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<p class="whitespace-normal break-words">Morven Park 2025 is poised to become the second-strongest CCI4*-L ever held on US soil since records began in 2015, boasting an <strong>Elo field strength of 596.</strong> Only <strong>The Fork at Tryon</strong> in 2020 <strong>(605)</strong> has assembled a stronger lineup.</p>
<p class="whitespace-normal break-words"><img src="https://usef-admin.fly.dev/assets/5758f9e2-f2be-4f0b-bace-9cbf8f0fc71d.png?width=1008&amp;height=1140" alt="138t N Cci4 L Field Strengths on Us Soil Since 2015"></p>
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<h3 class="whitespace-normal break-words">&nbsp;</h3>
<h3 class="whitespace-normal break-words">Rising to the Top</h3>
<p class="whitespace-normal break-words">This marks a significant milestone for American eventing and the US Equestrian Open. Of the 46 CCI4*-L competitions held in the US over the past decade, this competition has established itself as a premier destination for the sport's elite. This will be the venue's fifth consecutive year holding a CCI4*-L and each edition has grown stronger. The 2025 field represents a massive leap in both depth and quality - a jump of 130 Elo points from last year.</p>
<p><img src="https://usef-admin.fly.dev/assets/12fd79bb-5dc0-4b16-b869-5dd9f2621e81.png?width=1008&amp;height=700" alt="E8ppa Morven Park Field Strength"></p>
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<h3 class="whitespace-normal break-words">&nbsp;</h3>
<h3 class="whitespace-normal break-words"><strong>Understanding Field Strength</strong></h3>
<p class="whitespace-normal break-words">Field strength measures the average Elo rating of the top 20 horses in a competition, providing a clear indicator of both quality and depth. The Elo rating system tracks performance over time, rewarding consistency and results in competitive fields while accounting for the difficulty of each achievement.</p>
<p class="whitespace-normal break-words">The depth throughout the top 20 is remarkable. While <strong>Off The Record </strong>and <strong>Miks Master C </strong>headline the field, riders like <strong>Phillip Dutton</strong> (with both <strong>Denim</strong> and <strong>Possante</strong>), <strong>Caroline Pamukcu (</strong>three horses in the top 15), and <strong>Boyd Martin </strong>(two in the top four) have brought multiple top-tier mounts, creating a field where any number of combinations could claim victory.</p>
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<p class="whitespace-normal break-words"><img src="https://usef-admin.fly.dev/assets/826ea0f0-85e7-4bc7-b6b7-2d1754c1eee1.png?width=1328&amp;height=2010" alt="Std1h Top 20 Elo Rated Horses in the Morven Field"></p>
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<h3 class="whitespace-normal break-words"><strong>What Makes This Year Different</strong></h3>
<p>Several factors have come together to create this historic field. Most notably, this is the inaugural US Equestrian Open Final, the culmination of a year-long series of qualifiers and boasting the largest prize purse ever at this level - $200,000. That combination of prestige, financial incentive, and Morven Park&rsquo;s growing reputation for world-class footing and course design has drawn many of the nation&rsquo;s very best to Leesburg.</p>
<p dir="ltr">The US Equestrian Open Final is going to be an exciting chapter of world class competition on home soil as the sport and US Eventing look ahead to LA 2028. With history on the line and $200,000 up for grabs, next weekend promises to deliver drama worthy of the field assembled.</p>
<p dir="ltr">The stage is set and the best have answered the call. Now it's time to see who rises to the occasion.</p>
<p>&nbsp;</p>
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<h2 dir="ltr">&nbsp;</h2>
<h2 dir="ltr"><strong>Follow the US Equestrian Open of Eventing</strong></h2>
<p dir="ltr">Check out the full Series calendar below and stay connected with the latest news and standings on<a href="https://www.facebook.com/usequestrianopen" target="_blank" rel="noopener">&nbsp;Facebook</a>&nbsp;and<a href="https://www.instagram.com/usequestrianopen" target="_blank" rel="noopener">&nbsp;Instagram.&nbsp;</a>Use #USEqOpen to join the conversation.</p>
<p dir="ltr">Also follow US Equestrian on<a href="https://www.facebook.com/USequestrian" target="_blank" rel="noopener">&nbsp;Facebook</a>,&nbsp;<a href="https://www.instagram.com/usequestrian/" target="_blank" rel="noopener">Instagram</a>,&nbsp;<a href="https://www.tiktok.com/@usequestrian" target="_blank" rel="noopener">TikTok</a>, and&nbsp;<a href="https://x.com/usequestrian" target="_blank" rel="noopener">X (Twitter)</a>.&nbsp;</p>
<p dir="ltr"><img src="https://usef-admin.fly.dev/assets/aee0755f-7ba0-4aaf-b197-8570742781c8.png?width=1080&amp;height=1350" alt="Competition Calendar for the 2024-2025 US Equestrian Open of Eventing"></p>
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<p dir="ltr"><em>For Sport Department questions, please contact Christy Hawkins at&nbsp;<a href="mailto:USEquestrianOpen@usef.org">USEquestrianOpen@usef.org</a>.</em></p>
<p dir="ltr"><em>For media inquiries about the US Equestrian Open Series, please contact Carly Weilminster at&nbsp;<a href="mailto:cweilminster@usef.org">cweilminster@usef.org</a>.&nbsp;</em></p>
<p dir="ltr"><em>For sponsorship opportunities, contact Layson Griffin at&nbsp;<a href="mailto:lgriffin@usef.org">lgriffin@usef.org</a>.</em></p>

