Dutton, Leslie Law, who’d entered show jumping in second place, also pulled two rails on Fuzzy Mayo’s course with Shear L’Eau. He dropped to third, and a clean round advanced Jonathan Holling into second place with Lion King II.

Unfortunately, Gina Miles did not jump McKinlaigh, who had been in fourth place after cross-country. Overall, Dutton said Chip is much more mature than he was this time last year. Dutton even stayed mounted on him for the awards ceremony, which Chip usually dislikes. In that ceremony, he received a $5,000 check for the winner’s share of the prize money and the keys to a 2006 BMW X3.

 “It’s the first time I’ve won a car,” he said with a smile. He gets to pick out what color he wants, but he may have to consult with his wife, Evie, as he expects that she will end up using it most. “She takes the kids to school and drives a lot.”

Dutton finished fourth on Connaught, owned by Julie and Jim Richards. “I’m really happy with him,” said Dutton, who plans to compete the 12-year-old Thoroughbred in the Jersey Fresh CCI*** (N.J.) in May, while The Foreman will head back to Rolex Kentucky, where he was second last year.

Dutton also won the CIC** aboard Rebecca Broussard’s Lucky Stripe, an 11-year-old Thoroughbred formerly competed by the late Cindy Burge. “Unfortunately, [Broussard] had an operation on her foot and couldn’t be here,” said Dutton.

Karl Slezak of Tottenham, Ont., won his first advanced event aboard John Rumble’s Foxwood Spencer after dropping just one rail today. “I’m excited,” he said. “Being just our second advanced, I really had no expectations.”

Word came from Tallahassee Memorial Hospital that Bobby Costello, who fell with Wild Delight on the cross-country course yesterday, is doing well. They expect to release him from the hospital in a day or two. Although he suffered a severe concussion, all of his scans look good and nothing is broken.

He said that even though this was his first trip to Red Hills, it wouldn’t be his last, and he thanked the medics for their quick response.

As this is the final year that Red Hills will be run by organizers Sallie Ausley and Sylvia Ochs, it is unclear whether the event will host the CIC***W again next year when landowner and benefactor Colin Phipps takes over—so whether Dutton can defend his title again remains up in the air.

CIC***
1. The Foreman, Phillip Dutton, 62.0
2. Lion King II, Jonathan Holling, 65.1
3. Shear L’Eau, Leslie Law, 68.5
4. Connaught, Phillip Dutton, 72.4
 5. Northern Spy, Heidi White, 72.7

Advanced
1. Foxwood Spencer, Karl Slezak, 54.2
2. Eight Saint James Place, Laine Ashker, 55.8
3. Handyman Hughie, Phillip Dutton, 55.9
4. Good Stuff, Mara Dean, 76.0
5. Theodore O’Connor, Karen O’Connor, 103.5

CIC** 1. Lucky Stripe, Phillip Dutton, 51.6
2. Another Garrison, Leslie Law, 59.2
3. Jos Ambition, Mara Dean, 59.6
4. Jackson, Elisa Wallace, 61.3
5. Cahir, Emilee Libby, 63.3