Elkton, Md. – Oct. 16

A year ago, Mai Baum was galloping around the Dutta Corp. Fair Hill International CCI** with his owner, young rider Alex Ahearn.

When she decided to go to college, she gave her coach, Tamra Smith the ride this February, and the pair have been steadily lowering their dressage scores and picking up plenty of blue ribbons along the way.

Today, they showed how solid their partnership has become in the CCI***, earning the top score, 38.5, to take the lead heading into tomorrow’s cross-country.

“Overall, he’s such a trainable horse,” said Smith. “He really tries hard, and Alex brought him all the way up to the CCI** level and has done a really great job with him, and it’s a testament to what a great-minded horse he is.”

Smith admitted she had one bobble in her second flying change, but overall, showed a picture of harmony. Canadian Jessica Phoenix slotted into a close second with Pavarotti on 39.2, while Phillip Dutton and Mighty Nice placed third with a 43.5.

“I didn’t see Jess go, but I knew she’d give me a run for my money,” said Smith. “She beat me at The Fork [(N.C.)] earlier this spring, so I was keeping my eye on her, then I heard her score and wondered what it would translate to. He was phenomenal. He’s just getting stronger and better and I’m really pleased with how he felt.”

This is the 9-year-old German Sport Horse gelding’s first CCI*** and he’s coming off three CIC*** wins in a row.

Tamra Smith and Mai Baum. Photo by Lindsay Berreth.

Smith said she’s been working on “Lexus’” strength, connection and expression at home with regular trainer Nikki Clarke and with occasional lessons from Grand Prix dressage rider Steffen Peters.

Smith, who is based in California, has run several times this spring on the East Coast and feels Lexus is up to Derek Di Grazia’s testing cross-country track.

“You never know until you go,” she said. “He feels fit and looks great. He’s impossible to be around on the ground right now, which is a good sign I think, and he’s jumping great. I’m grateful that the weather gods didn’t decide to pour down.

“I think it will be a good track,” she added. “It looks very gallopy, and he’s very rideable, so I can be fast that way. I don’t have to get him back too much to the jumps because he’s right there. I’ve got to keep my focus and be tough tomorrow and we’ll see if he’s fit enough when I get home.”

Jessica Phoenix and Pavarotti. Photo by Lindsay Berreth.

As experienced as Pavarotti is, he’s never actually competed at Fair Hill due to commitments to the Canadian team most years. Phoenix was also celebrating her birthday today, so she was thrilled to be in the mix.

“I said to ‘Rotti’ this morning, ‘You can pick the second number, but the first number needs to be three!’” Phoenix said with her characteristic cheer. “He was amazing. It’s so much fun riding that horse. I really have to thank [owner] Don Good for giving me the ride on him. He is an incredible, competitive horse, and I love every minute of riding him. Being able to do this on my birthday was really special and I was trying as hard as I could to catch Tamie, and we almost did!”

Phillip Dutton and Mighty Nice. Photo by Lindsay Berreth.

Mighty Nice has also never been to Fair Hill due to other fall plans, and Dutton was pleased with his test.

“That was probably Mighty Nice’s best test. He seems to be getting better and better, and I think I might be getting better. It’s exciting,” he said.

“Happy” has done a couple of four-stars, but according to Dutton, you can never take Fair Hill’s course for granted.

“It’s going to be a good, educational course for him,” he said. “He’s obviously done a couple of four-stars before, but I think it’s a great track and fitness is going to play more of a part than a lot of the other courses we do. It’s educational for all the horses and riders. I’m looking forward to the day.”

Will Coleman and Tight Lines. Photo by Lindsay Berreth.

Will Coleman and Tight Lines put in the best test of their career to lead the CCI** on 42.5 ahead of Canadian Peter Barry and Long Island T (44.5) and Dutton on Z (45.3).

“We’ve been working really hard on this dressage, and a lot of credit goes to [Grand Prix rider] Ali Brock, and also my wife [Katie] and the team of girls that we have at home who’ve done a great job,” he said. “The horse is the best he’s ever looked. I just couldn’t be happier with him today. We had two tiny mistakes, but he did a great test and I was really proud of him.”

Coleman got the 8-year-old French-bred gelding last year after his top horse, Conair, died tragically. The Conair Syndicate put together the money to purchase a few younger horses, and Tight Lines was one of them.

“He’s taken awhile physically,” said Coleman. “He was just a bit slow to build muscle and come around. I think through this summer he’s really come full circle like a real horse should. It’s been a patient process, but I’ve had great owners and they’ve kind of believed in this horse from the beginning. I told them it could be awhile and I thought he could be a nice horse, and hopefully he’ll continue to prove me right. So far so good, and I’m hoping we can keep the good work going this weekend.”

Peter Barry and Long Island T. Photo by Shannon Brinkman.

Barry was happy with Long Island T’s test, which was the top scoring ride in Thursday’s session.

“He was good. He was relaxed. I maybe warmed him up a bit too long at the end. He felt a little more subdued than I wanted him, but he worked very well,” he said.

He credited working with Dutton the week before Fair Hill, and Canadian coach Clayton Fredericks for warming him up.

Barry thinks the course will be a good one for his gelding. “It’s a very important show in the calendar,” he said. “I walked the course, and I feel my horse will grow up after this and feel like a bigger horse. The footing is very nice and I feel it’s an important step in his education going forward.”

Phillip Dutton and Z. Photo by Shannon Brinkman.

Dutton’s only had the ride on Z for a few months, but he’s making fast friends with the gelding.

“It was a good test. I thought the rider left a marks on the table, so I was a fraction disappointed coming out,” he commented. “He’s a beautiful mover and I think he’s eventually going to do a really good test. He’s a bit of a highly strung guy, but him and I are starting to get to know each other.”

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Cross-country starts tomorrow at 9:15 a.m. with the CCI**. Ride times can be found here.