Growing Depth: Morven Park 2025 Raises the Bar

<p class="whitespace-normal break-words">The US Equestrian Open Final at Morven Park is about to brings together some of the best horses in the US but also globally to compete for the largest prize pot at the CCI4*-L level in history. While traditional rankings focus on who finished on the podium, the<strong> EquiRatings Elo</strong> digs deeper - rewarding horses who've consistently tackled tough competition and delivered when it mattered most.</p>
<p class="whitespace-normal break-words"><strong>Elo</strong> is a rating system that tracks how strong a horse's results are over time &mdash; kind of like a world ranking, but based on performance <em>quality</em>, not just placings. Big results in tough fields send your Elo up faster. Smaller wins or mistakes in easier company might hold you steady or even knock you down. It's how we measure long-term class.</p>
<p class="whitespace-normal break-words">From veterans to 10-year-olds already posting world-class numbers, the field at Morven is stacked with depth. Here are the 10 horses with the highest Elo ratings heading into Morven Park.</p>
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<p class="whitespace-normal break-words"><img src="https://usef-admin.fly.dev/assets/58d4c0a6-f0eb-4e33-9e1e-955696610f4e.png?width=851&amp;height=1289" alt="Morven Park Graphics (15)"></p>
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<h3 class="text-xl font-bold text-text-100 mt-1 -mb-0.5">&nbsp;</h3>
<h3 class="text-xl font-bold text-text-100 mt-1 -mb-0.5">1. Off The Record | Elo: 779 | 16 years old | William Coleman</h3>
<p class="whitespace-normal break-words">Off The Record sits atop not just this field but the entire American eventing landscape. With an Elo of 779, this 16-year-old is the highest-rated horse in the US currently and the second-highest rated US horse&nbsp;<em>on record</em>, trailing only the legendary Mai Baum. Currently ranked 13th in the world, Off The Record has built his Elo through his ultimate consistency at the highest level.</p>
<h3 class="text-xl font-bold text-text-100 mt-1 -mb-0.5">2. Miks Master C | Elo: 742 | 13 years old | Boyd Martin</h3>
<p class="whitespace-normal break-words">The 13-year-old Miks Master C earned his 742 Elo rating while partnered with Liz Halliday before joining Boyd Martin's string. He's currently the third-highest rated horse in the US, sitting behind only Off The Record and 'Mikki's' stablemate, Commando 3. Miks Master C is currently ranked 25th globally.</p>
<h3 class="text-xl font-bold text-text-100 mt-1 -mb-0.5">3. HSH Blake | Elo: 662 | 10 years old | Caroline Pamukcu</h3>
<p class="whitespace-normal break-words">At just 10 years old, HSH Blake has established himself as the second-highest rated 10-year-old in the world, behind only Clarke Johnston's Rocketman. With an Elo of 662, this young horse may represent the future of American eventing.</p>
<h3 class="text-xl font-bold text-text-100 mt-1 -mb-0.5">4. Shanroe Cooley | Elo: 661 | 10 years old | Boyd Martin</h3>
<p class="whitespace-normal break-words">Shanroe Cooley ranks as the third-highest rated 10-year-old, coming in a mere 1 point behind HSH Blake Also produced by Liz Halliday, 'Dallas'' steep Elo ascent is a credit to his almost perfect cross-country record: 21 clear rounds out of 22 starts (one elimination).</p>
<h3 class="text-xl font-bold text-text-100 mt-1 -mb-0.5">5. Denim | Elo: 649 | 10 years old | Phillip Dutton</h3>
<p class="whitespace-normal break-words">Denim ranks fifth worldwide among 10-year-olds. Since 2023, this horse has only&nbsp;<em>gained</em> Elo points through nearly always finishing in the top 10. Remarkably, Denim has never won an event, proving you don't need victories to build an elite rating.&nbsp;</p>
<h3 class="text-xl font-bold text-text-100 mt-1 -mb-0.5">6. Larcot Z | Elo: 649 | 12 years old | Lauren Nicholson</h3>
<p class="whitespace-normal break-words">The 12-year-old Larcot Z has quickly moved up the rankings with his recent form. In Lauren's last three international starts with Larcot Z, they've won two: an 18-point gain at Bromont CCI4*-L, followed by a withdrawal at Hartpury (which doesn't affect Elo), and then a massive 26-point gain from winning a competitive CCI4*-S section at Arville.</p>
<h3 class="text-xl font-bold text-text-100 mt-1 -mb-0.5">7. QC Diamantaire | Elo: 649 | 15 years old | Sydney Elliott</h3>
<p class="whitespace-normal break-words">At 15 years old, QC Diamantaire has had more time than some younger horses to build an impressive resume. This partnership has competed in 46 international events together dating back to 2016. Standout performances include a podium finish at Kentucky CCI4*-S in 2023 and another top-10 result at Kentucky in 2024, cementing their place on this list.</p>
<h3 class="text-xl font-bold text-text-100 mt-1 -mb-0.5">8. Possante | Elo: 648 | 12 years old | Phillip Dutton</h3>
<p class="whitespace-normal break-words">Denim's stablemate, the 12-year-old Possante, benefits from Phillip Dutton's masterful cross-country riding. Dutton has never incurred a cross-country penalty with this horse, allowing for consistent Elo increases built on reliability and clean rounds.</p>
<h3 class="text-xl font-bold text-text-100 mt-1 -mb-0.5">9. Freedom GS | Elo: 636 | 13 years old | Jessica Phoenix</h3>
<p class="whitespace-normal break-words">Freedom GS, the only mare on the list, carries Canadian hopes into Morven Park as the third-highest rated Canadian horse currently and the fifth-highest rated Canadian horse of all time. With an Elo of 636, Freedom GS sits just seven points behind the highest-rated Candian horse - Kilcandra OceanPower (643 Elo with Nicolas Helayel). A strong performance at Morven could see Freedom GS claim the title of the highest-rated Canadian horse.</p>
<h3 class="text-xl font-bold text-text-100 mt-1 -mb-0.5">10. Dyri | Elo: 581 | 13 years old | Lucienne Bellissimo</h3>
<p class="whitespace-normal break-words">The 13-year-old Dyri has recently experienced the volatility of the Elo rating. Previously eared as high as 614, an unlucky start to the season, including an elimination and a retirement, has dropped the rating. But before this rough patch, Dyri had won a CCI4*-S and earned three additional four-star podiums. The class is clearly there, and Morven Park offers a chance to rebuild that elite rating.</p>
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<h2 dir="ltr">&nbsp;</h2>
<h2 dir="ltr"><strong>Follow the US Equestrian Open of Eventing</strong></h2>
<p dir="ltr">Check out the full Series calendar below and stay connected with the latest news and standings on<a href="https://www.facebook.com/usequestrianopen" target="_blank" rel="noopener">&nbsp;Facebook</a>&nbsp;and<a href="https://www.instagram.com/usequestrianopen" target="_blank" rel="noopener">&nbsp;Instagram.&nbsp;</a>Use #USEqOpen to join the conversation.</p>
<p dir="ltr">Also follow US Equestrian on<a href="https://www.facebook.com/USequestrian" target="_blank" rel="noopener">&nbsp;Facebook</a>,&nbsp;<a href="https://www.instagram.com/usequestrian/" target="_blank" rel="noopener">Instagram</a>,&nbsp;<a href="https://www.tiktok.com/@usequestrian" target="_blank" rel="noopener">TikTok</a>, and&nbsp;<a href="https://x.com/usequestrian" target="_blank" rel="noopener">X (Twitter)</a>.&nbsp;</p>
<p dir="ltr"><img src="https://usef-admin.fly.dev/assets/aee0755f-7ba0-4aaf-b197-8570742781c8.png?width=1080&amp;height=1350" alt="Competition Calendar for the 2024-2025 US Equestrian Open of Eventing"></p>
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<p dir="ltr"><em>For Sport Department questions, please contact Christy Hawkins at&nbsp;<a href="mailto:USEquestrianOpen@usef.org">USEquestrianOpen@usef.org</a>.</em></p>
<p dir="ltr"><em>For media inquiries about the US Equestrian Open Series, please contact Carly Weilminster at&nbsp;<a href="mailto:cweilminster@usef.org">cweilminster@usef.org</a>.&nbsp;</em></p>
<p dir="ltr"><em>For sponsorship opportunities, contact Layson Griffin at&nbsp;<a href="mailto:lgriffin@usef.org">lgriffin@usef.org</a>.</em></p>

