The U.S. eventers rode into the Pan Am Games with one thing on their minds: taking home the gold.  After the dressage competition today, July 20, at the National Equestrian Center in Rio de Janeiro, Brazil, Mara Dean and Nicki Henley stood atop the leaderboard with four other U.S. riders filling in behind her.

The U.S. riders have taken a commanding lead, securing a solid 16.5 point lead over second-placed Canada.  Home country Brazil sits in third place going into cross-country.

Six U.S. riders are competing in the eventing portion of the Pan Ams.  Riding for the U.S. team is Karen O’Connor on Theodore O’Connor, Gina Miles on McKinlaigh, Phillip Dutton on Truluck, and Stephen Bradley on From.  Mara Dean on Nicki Henley and Darren Chiacchia on Better I Do It are competing as individuals. 

All U.S. horses passed yesterday’s veterinary inspection without a hitch before their very successful tour around the dressage arena today. 

Dean and Nicki Henley submitted an exceptional test a solid six points ahead of second-placed Stephen Bradley and From. Dean and Nicki Henley earned high marks for her elegant performance, including all 8s for her position, and even a 10 for her halt.  She finished with a score of 40.6. 

Dean has been helping Bradley tighten up his dressage, and Bradley credits his strong ride to her guidance. “She took a lot of extra time during training sessions to help me,” said Bradley. “I had the test I had today thanks to Mara.”

Finishing right on From’s heels was Karen O’Connor with pony prodigy Theodore O’Connor. O’Connor was thrilled with “Teddy’s” performance today, pointing out that she scored eight points higher today than during the dressage phase of Rolex Kentucky CCI**** where the pair finished 3rd.

“I’d like to think that in the next six months we take it to yet another level,” said O’Connor. “All the dressage people here are watching him and saying, ‘We can help you get an extended trot on that pony.’”

Finishing fourth was Darren Chiacchia, competing as an individual on Better I Do It.  He stepped in at the last minute after Bonnie Mosser and Merloch bowed out for veterinary reasons. Mosser’s withdrawal gave Chiacchia the chance to defend his 2003 Pan Am gold medal.

Fifth-placed Phillip Dutton admitted that he was “pleased but not ecstatic” about this morning’s ride aboard Truluck. Dutton just swapped in his Australian passport for U.S. citizenship and the Pan Ams are Dutton’s first competition representing the United States.
 
Gina Miles and McKinlaigh rounded out the U.S. riders, tying for eleventh place with Canada’s Kyle Carter on Madison Park.

Five teams are vying for the gold medal and the chance to secure one of two coveted team spots in the 2008 Olympics in Hong Kong. The United States is the only competitor already qualified for the Olympics due to the country’s performance at the 2006 World Equestrian Games.

In order for the competition to retain its Olympic qualifying status, at least five full teams must enter the event. When one of the Chilean horses came up lame this morning, with no reserve rider in sight, the qualifying status of the Pan Ams looked uncertain. But Chilean rider Ricardo Stangher gallantly rode into the ring at a walk and retired, gaining 1000 penalty points for the team.  Since Stangher retired rather than withdrew, Team Chile officially entered the competition, allowing the Games to retain Olympic qualifying status. 

Tomorrow’s cross-country competition will get underway at 10 a.m.  The riders had their first chance to walk the course today.

The 5750 meter-long test was designed by Sue Benson. Course construction ended just in time for the Pan Ams, without time for a test event to sort out any bobbles.  Despite this, the U.S. eventers were impressed by the result.

“I think that they’ve done a tremendous job.  When you look at the footing that they had to start with, it’s unbelievable,” said Bradley. “They did an equally fantastic job designing a course that is very challenging. There’s a lot to do, a lot of good exercises out there to follow through with. I think that we’re going to be very busy.”

Chiacchia echoed his teammate’s sentiment, adding that even between elements the track presented a real challenge, with a winding path and sharp turns approaching several jumps. “There’s really nowhere to sleep out there,” he said. “If you’re not negotiating a jump, you’re certainly dealing with the terrain.”