The Top 10 Elo-Rated Horses at the US Equestrian Open Final

<p dir="ltr">The stage is set for the US Equestrian Open of Eventing at Morven Park (9th to 12th of October 2025). With a $200k prize fund, the biggest ever at CCI4*-L level, up for grabs, we ran our predictive model on the early entries. The <a href="https://prediction-centre.equiratings.com/competitions/morvenpark_4l_2025">EquiRatings Prediction Center</a> is updated as every entry and every score happens - giving fans a near real time view on the predicted winners on paper.</p>
<h3 dir="ltr">What is the Prediction Center?</h3>
<p>The Eventing Prediction Center, developed by EquiRatings over a number of years, applies advanced predictive analytics to years of international eventing results. Trained on millions of rows of data, the model simulates each competition ten thousand times - breaking performance down by each phase.<br><br>Each combination is given a probability distribution of likely outcomes, from dressage scores to cross-country clear rates, which are then aggregated to calculate finishing scores and win chances. While no model can perfectly foresee the future, testing against past competitions shows its accuracy: combinations given a 25% chance of winning really do win about one in four times. <br><br>For fans, media, and athletes alike, it provides an accessible, data-driven way to understand who is most likely to succeed on the day. For us, it helps us turn an entry list into stories and angles.&nbsp;<br><br>Here's a look at the top five contenders as decided by the model:</p>
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<p><img src="https://usef-admin.fly.dev/assets/4b4bf190-7850-408b-b6a8-dc6ad3f65150.png?width=1600&amp;height=400" alt="Miks Master C (1)"></p>
<p dir="ltr"><strong>Boyd Martin </strong>sits at the top of the<a href="https://prediction-centre.equiratings.com/competitions/morvenpark_4l_2025"> Prediction Cent</a>er with <strong>Miks Master C </strong>with a 19% win chance. Miks Master C, nicknamed&nbsp;<strong>Mikki, </strong>is a 13-year-old Swedish Warmblood gelding by<strong> Mighty Magic out of Qui Luma CBF. </strong>He's owned by <strong>Ocala Horse Properties LLC and Debby Palmer.</strong> Mikki, previously ridden by<strong> Liz Halliday, </strong>brings an impressive resume including four CCI4*-S victories and a 3rd place finish at Kentucky CCI5* back in 2023 (it was their CCI5* debut). He is rated 742 on EquiRatings Elo, the third-highest rated US horse.&nbsp;</p>
<p dir="ltr">This marks only Boyd's third outing with the horse but their partnership is already showing promise. After a 9th place finish at Bromont CCI3*-S (double clear with time penalties) and a 4th at The Fork at Tryon CCI4*-S (again double clear with time), the question is: will they push for maximum speed at Morven Park? Given the stakes, I would expect so.</p>
<h3 dir="ltr">What to expect:</h3>
<p dir="ltr">Likely dressage score between 25-27. Excellent Cross Country Jumping with proven speed around Aachen, Kentucky and here at Morven (with <strong>Maya Black</strong>, CCI4*-S). One rail down in the show jumping across the last four internationals and clear on both occasions with Boyd. They have a huge chance and are a deserved joint favorite.&nbsp;</p>
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<p><img src="https://usef-admin.fly.dev/assets/4c43aac4-f22a-4ac6-9a4a-fd4b29e5b050.png?width=1600&amp;height=400" alt="Off the Record (1)"></p>
<p dir="ltr">Sharing the top prediction percentage is <strong>William Coleman</strong> aboard <strong>Off The Record,</strong> a horse that needs no introduction. &lsquo;<strong>Timmy&rsquo;</strong> is owned by the <strong>Off The Record Syndicate LLC</strong><a href="https://www.usef.org/team-usa/athletes/will_coleman"> </a>having been sourced through <strong>Richard Sheane (Cooley Farms)</strong> as a four-year-old.</p>
<p dir="ltr">In 2021, this pair became the first US combination to ever win the prestigious CCIO4*-S at CHIO Aachen, Germany and they were part of the U.S. team that won silver at the 2022 FEI Eventing World Championships in Pratoni del Vivaro, Italy, where Coleman finished 7th individually.</p>
<p dir="ltr">Only two runs this year, a fourth place finish at Aachen and a win at the Kentucky CCI4*-S with a dressage score of 21.8 - their best test together as a combination and the best test that competition has ever seen.</p>
<p dir="ltr">Timmy is the highest-rated US horse currently in the sport based on the <strong>EquiRatings Elo (779) </strong>and ranks as the second-highest rated US horse of all time, trailing only the legendary <strong>Mai Baum.</strong> This combination brings both proven championship experience and current top form to Morven Park.</p>
<h3><strong id="docs-internal-guid-5b1f2867-7fff-e528-a657-9c6b5164e353">What to expect:</strong></h3>
<p>It will possibly all be decided by their dressage test. When winning Kentucky CCI4*-S this year they hit a PB of 21.8 but next time out was 35.6 at Aachen. Somewhere in between is most likely but if they do take the lead after the dressage phase, the speed and jumping power means they will prove very difficult to get past.&nbsp;</p>
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<p><img src="https://usef-admin.fly.dev/assets/07070c2e-0a52-418f-b42c-31fea369bf5b.png?width=1600&amp;height=400" alt="Hsh Blake"></p>
<p dir="ltr"><strong>HSH Blake</strong> - the well known 'young gun' of 2024. <strong>Caroline Pamukcu's</strong> Olympic Games&rsquo; partner comes into Morven Park with a 14% win chance and hot off a 3rd place finish at Plantation Field last weekend. Originally sourced in Ireland by Caroline's business partner <strong>Kelley Hutchinson of Hutchinson Sport Horses,</strong> Caroline and Blake won the individual gold medal and team silver medal at Pan American Games in Santiago, Chile back in 2023.</p>
<p dir="ltr">Their standout performance at the top level came at Tryon last year, when they finished on their dressage score to win the CCI4*-L . That victory earned them their highest-rated performance to date with a High Performance Rating (HPR) of 98. Blake is the highest-rated 10-year-old in the US with an Elo rating of 675. It hasn&rsquo;t been a perfect run since Paris but they are undoubtedly one of the global talents to look forward to between now and LA28.&nbsp;</p>
<h3><strong id="docs-internal-guid-c9c72a8d-7fff-6e91-b2b2-2ac6cbab3f60">What to expect:</strong></h3>
<p>Dressage is likely to be between 27 - 30. They have shown cross country speed at this level - winning Tryon last year with a clear inside time. It will be the first test on the hills of Morven Park. Excellent show jumper too - clear in 22 of their 27 career internationals. Huge contender and strong finisher. Likely decided by their time on Saturday.&nbsp;</p>
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<p><img src="https://usef-admin.fly.dev/assets/fb133564-be3b-409e-bd0e-0335b678713c.png?width=1600&amp;height=400" alt="Shanroe Cooley"></p>
<p dir="ltr"><strong>Boyd Martin and Shanroe Cooley,</strong> also previously competed by<strong> Liz Halliday, </strong>arrive with a 13% win chance. <strong>&lsquo;Dallas'</strong>&nbsp;is an Irish Sport Horse gelding owned by <strong>Ocala Horse Properties.</strong> Having spent the winter competing in the hunter and jumper rings with <strong>Peter Wylde and Eleanor Pieters</strong> in Florida, he has gone back to eventing, joining Boyd&rsquo;s string.<br><br>Under <strong>Liz Halliday's</strong> guidance, <strong>Shanroe Cooley</strong> established himself with top-five finishes at both CCI4*-S and CCI4*-L. He is currently rated 661 on EquiRatings Elo - the second-highest rated 10-year-old in the US behind only HSH Blake.</p>
<p dir="ltr">With Boyd, the 10-year-old gelding has actually produced better placings than his stablemate in their limited outings together. Boyd and<strong> Shanroe Cooley </strong>won Bromont CCI3*-S and finished 3rd at Tryon CCI4*-S having accrued less time penalties than<strong> Miks Master C.</strong></p>
<h3><strong id="docs-internal-guid-1b55021e-7fff-fd9c-aec8-85b77cb0b27d">What to expect:</strong></h3>
<p><strong>Shanoe Cooley </strong>has an excellent cross country record at international level with only one non-prefect jumping round from 22 international starts. They also have an exceptional show jumping record with one rail in the last 13 international competitions. It feels likely that they start around the 30 mark but with a time test promised at Morven Park, this horse is a likely podium finisher and could take the win.&nbsp;</p>
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<p><img src="https://usef-admin.fly.dev/assets/2937cda3-64bf-46aa-bb40-29cdfd0c85d0.png?width=1600&amp;height=400" alt="Very Dignified"></p>
<p dir="ltr">Rounding out the top five is another 10-year-old <strong>Very Dignified</strong>. This is a newer partnership for <strong>Will Coleman</strong>, landing in his string from the Irish rider<strong> Robbie Kearns,</strong> who successfully produced the horse up to a win in the CCI4*-L at Kilguilkey, in Ireland. The mare is owned by <strong>Jerome Broussard, Gloria Callen, and Elizabeth Lendrum.</strong></p>
<p dir="ltr">While they've completed only one four-star together - a 6th place at The Fork at Tryon with a pole down and 18.8 time penalties - the potential is clearly there. In classic Coleman style, he has already improved the horse's dressage phase, achieving the horse's best ever dressage score of 25.8 (3*S at Tryon in May).</p>
<h3 dir="ltr"><strong>What to expect:</strong></h3>
<p dir="ltr">Will has improved the first phase meaning a sub 28 start is very possible. They finish strongly (only one rail in the last six internationals, including a clear with Robbie at Boekelo in this long format style). Will hasn't yet pushed for time on their rides to date but we expect it to be there given the record with Robbie. This one is under the radar but has lots to like and shouldn't be a surprise winner.</p>
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<h2 dir="ltr"><strong>Follow the US Equestrian Open of Eventing</strong></h2>
<p dir="ltr">Check out the full Series calendar below and stay connected with the latest news and standings on<a href="https://www.facebook.com/usequestrianopen" target="_blank" rel="noopener">&nbsp;Facebook</a>&nbsp;and<a href="https://www.instagram.com/usequestrianopen" target="_blank" rel="noopener">&nbsp;Instagram.&nbsp;</a>Use #USEqOpen to join the conversation.</p>
<p dir="ltr">Also follow US Equestrian on<a href="https://www.facebook.com/USequestrian" target="_blank" rel="noopener">&nbsp;Facebook</a>,&nbsp;<a href="https://www.instagram.com/usequestrian/" target="_blank" rel="noopener">Instagram</a>,&nbsp;<a href="https://www.tiktok.com/@usequestrian" target="_blank" rel="noopener">TikTok</a>, and&nbsp;<a href="https://x.com/usequestrian" target="_blank" rel="noopener">X (Twitter)</a>.&nbsp;</p>
<p dir="ltr"><img src="https://usef-admin.fly.dev/assets/aee0755f-7ba0-4aaf-b197-8570742781c8.png?width=1080&amp;height=1350" alt="Competition Calendar for the 2024-2025 US Equestrian Open of Eventing"></p>
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<p dir="ltr">&nbsp;</p>
<p dir="ltr"><em>For Sport Department questions, please contact Christy Hawkins at&nbsp;<a href="mailto:USEquestrianOpen@usef.org">USEquestrianOpen@usef.org</a>.</em></p>
<p dir="ltr"><em>For media inquiries about the US Equestrian Open Series, please contact Carly Weilminster at&nbsp;<a href="mailto:cweilminster@usef.org">cweilminster@usef.org</a>.&nbsp;</em></p>
<p dir="ltr"><em>For sponsorship opportunities, contact Layson Griffin at&nbsp;<a href="mailto:lgriffin@usef.org">lgriffin@usef.org</a>.</em></p>

Prediction Center - Top 5 on Win Chance for the US Equestrian Open Final at Morven Park

<p dir="ltr">Last weekend at The Fork,&nbsp;<strong><a href="https://www.instagram.com/p/DOoEwwLDYCw/?utm_source=ig_web_copy_link&amp;igsh=MzRlODBiNWFlZA==" target="_blank" rel="noopener">Boyd Martin soared to the top of the Open leaderboard</a></strong> after securing a 120-point haul. <strong>Phillip Dutton</strong>, on 215 points, is now sitting pretty in second place. But, while Boyd is fairly out of reach this late in the Series, Phillip&nbsp;<em>can </em>be caught and if he is, <a href="https://www.usequestrianopen.org/stories/eventing-us-equestrian-open-quick-guide" target="_blank" rel="noopener">it will cost him $5,000</a>.</p>
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<p dir="ltr"><em><strong>Prize money come Series end:</strong></em></p>
<ul>
<li style="font-style: italic;"><em>1st - $25,000</em></li>
<li dir="ltr" style="font-style: italic;"><em>2nd - $15,000</em></li>
<li dir="ltr" style="font-style: italic;"><em>3rd - $10,000</em></li>
</ul>
<p>&nbsp;</p>
<hr>
<p dir="ltr">One rider with a good shot at catching Phillip is&nbsp;<strong>James Alliston</strong>.&nbsp;</p>
<p>James is competing in this weekend's Qualifier 18 - Twin Rivers - and&nbsp;<strong>he&rsquo;s won the last five editions of the event.</strong></p>
<p><strong><img src="https://usef-admin.fly.dev/assets/9b4f52ba-a85f-4a2a-84c1-76355322fce3.png?width=1190&amp;height=1670" alt="Last 10 Winners of Twin Rivers Cci4 S">&nbsp;</strong></p>
<p dir="ltr">This time, James brings forward a CCI4* first-timer,&nbsp;<strong>HMR Rolan</strong>. But looking at Rolan&rsquo;s results, so far he has handled everything in stride. James has taken Rolan around four internationals and, across all four, Rolan has added just 4 penalties to his dressage score, just a single rail. That&rsquo;s it.</p>
<p dir="ltr"><img src="https://usef-admin.fly.dev/assets/5b88af88-2748-4fa6-9b81-40791d070065.png?width=1400&amp;height=736" alt="Cm Ob F Hmr Rolan S International Appearances (1)"></p>
<p dir="ltr">On their latest outing last month - a national event - James and Rolan were crowned <strong>USEA Open Intermediate Champions</strong> and before that, they finished second in the Rebecca Farm CCI3*-L.</p>
<p>Now, facing Rolan's first CCI4*, the pair compete against five other combinations and according to EquiRatings Predictive Analytics,<strong><a href="https://usequestrianopen.info/twinriverssep2025/predictions--records" target="_blank" rel="noopener"> they have a 35% chance of winning</a></strong>.</p>
<p>That&rsquo;s important because<strong> a win here would take James from 145 Series points to 185 points and equal third in the Series.</strong></p>
<p dir="ltr">Then, after Twin Rivers, there is one last qualifier on the West Coast - Qualifier 20: Woodside. The Woodside Fall International is an event James has started 24 times before, including two entries in the CCI2*-S last year. He hasn&rsquo;t contested the CCI4*-S there since 2020 but he may be incentivized to enter this year - given the horse power - if it gives him a chance to secure more Open winnings.&nbsp;</p>
<h1><strong>The Scenario</strong></h1>
<p dir="ltr">Say James wins Twin Rivers this weekend to sit on 185 points coming into Woodside. To then catch Phillip on 215, James would need to place third or higher at Woodside (30+ Series points) to meet or exceed Phillip. Now, from 2020 onward, the number of Woodside 4*-S starters has ranged from 2 (2024) to 15 (2020), so placing third this year may be more or less straightforward depending on the number of this year&rsquo;s entries.&nbsp;&nbsp;</p>
<h1><strong>Other Challengers</strong></h1>
<p>Another qualifier going on this weekend is the East Coast&rsquo;s Plantation Field. Of that field, <strong>Caroline Pamukcu</strong> and <strong>Jennie Brannigan</strong> are the two that could join James in a race for the Open podium.</p>
<p><strong><img src="https://usef-admin.fly.dev/assets/2e11d825-95cc-4c7c-8ac9-a0d18a33031a.png?width=1080&amp;height=1350" alt="West Side Story leaderboard notations"> </strong></p>
<p><em>All to say</em>, the Series ain't over. The checks aren&rsquo;t written. Stay tuned.</p>
<p>&nbsp;</p>
<hr>
<h1><strong>Follow the US Equestrian Open of Eventing</strong></h1>
<p>The Final in a snapshot. For full Series details, <a href="https://www.usequestrianopen.org/stories/eventing-us-equestrian-open-quick-guide" target="_blank" rel="noopener">head to our quick guide</a>.</p>
<p><img src="https://usef-admin.fly.dev/assets/6e95e199-0e64-4508-aaa5-7039e5d08293.png?width=2160&amp;height=2700" alt="Final Snapshot for Open Eventing Blogs"></p>
<h3><strong>Current Series Standings (Sep 18, 2025):</strong></h3>
<p><span style="color: rgb(109, 114, 114);"><em>See the full, updated series standings and how the leaders got to the top, <a href="https://usef.equestrian-hub.com/public/championship/eventing/1" target="_blank" rel="noopener">here</a>.</em></span></p>
<p><img src="https://usef-admin.fly.dev/assets/dfc13b24-b6dc-4dab-ac88-91d5d46150e5.png?width=721&amp;height=557" alt="Eventing Leaderboard as of 18 Sep 2025"></p>
<p dir="ltr">Check out the full <strong>Series calendar </strong>below and stay connected with the latest news and standings on<a href="https://www.facebook.com/usequestrianopen" target="_blank" rel="noopener">&nbsp;Facebook</a>&nbsp;and<a href="https://www.instagram.com/usequestrianopen" target="_blank" rel="noopener">&nbsp;Instagram.&nbsp;</a>Use #USEqOpen to join the conversation.</p>
<p dir="ltr">Also follow US Equestrian on<a href="https://www.facebook.com/USequestrian" target="_blank" rel="noopener">&nbsp;Facebook</a>,&nbsp;<a href="https://www.instagram.com/usequestrian/" target="_blank" rel="noopener">Instagram</a>,&nbsp;<a href="https://www.tiktok.com/@usequestrian" target="_blank" rel="noopener">TikTok</a>, and&nbsp;<a href="https://x.com/usequestrian" target="_blank" rel="noopener">X (Twitter)</a>.&nbsp;</p>
<p dir="ltr"><img src="https://usef-admin.fly.dev/assets/aee0755f-7ba0-4aaf-b197-8570742781c8.png?width=1080&amp;height=1350" alt="Competition Calendar for the 2024-2025 US Equestrian Open of Eventing"></p>
<p dir="ltr">&nbsp;</p>
<hr>
<p dir="ltr"><em>For Sport Department questions, please contact Christy Hawkins at <a href="mailto:USEquestrianOpen@usef.org">USEquestrianOpen@usef.org</a>.</em></p>
<p dir="ltr"><em>For media inquiries about the US Equestrian Open Series, please contact Carly Weilminster at&nbsp;<a href="mailto:cweilminster@usef.org">cweilminster@usef.org</a>.&nbsp;</em></p>
<p dir="ltr"><em>For sponsorship opportunities, contact Layson Griffin at&nbsp;<a href="mailto:lgriffin@usef.org">lgriffin@usef.org</a>.</em></p>

Image of James Alliston jumping the dark bay horse Karma over a cross country fence during competition.