One unusual aspect of tomorrow’s course is that the last fence is past the start box, situated such that the track between the first and last fence cross each other. The organizers moved the start times to allow six minutes in an effort to avoid collisions, but without a trial run over the course it’s still unclear exactly what will happen. 

The first U.S. pair to challenge the course will be Karen O’Connor aboard her “superpony.” ”My job will be very clear to try to bring back information that will help the others while at the same time try to maximize the course,” said O’Connor. “It’s tricky out there, so I think that they have the right pony going first to find out how the track is.” 

Team standings after dressage

1.    USA, 143.4
Karen O’Connor, Theodore O’Connor 47.1
Gina Miles, McKinlaigh 56.3
Stephen Bradley, From 46.5
Phillip Dutton, Truluck 49.8

2.    Canada, 159.9
Kyle Carter, Madison Park 56.3
Waylon Roberts, Paleface 62.9
Sandra Donnelly, Buenos Aires 51.7
Mike Winter, Kingpin 51.9

3.    Brazil, 173.2
Andre Paro, Land Heir 57.7
Renan Guerreiro, Rodizio AA, 62.3
Fabricio Salgado, Butterfly 61.5
Carlos Paro, Political Mandate 54

4.    Argentina, 173.2
Rodolfo Grazzini, Remonta Desertora, 59
Gustavo Jorge Schurlein, Remonta Desidia, 72.3
Jose Luis Ortelli, Jos Aladar, 56.5
Juan Mariano Chiara Vieyra, Varadero, 62.5

5.    Chile, 1128.9
Ricardo Stangher, Literal, 1000 (withdrawn)
Sergio Iturriaga, Lago Rupanco, 63.5
Felipe Martinez, Navideno, 65.4

Individual standings after dressage
1. USA Mara Dean, Nicki Henley 40.2 (individual)
2. USA Stephen Bradley, From 46.5 (team)
3. USA Karen O’Connor, Theodore O’Connor 47.1 (team)
4. USA Darren Chiacchia, Better I Do It 49.4 (individual)
5. USA Phillip Dutton, Truluck 49.8 (team)
6. JAM Samantha Albert, Before I Do It 50.2 (individual)
7. CAN Sandra Donnelly, Buenos Aires 51.7 (team)
8. CAN Mike Winter, Kingpin 51.9 (team)
9. BRA Carlos Paro, Political Mandate 54 (team)
10. CAN Jessica Phoenix, Exploring 54.8 (individual)
11. CAN Kyle Carter, Madison Park 56.3 (team)
11. USA Gina Miles, McKinlaigh 56.3 (team)
13. ARG Jose Luis Ortello, Jos Aladar 56.5 (team)
14. BRA Andre Paro, Land Heir, 57.7 (team)
15. ARG Rodolfo Granzzini, Remonta Desertora, 59 (team)
16. URU Alejandro Quintana Valerio, S.V.R. Quetzal 59.8 (individual)
17. BRA Fabricio Salgado, Butterfly 61.5 (team)
18. BRA Renan Guerreiro, Rodizio AA 62.3 (team)
19. ARG Juan Mariano Chiara Vieyra, Varadero, 62.5 (team)
20. BRA Serguei Fofanoff, Ekus TW 62.7 (individual)
21. CAN Waylon Roberts, Paleface 62.9 (team)
22. CHI Sergio Iturriaga, Lago Rupanco 63.5 (team)
23. CHI Felipe Martinz, Navideno 65.4 (team)
24. BRA Saulo Tristao, Totsie 65.8 (individual)
24. ARG Martin Cornejo, Viejo Nacho 65.8 (individual)
26. ARG Gustavo Jorge Schurlein, Remonta Desidia, 72.3 (team)
retired: CHI Ricardo Stangher, Literal 1000 (team)