West Side Story

<p>The US Equestrian Open arrives at The Fork at Tryon this weekend after an almost two-month break from competition. This is the fifth-to-last qualifier before Morven Park, with entries already flowing in for the series final. <br><br>This weekend, The Fork fields over 30 entries, meaning extra points are up for grabs in the battle for the series title. With more than 25 starters, the top five finishers have the chance to earn a higher amount of points: 1st place (50 pts), 2nd place (45 pts), 3rd place (40 pts), 4th place (35 pts), and 5th place (30 pts).<br><br><strong>Caroline Pamukcu</strong>, sitting third in the series standings, arrives with three rides and will be looking to improve on her previous counting scores this weekend. But it's <strong>Boyd Martin</strong> who has grabbed our attention. Sitting 5th in the series with only 4 of 6 counting scores - and one of these being a mere 5 points - The Fork is Boyd's chance for series contention. Sitting 80 points behind the series leader <strong>Phillip Dutton</strong> and with a combined 42% win chance across his three horses, this weekend is likely to change the series standings.<br><br><strong><em>Listen to the 'The Fork at Tryon Preview Show' on the US Equestrian Open Podcast now.</em></strong></p>
<p><iframe style="border: none;" title="Embed Player" src="https://play.libsyn.com/embed/episode/id/38158805/height/192/theme/modern/size/large/thumbnail/yes/custom-color/4c414c/time-start/00:00:00/hide-playlist/yes/download/yes/font-color/ffffff" width="100%" height="192" scrolling="no" allowfullscreen="allowfullscreen"></iframe></p>
<p>&nbsp;</p>
<hr>
<h3>&nbsp;</h3>
<h3>Boyd Martin's Moment</h3>
<p>This venue has been golden for Boyd before. He has won The Forks CCI4*-S twice, taking victory in 2019 with&nbsp;<strong>Tsetserleg TSF</strong> and again in 2023 with <strong>Commando 3. </strong>Now he returns with three different horses: <strong>Miks Master C, Shanroe Cooley, and Luke 140.&nbsp;</strong></p>
<p><strong><em>The Last Ten Winners of The Fork at Tryon</em></strong></p>
<p><img src="https://usef-admin.fly.dev/assets/1d5a8cc0-4acb-447d-872b-0242209dadd3.png?width=598&amp;height=745" alt="Screenshot 2025 09 11 171719"></p>
<p>&nbsp;</p>
<p>Both of Boyd's top contenders are new rides for him, having taken over from<strong> Liz Halliday.</strong> With Liz, <strong>Miks Master C</strong> won four CCI4*-S events and finished 3rd at Kentucky CCI5* in 2023, while <strong>Shanroe Cooley</strong> also finished on CCI4* podiums. This will be Boyd's second event and first CCI4* with both horses. While Boyd may take a conservative cross country approach when developing his new partnerships, the proven class of both horses under Boyd's expertise means they are still likely to feature prominently on the leaderboard.</p>
<p>In contrast, <strong>Luke 140</strong> is Boyd's well-known partner, together since 2019. He was 3rd in the CCI3*-S at Bromont which was his first event after finishing inside the top 10 at Kentucky 5* in the spring.&nbsp;</p>
<p>&nbsp;</p>
<hr>
<h3>&nbsp;</h3>
<h3>What It Takes to Win The Fork</h3>
<p><strong>Boyd Martin </strong>may arrive with a competitive string but The Fork doesn't hand out victories easily. Looking at the last 10 runnings, winners have finished on a score anywhere from <strong>25.7 to 38.5.</strong> With the average dressage score sitting at <strong>29.0</strong> and the average winning score being <strong>32.0 -</strong>&nbsp;you can only afford to add a few penalties along the way.<br><br></p>
<p><img src="https://usef-admin.fly.dev/assets/01863fa3-516b-4d83-a56d-0b8a3a84058c.png?width=1075&amp;height=586" alt="Screenshot 2025 09 11 174000"></p>
<p>&nbsp;</p>
<hr>
<h3>&nbsp;</h3>
<h3><strong>The Dressage Battle</strong></h3>
<p>Leading after day one is certainly a good start but only 2 of the last 10 dressage leaders have gone on to win. Boyd's proven he can win from anywhere - front-running with<strong> Commando 3</strong> in 2023 or climbing from 3rd in 2019. When looking at the&nbsp;<strong>EquiRatings 6 Run Average (6RA),</strong>&nbsp;<strong>Miks Master C </strong>leads the field with a 25.8 6RA while <strong>HSH Connor</strong> and <strong>Caroline Pamukcu</strong> follow with 27.0. <strong>Luke 140</strong> and <strong>Cooley Chromatic</strong> <strong>(Sara Schulman)</strong> also sit on sub-30 6RAs.</p>
<p><strong><em>The Best Dressage Horses in the Field</em></strong></p>
<p><img src="https://usef-admin.fly.dev/assets/d949ebc7-8131-4259-a5d5-f85f0187968d.png?width=421&amp;height=903" alt="Screenshot 2025 09 11 174914"></p>
<p>&nbsp;</p>
<hr>
<h3>&nbsp;</h3>
<h3><strong>Show Jumping phase</strong>&nbsp;</h3>
<p>Show jumping has played a decisive role at The Fork over the years &mdash; but not always in the way you&rsquo;d expect. The venue's clear rates vary wildly - from 63% in 2017 down to just 14% in 2023, but on average only 38% are likely to manage a clear round on Saturday.</p>
<p><strong><em>Clear Rates Year by Year <span class="a_GcMg font-feature-liga-off font-feature-clig-off font-feature-calt-off text-decoration-none text-strikethrough-none">| </span>(Clear= clear jump &amp; time)</em></strong></p>
<p><img src="https://usef-admin.fly.dev/assets/932d63ed-0d2c-44af-ac46-86a7ace787eb.png?width=550&amp;height=628" alt="Screenshot 2025 09 11 175354"><br><br>The most reliable show jumpers in the field are&nbsp;<strong>Lindsay Traisnel's Bacyrouge</strong>, <strong>Ashley Adams' Quicksilver Grans</strong>, and <strong>Mary Bess Davis' Imperio Magic. Mary Bess Davis and Imperio Magic </strong>arrive to The Fork on a streak of 8 consecutive international clears. It is the longest incoming streak in the field and their round is not to be missed on Saturday.</p>
<p><img src="https://usef-admin.fly.dev/assets/24d6a602-3ba5-46b8-9ab1-9e464df6bb8a.png?width=747&amp;height=637" alt="Screenshot 2025 09 11 175654"></p>
<p>&nbsp;</p>
<hr>
<h3>&nbsp;</h3>
<h3><strong>The Speed Challenge</strong></h3>
<p>Saturday's cross-country delivers a solid 78% jumping clear rate - 10% above the CCI4*-S average. The real challenge lies in the speed with only 7% managing to finish inside the optimum time over the last ten runnings. The course has grown increasingly demanding in recent years, with just one combination making the time in the last five editions.</p>
<p><strong><em>Cross Country Summary&nbsp;<br></em></strong></p>
<p><img src="https://usef-admin.fly.dev/assets/d97fe673-a13e-480e-befd-75adb69141bf.png?width=753&amp;height=513" alt="Screenshot 2025 09 11 181503"></p>
<p><em><strong>Clear inside-the-time rates year by year</strong></em></p>
<p><img src="https://usef-admin.fly.dev/assets/f8f07256-e64a-4f98-ba42-ab5a08d23674.png?width=502&amp;height=531" alt="Screenshot 2025 09 11 181603"><br><br>With venue history like this, the speed horses are the one's to watch on Sunday. Based on the <strong>EquiRatings Top Speed Percentage (TSP),&nbsp;</strong>the fastest horses are <strong>Caroline Pamukcu's HSH Double Sixteen and HSH Tolan King</strong>, <strong>Bacyrouge for Lindsay Traisnel,</strong>&nbsp;and <strong>Kim Severson's Cooley Corraghy Diamond.</strong></p>
<p><img src="https://usef-admin.fly.dev/assets/f776c76c-3e20-4bf5-b530-cf45ff70912c.png?width=448&amp;height=970" alt="Screenshot 2025 09 11 182024"></p>
<p>&nbsp;</p>
<hr>
<h3>&nbsp;</h3>
<h3>Who Wins?</h3>
<p>According to the <a href="https://prediction-centre.equiratings.com/competitions/thefork_4s_2025" target="_blank" rel="noopener">EquiRatings Prediciton Centre,</a> <strong>Boyd Martin</strong> has three strong chances - a&nbsp; 28% win chance with <strong>Miks Master C</strong>, plus 10% with <strong>Shanroe Cooley </strong>and 4% with <strong>Luke 140</strong>. Add them up and Boyd sits on a 42% chance of victory, nearly three times more than his closest rival.&nbsp;<strong>Will Coleman and Very Dignified</strong> trail at 16%, while <strong>Sydney Elliott's QC Diamantaire</strong> sits at 15%.</p>
<p><a href="https://prediction-centre.equiratings.com/competitions/thefork_4s_2025" target="_blank" rel="noopener"><img src="https://usef-admin.fly.dev/assets/5a1652c6-ce2e-44df-8ef0-02b98bb864d1.png?width=855&amp;height=820" alt="Screenshot 2025 09 11 153942"></a></p>
<h3>&nbsp;</h3>
<hr>
<h3>&nbsp;</h3>
<h3>Want to know more about The Fork at Tryon?</h3>
<p>We've crunched all the numbers, analyzed every stat, and uncovered the key storylines you need to know before The Fork at Tryon kicks off this weekend. From dressage averages to cross-country clear rates, speed percentages to show jumping reliability - it's all in our comprehensive form guide. Check it out <a href="https://usequestrianopen.info/thefork2025" target="_blank" rel="noopener">here.</a></p>
<h3>When and Where to Watch</h3>
<p>Competition kicks off Friday with dressage running from 10:50am. Cross-country starts at 11.10am on Saturday and show jumping on Sunday from 11:49am. All times are local.</p>
<p>You can catch all the action live on the <a href="https://www.clipmyhorse.tv/en_US/events/16709?utm_campaign=main_slider_content&amp;utm_medium=cmh_content_slider&amp;utm_source=clipmyhorse&amp;utm_term=2025%2BOcala%2BSummer%2BSeries%2BII%2BCSI3%252A" target="_blank" rel="noopener">USEF Network, powered by ClipMyHorse.TV,</a> streaming free with a <a href="https://www.usef.org/membership/join-renew" target="_blank" rel="noopener">USEF Fan Membership</a>. With Boyd's series surge on the line and three legitimate contenders in his arsenal, this weekend promises drama.</p>
<p>&nbsp;</p>
<hr>
<h2 dir="ltr">&nbsp;</h2>
<h2 dir="ltr"><strong>Follow the US Equestrian Open of Eventing</strong></h2>
<p dir="ltr">Check out the full Series calendar below and stay connected with the latest news and standings on<a href="https://www.facebook.com/usequestrianopen" target="_blank" rel="noopener">&nbsp;Facebook</a>&nbsp;and<a href="https://www.instagram.com/usequestrianopen" target="_blank" rel="noopener">&nbsp;Instagram.&nbsp;</a>Use #USEqOpen to join the conversation.</p>
<p dir="ltr">Also follow US Equestrian on<a href="https://www.facebook.com/USequestrian" target="_blank" rel="noopener">&nbsp;Facebook</a>,&nbsp;<a href="https://www.instagram.com/usequestrian/" target="_blank" rel="noopener">Instagram</a>,&nbsp;<a href="https://www.tiktok.com/@usequestrian" target="_blank" rel="noopener">TikTok</a>, and&nbsp;<a href="https://x.com/usequestrian" target="_blank" rel="noopener">X (Twitter)</a>.&nbsp;</p>
<p dir="ltr"><img src="https://usef-admin.fly.dev/assets/aee0755f-7ba0-4aaf-b197-8570742781c8.png?width=1080&amp;height=1350" alt="Competition Calendar for the 2024-2025 US Equestrian Open of Eventing"></p>
<p dir="ltr">&nbsp;</p>
<hr>
<p dir="ltr">&nbsp;</p>
<p dir="ltr"><em>For Sport Department questions, please contact Christy Hawkins at&nbsp;<a href="mailto:USEquestrianOpen@usef.org">USEquestrianOpen@usef.org</a>.</em></p>
<p dir="ltr"><em>For media inquiries about the US Equestrian Open Series, please contact Carly Weilminster at&nbsp;<a href="mailto:cweilminster@usef.org">cweilminster@usef.org</a>.&nbsp;</em></p>
<p dir="ltr"><em>For sponsorship opportunities, contact Layson Griffin at&nbsp;<a href="mailto:lgriffin@usef.org">lgriffin@usef.org</a>.</em></p>

The Fork at Tryon CCI4*-S Preview: Boyd Martin's Moment

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<div>&nbsp;</div>
<div>After the 20 CCI4*-S Qualifiers, the grand finale of the US Equestrian Open steps up to a CCI4*-L at Morven Park. To qualify for the $200,000 Final, riders must earn an MER at any one of the Qualifiers. So far,&nbsp;<strong>76 athletes have earned their ticket</strong>, with five more qualifiers still to come.&nbsp;<strong>Who of them has demonstrated 4*-L winning form? </strong></div>
<div>&nbsp;</div>
<div>Now,&nbsp;<a href="https://www.usequestrianopen.org/stories/eventing-us-equestrian-open-quick-guide" target="_blank" rel="noopener">riders can also buy into the Final</a> without having MER'ed at a Qualifier - provided they meet all other 4*-L prerequisites - but here, we're going to focus on the pre-qualified athletes. We looked at the 4*-L results of the 76 Final-eligible riders and compared them to the 4*-L winning standard.</div>
<h1>What does it take to win a 4*-L on US soil?</h1>
<div>&nbsp;</div>
<div>Across the last 20 4*-L events on US soil, the winners averaged a<strong> </strong>first-phase score of 31.8 and a final score of 35.3.&nbsp;Looking beyond the averages,<strong> eighteen of the 20 winners scored a sub-35.0 dressage score</strong> and a <strong>slight majority of them (12), finished on a sub-35.0 score.</strong></div>
<div><br><img src="https://usef-admin.fly.dev/assets/480414b7-56c8-4791-bb02-134bd42be4e0.png?width=1366&amp;height=2881" alt="Last 20 winners of US 4L events"></div>
<div>&nbsp;</div>
<h1>Who's scored a sub-35 <strong>dressage</strong> score at US 4* longs?</h1>
<div>&nbsp;</div>
<div>Of the 76 Final-qualified riders, <strong>11 have scored three or more sub-35.0 dressage tests at US 4*-L events within the last few years</strong> (2021 onward).</div>
<div>&nbsp;</div>
<div>&nbsp;</div>
<div><img src="https://usef-admin.fly.dev/assets/1f2f678e-0a7e-4b4b-8572-f2756bc6aeb2.png?width=1096&amp;height=1314" alt="Kv11y Final Qualified Riders With the Most Sub 35 0 Dressage Scores at Recent Us 4 L Events"></div>
<div>&nbsp;</div>
<div>Table-topper <strong>Tamie Smith</strong>&nbsp;has earned three of her 12 scores with <strong>Kynan </strong>who she has&nbsp;<a href="https://evententries.com/#ShowCenterNy7IspNRvqnjxKn3" target="_blank" rel="noopener">entered for the Final</a>.&nbsp;</div>
<div>&nbsp;</div>
<div><strong>Boyd Martin's</strong> eight sub-35.0 scores came from just nine US 4*-L starts since 2021, and one was at Tryon this spring with <a href="https://www.usequestrianopen.org/stories/boyd-martin-is-one-of-the-most-successful-4-l-riders-and-hes-entered-for-the-final" target="_blank" rel="noopener"><strong>Barney Rubble </strong>who he has entered for the Final</a>.&nbsp;</div>
<div>&nbsp;</div>
<div><strong>Caroline Pamukcu</strong> earned three of her sub-35s with <strong>King's Especiale</strong>, <strong>HSH Double Sixteen</strong>, and<strong> HSH Blake</strong> - all three of whom are entered for the Final.</div>
<div>&nbsp;</div>
<div><img src="https://usef-admin.fly.dev/assets/87378dd5-acf6-495e-93ee-cc0ff04539d8.jpg?width=5728&amp;height=5345" alt="Hsh Blake Kentucky 2024 Er Caroline Pamukcu 3856_photo by Tilly Berendt"></div>
<div><em style="font-size: 90%; color: #999999;">HSH Blake &amp; Caroline Pamukcu. Photo by Tilly Berendt.</em></div>
<h1>Who's scored a sub-35 <strong>finishing</strong> score at US 4* longs?</h1>
<div>
<p>Just 10 of the 76 Final-qualified riders have <em>finished</em> sub-35.0 at recent <strong>US 4*-L events</strong> (2021 onward).</p>
<p>&nbsp;</p>
<img src="https://usef-admin.fly.dev/assets/15c9516c-94c8-4e59-8f31-a04381f7bc9c.png?width=1096&amp;height=1230" alt="Hv5r4 Final Qualified Riders With Sub 35 0 Finishing Scores at Recent Us 4 L Events"></div>
<div>&nbsp;</div>
<div>With <strong>Commando 3</strong>,<strong> Boyd Martin</strong> won the 2023 Morven Park 4*-L on a sub-35.0 finishing score. In fact, of his five 4*-L sub-35s since 2021, he won four of them and placed third in the other. He hasn't yet won a 4*-L with any of his current Final entries, but&nbsp;<a href="https://www.usequestrianopen.org/stories/boyd-martin-is-one-of-the-most-successful-4-l-riders-and-hes-entered-for-the-final" target="_blank" rel="noopener">he is a dominant rider at the level</a>.&nbsp;</div>
<div>&nbsp;</div>
<div><strong>Mia Farley</strong> earned her sub-35 at the 2022 Morven Park 4*-L with <strong>Phelps</strong>, finishing third. For the Final, Mia so far has <strong>Invictus </strong>entered. The Final will be Invictus' second 4*-L after finishing eighth in the 2024 TerraNova 4*-L. Invictus produced his international dressage PB at that 4*-L, a 27.9. A cross-country 20 and jumping penalties saw he and Mia finishing with a high score on the weekend but he hasn't had any cross-country jumping faults in any of his four 4*-S runs since then.</div>
<div>&nbsp;</div>
<div>Ultimately, when we look at the top and tail of a US 4*-L - first phase and final score - <strong>sub-35.0 is a good number to keep in mind</strong>. Certainly, some of our early entries have already shown they can do it.&nbsp;</div>
<div>
<h1>Follow the US Equestrian Open of Eventing</h1>
<p>The Final in a snapshot. For full Series details, <a href="https://www.usequestrianopen.org/stories/eventing-us-equestrian-open-quick-guide" target="_blank" rel="noopener">head to our quick guide</a>.</p>
<p><img src="https://usef-admin.fly.dev/assets/6e95e199-0e64-4508-aaa5-7039e5d08293.png?width=2160&amp;height=2700" alt="Final Snapshot for Open Eventing Blogs"></p>
<h3><strong>Current Series Standings (Sep 5, 2025):</strong></h3>
<p><span style="color: rgb(109, 114, 114);"><em>See the full, updated series standings and how the leaders got to the top, <a href="https://usef.equestrian-hub.com/public/championship/eventing/1" target="_blank" rel="noopener">here</a>.</em></span></p>
<p><img src="https://usef-admin.fly.dev/assets/6322a623-cee0-440a-a66e-d0734fc72db4.png?width=722&amp;height=562" alt="Leaderboard After Rebecca Farm"></p>
<p dir="ltr">Check out the full <strong>Series calendar </strong>below and stay connected with the latest news and standings on<a href="https://www.facebook.com/usequestrianopen" target="_blank" rel="noopener">&nbsp;Facebook</a>&nbsp;and<a href="https://www.instagram.com/usequestrianopen" target="_blank" rel="noopener">&nbsp;Instagram.&nbsp;</a>Use #USEqOpen to join the conversation.</p>
<p dir="ltr">Also follow US Equestrian on<a href="https://www.facebook.com/USequestrian" target="_blank" rel="noopener">&nbsp;Facebook</a>,&nbsp;<a href="https://www.instagram.com/usequestrian/" target="_blank" rel="noopener">Instagram</a>,&nbsp;<a href="https://www.tiktok.com/@usequestrian" target="_blank" rel="noopener">TikTok</a>, and&nbsp;<a href="https://x.com/usequestrian" target="_blank" rel="noopener">X (Twitter)</a>.&nbsp;</p>
<p dir="ltr"><img src="https://usef-admin.fly.dev/assets/aee0755f-7ba0-4aaf-b197-8570742781c8.png?width=1080&amp;height=1350" alt="Competition Calendar for the 2024-2025 US Equestrian Open of Eventing"></p>
<hr>
<p dir="ltr">&nbsp;</p>
<p dir="ltr"><em>For Sport Department questions, please contact Christy Hawkins at&nbsp;<a href="mailto:USEquestrianOpen@usef.org">USEquestrianOpen@usef.org</a>.</em></p>
<p dir="ltr"><em>For media inquiries about the US Equestrian Open Series, please contact Carly Weilminster at&nbsp;<a href="mailto:cweilminster@usef.org">cweilminster@usef.org</a>.&nbsp;</em></p>
<p dir="ltr"><em>For sponsorship opportunities, contact Layson Griffin at&nbsp;<a href="mailto:lgriffin@usef.org">lgriffin@usef.org</a>.</em></p>
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Image of Tamie Smith waving and smiling as she leaves the dressage arena on the bay horse Kynan.

What it takes to win a 4*-L on US soil

<p dir="ltr"><strong><a href="https://evententries.com/#ShowCenterNy7IspNRvqnjxKn3" target="_blank" rel="noopener">Early entries are already coming in</a></strong> for the $200,000 US Equestrian Open Final - October&rsquo;s Morven Park 4*-L. Catching our eye was <strong>Boyd Martin</strong>.</p>
<p dir="ltr">Why? Well, not &ldquo;just&rdquo; because he is one of the USA&rsquo;s most successful eventers but also because he has a particular aptitude for four-star-longs; between 2008 and now, no one has tallied more wins at the level: 10. Australia&rsquo;s <strong>Shane Rose</strong> matches him but no one beats him. Here&rsquo;s the list:<br><br><img src="https://usef-admin.fly.dev/assets/a74b275a-8597-409c-a6d8-c8fb2be8c43e.png?width=1268&amp;height=1444" alt="5 H Ih H Riders With the Most Cci4 L Wins Since 2008 (1)"></p>
<p dir="ltr">And one of Boyd&rsquo;s 4*-L wins was at Morven Park two years ago. A repeat effort this year would not only separate him from Shane on the win-count table, it would also earn Boyd a hefty portion of the $200,000 prize pot. I'm sure he wouldn't complain.&nbsp;</p>
<p dir="ltr"><br><img src="https://usef-admin.fly.dev/assets/73c5afb7-8871-496c-959c-b7df2f098c75.png?width=1198&amp;height=1166" alt="35t Qv Boyd Martin S Ten Cci4 L Wins Since 2008"></p>
<p dir="ltr">When it comes to Morven Park, Boyd has venue familiarity going for him - he of course won the 4*-L but he&rsquo;s also had nine total international runs at the venue dating back to 2014. Plus, as of now, he&rsquo;s entered on two strong horses:</p>
<h1 dir="ltr"><strong>1. Shanroe Cooley (10 YO)</strong></h1>
<p dir="ltr">Liz Halliday&rsquo;s mount Shanroe Cooley has only done one international with Boyd - a 3*-S which they won by adding just 3.6 XC time penalties to their dressage score. But, with Liz, Shanroe Cooley does have top-level experience. One of his best results was a <strong>4th place finish at Tryon 4*-L</strong> (May 2024).&nbsp;</p>
<p dir="ltr">Shanroe Cooley has <strong>jumped clear in 20 of his 21 international XC runs</strong>, including six clears at the 4* levels (long &amp; short). And, of his 20 international SJ rounds, he&rsquo;s&nbsp;<strong>only knocked 3 rails</strong> (spread over three different courses).</p>
<h1 dir="ltr"><strong>2. Miks Master C (13 YO)</strong></h1>
<p><strong><img src="https://usef-admin.fly.dev/assets/26ca95fb-2a87-4c52-b171-0ab54ca5b3a9.jpg?width=null&amp;height=null" alt="Miks Master C &amp; Liz Halliday at Kentucky 2024. Photo by Tilly Berendt."></strong></p>
<p dir="ltr"><em style="font-size: 90%; color: #999999;">Miks Master C &amp; Liz Halliday. Photo by Tilly Berendt.</em></p>
<p dir="ltr">Another of Liz Halliday&rsquo;s string being piloted by Boyd, Miks Master C has more top-level experience than Shanroe Cooley and is a four-time winner at the CCI4*-S level. He&nbsp;<strong>won the highly competitive Carolina 4*-S back-to-back, finishing on a 20.9 (2023) and a 22.5 (2024)</strong>.</p>
<p dir="ltr">In 2023, on <strong>his very first 5* run (Kentucky), Miks Master C placed third </strong>by adding just 1.6 XC time penalties to his dressage score, finishing on a 28.5.&nbsp;</p>
<p dir="ltr">With Boyd, Miks Master C has only done one international: a 3*-S at Bromont. There, he and Boyd jumped clear in both the XC and SJ phases to finish 9th. It will be exciting to watch this pair at Morven and <strong>their EquiRatings win chance is likely to be high </strong>once all entries are in.</p>
<h1><strong>Follow the US Equestrian Open of Eventing</strong></h1>
<p>The Final in a snapshot. For full Series details, <a href="https://www.usequestrianopen.org/stories/eventing-us-equestrian-open-quick-guide" target="_blank" rel="noopener">head to our quick guide</a>.</p>
<p><img src="https://usef-admin.fly.dev/assets/6e95e199-0e64-4508-aaa5-7039e5d08293.png?width=2160&amp;height=2700" alt="Final Snapshot for Open Eventing Blogs"></p>
<h3><strong>Current Series Standings (Aug 29, 2025):</strong></h3>
<p><span style="color: rgb(109, 114, 114);"><em>See the full, updated series standings and how the leaders got to the top, <a href="https://usef.equestrian-hub.com/public/championship/eventing/1" target="_blank" rel="noopener">here</a>.</em></span></p>
<p><img src="https://usef-admin.fly.dev/assets/6322a623-cee0-440a-a66e-d0734fc72db4.png?width=722&amp;height=562" alt="Leaderboard After Rebecca Farm"></p>
<p dir="ltr">Check out the full <strong>Series calendar </strong>below and stay connected with the latest news and standings on<a href="https://www.facebook.com/usequestrianopen" target="_blank" rel="noopener">&nbsp;Facebook</a>&nbsp;and<a href="https://www.instagram.com/usequestrianopen" target="_blank" rel="noopener">&nbsp;Instagram.&nbsp;</a>Use #USEqOpen to join the conversation.</p>
<p dir="ltr">Also follow US Equestrian on<a href="https://www.facebook.com/USequestrian" target="_blank" rel="noopener">&nbsp;Facebook</a>,&nbsp;<a href="https://www.instagram.com/usequestrian/" target="_blank" rel="noopener">Instagram</a>,&nbsp;<a href="https://www.tiktok.com/@usequestrian" target="_blank" rel="noopener">TikTok</a>, and&nbsp;<a href="https://x.com/usequestrian" target="_blank" rel="noopener">X (Twitter)</a>.&nbsp;</p>
<p dir="ltr"><img src="https://usef-admin.fly.dev/assets/aee0755f-7ba0-4aaf-b197-8570742781c8.png?width=1080&amp;height=1350" alt="Competition Calendar for the 2024-2025 US Equestrian Open of Eventing"></p>
<hr>
<p dir="ltr">&nbsp;</p>
<p dir="ltr"><em>For Sport Department questions, please contact Christy Hawkins at&nbsp;<a href="mailto:USEquestrianOpen@usef.org">USEquestrianOpen@usef.org</a>.</em></p>
<p dir="ltr"><em>For media inquiries about the US Equestrian Open Series, please contact Carly Weilminster at&nbsp;<a href="mailto:cweilminster@usef.org">cweilminster@usef.org</a>.&nbsp;</em></p>
<p dir="ltr"><em>For sponsorship opportunities, contact Layson Griffin at&nbsp;<a href="mailto:lgriffin@usef.org">lgriffin@usef.org</a>.</em></p>

Boyd Martin riding a bay horse over a cross country jump. Boyd has a determined look on his face.

Boyd Martin is one of the most successful 4*-L riders and he's entered for the Final

<p dir="ltr">Fifteen Qualifiers done, five to go. Next up, in two weeks, is the Fork at Tryon (12 Sep). In the meantime, we thought we&rsquo;d summarize the <strong>Series scores so far and what it&rsquo;s taken to win.</strong></p>
<h1 dir="ltr"><strong>First up, finishing scores:&nbsp;</strong></h1>
<p dir="ltr">The best Qualifier score came from California&rsquo;s <strong>Tommy Greengard &amp; Joshuay MBF</strong>. In fact, the top three Series scores have come from West Coast events, including the only sub-30 finishes.&nbsp;</p>
<p><img src="https://usef-admin.fly.dev/assets/619146cc-b142-4e70-89d5-fff9de035b4d.png?width=1156&amp;height=1858" alt="R Nho E Top 10 Finishing Scores in the Series so Far"></p>
<p dir="ltr"><strong>Tommy &amp; Joshuay </strong>produced their table-topping result by finishing on their dressage score (aka, getting an FOD) &ndash; one of just three combinations in the Series so far to do so.</p>
<h2 dir="ltr">The three FODs in the Series so far:</h2>
<p>&nbsp;</p>
<ol>
<li dir="ltr"><strong>Tommy Greengard &amp; Joshuay MBF</strong>- 26.9 at Aspen Farms (Qual 13)</li>
<li dir="ltr"><strong>Jessica Phoenix &amp; Fluorescent Adolescent</strong> - 40.4 at TerraNova (Qual 6)</li>
<li dir="ltr"><strong>Brooke Burchianti &amp; Cooley Space Grey</strong> - 46.0 at TerraNova (Qual 6)</li>
</ol>
<p dir="ltr">Of all <strong>256 </strong>Qualifier runs, <strong>Tommy Greengard &amp; Joshuay</strong> and<strong> Tamie Smith &amp; Mai Baum </strong>make up the just 1% who finished on a sub-30 score. Here&rsquo;s a breakdown of all 256 finishing results:</p>
<p dir="ltr"><img src="https://usef-admin.fly.dev/assets/8c74721b-93f7-424b-b5b3-2b97f6575950.png?width=1080&amp;height=1350" alt="Wc 18 Aug Usef Article Images  (3)"></p>
<p>&nbsp;</p>
<h1 dir="ltr"><strong>Next, dressage scores:</strong></h1>
<p dir="ltr">With <strong>Will Coleman, Off The Record </strong>produced his best ever international dressage score (21.8) en route to winning Qualifier 10, the Cosequin&reg; Lexington CCI4*-S (Kentucky). Off The Record&rsquo;s previous best had stood for five years - a 21.9 from the 2020 Great Meadow CCI4*-S.</p>
<p dir="ltr">It&rsquo;s his new PB that tops the Series dressage table so far:</p>
<p dir="ltr"><strong id="docs-internal-guid-519a392f-7fff-920d-58a3-fe196a915db2"><img src="https://usef-admin.fly.dev/assets/3f300e35-2427-406e-90b4-ffd6f6306085.png?width=1156&amp;height=1724" alt="B Br M8 Top 10 Dressage Scores in the Series so Far"><br></strong></p>
<p dir="ltr">The top three dressage scores on the table &ndash; delivered by <strong>Will &amp; Off The Record, Tamie Smith &amp; Mai Baum, and Phillip Dutton &amp; Possante</strong> &ndash; make up the 1% of Series tests in the 25-or-lower scoring bracket. Here&rsquo;s how all 256 panned out:</p>
<p dir="ltr"><img src="https://usef-admin.fly.dev/assets/9f99b0ba-31bb-4b13-a56f-41f55de8a2a7.png?width=1080&amp;height=1350" alt="Wc 18 Aug Usef Article Images  (4)"></p>
<p>&nbsp;</p>
<h1 dir="ltr"><strong>Lastly, winning profiles:</strong></h1>
<p dir="ltr">Winning scores across the 15 Qualifiers have ranged from 26.9 to 52.3 while the first-phase scores of winners have all been sub-37.</p>
<p dir="ltr"><img src="https://usef-admin.fly.dev/assets/b0827104-b787-48a2-81db-482e9cdb2f90.png?width=1080&amp;height=1350" alt="winning scores summary - first 15 eventing qualifiers"></p>
<p dir="ltr">Looking at the detailed winning scores, six Series winners have knocked a rail in the show jumping phase and one even won with a frangible penalty (11 points) across the country. Thirteen different athletes have won a Qualifier; <strong>Caroline Pamukcu </strong>and <strong>Jessica Phoenix </strong>each took home two Series victories.&nbsp;</p>
<p dir="ltr"><img src="https://usef-admin.fly.dev/assets/91d6d5b4-9a8a-4936-b52e-400d55c1d2ac.png?width=1464&amp;height=2282" alt="W Y3m T the 15 Series Winners so Far"></p>
<h1 dir="ltr"><strong>The current leaderboard</strong></h1>
<p>Those two wins by&nbsp;<strong>Caroline </strong>and <strong>Jess </strong>helped put them both in the top three on the all-important leaderboard standings. The top three spots will bring home the money so it&rsquo;s a handy place to be this far into the Series.</p>
<h3 dir="ltr">Once all Qualifiers are wrapped up, here's how the prize money is divvied.</h3>
<p>&nbsp;</p>
<ul>
<li dir="ltr">1st place:&nbsp; $25,000</li>
<li dir="ltr">2nd place: $15,000</li>
<li dir="ltr">3rd place: $10,000</li>
</ul>
<p>Then, there's an&nbsp;<em>additional </em>$200,000 up for grabs at the <a href="https://www.usequestrianopen.org/stories/eventing-us-equestrian-open-quick-guide" target="_blank" rel="noopener">Morven Park CCI4*-L Final this fall</a>.</p>
<h3><strong>Series Standings after the First 15 Qualifiers:</strong></h3>
<p><span style="color: rgb(109, 114, 114);"><em>See the full series standings, and how the leaders got to the top, <a href="https://usef.equestrian-hub.com/public/championship/eventing/1" target="_blank" rel="noopener">here</a>.</em></span></p>
<p><img src="https://usef-admin.fly.dev/assets/6322a623-cee0-440a-a66e-d0734fc72db4.png?width=722&amp;height=562" alt="Leaderboard After Rebecca Farm"></p>
<h1 dir="ltr"><strong>Follow the US Equestrian Open of Eventing</strong></h1>
<p dir="ltr">Check out the full Series calendar below and stay connected with the latest news and standings on<a href="https://www.facebook.com/usequestrianopen" target="_blank" rel="noopener">&nbsp;Facebook</a>&nbsp;and<a href="https://www.instagram.com/usequestrianopen" target="_blank" rel="noopener">&nbsp;Instagram.&nbsp;</a>Use #USEqOpen to join the conversation.</p>
<p dir="ltr">Also follow US Equestrian on<a href="https://www.facebook.com/USequestrian" target="_blank" rel="noopener">&nbsp;Facebook</a>,&nbsp;<a href="https://www.instagram.com/usequestrian/" target="_blank" rel="noopener">Instagram</a>,&nbsp;<a href="https://www.tiktok.com/@usequestrian" target="_blank" rel="noopener">TikTok</a>, and&nbsp;<a href="https://x.com/usequestrian" target="_blank" rel="noopener">X (Twitter)</a>.&nbsp;</p>
<p dir="ltr"><img src="https://usef-admin.fly.dev/assets/aee0755f-7ba0-4aaf-b197-8570742781c8.png?width=1080&amp;height=1350" alt="Competition Calendar for the 2024-2025 US Equestrian Open of Eventing"></p>
<hr>
<p dir="ltr">&nbsp;</p>
<p dir="ltr"><em>For Sport Department questions, please contact Christy Hawkins at&nbsp;<a href="mailto:USEquestrianOpen@usef.org">USEquestrianOpen@usef.org</a>.</em></p>
<p dir="ltr"><em>For media inquiries about the US Equestrian Open Series, please contact Carly Weilminster at&nbsp;<a href="mailto:cweilminster@usef.org">cweilminster@usef.org</a>.&nbsp;</em></p>
<p dir="ltr"><em>For sponsorship opportunities, contact Layson Griffin at&nbsp;<a href="mailto:lgriffin@usef.org">lgriffin@usef.org</a>.</em></p>

A collage of photos featuring Tommy Greengard, Will Coleman and Caroline Pamukcu

Top Scores and What it Takes to Win: the Eventing Qualifiers So Far

<p>With just five qualifiers left in the US Equestrian Open Eventing series, all eyes are on Jessica Phoenix. Sitting 30 points behind Phillip in the standings, she has five of her six counting results on the board. One more strong result could turn the leaderboard on its head.</p>
<p>The equation is simple. In a qualifier with fewer than 25 starters, a win is worth 40 points, second place earns 35, and third place brings 30. Any podium finish would pull Jess level with Phillip&mdash;but the math just got more complicated.</p>
<p><img src="https://usef-admin.fly.dev/assets/93c031f0-9df0-4f1d-8657-5faf25faabfb.png?width=874&amp;height=865" alt="Screenshot 2025 08 14 152111"></p>
<p>&nbsp;</p>
<hr>
<h2>&nbsp;</h2>
<h2>The Plantation Wild Card</h2>
<p>Phillip has his sights set on the Plantation qualifier as his final tune-up before Morven Park, and this strategic move could shift the entire championship calculus. If he can secure first or second place at Plantation, he will extend his points buffer when Jess needs it to shrink.</p>
<p>While Jess is hunting for her breakthrough result, Phillip has the opportunity to slam the door before she gets her chance. A win at Plantation (40 points) would put him 70 points clear, making any single result insufficient for Jess to catch him. Even a second-place finish (35 points) would stretch his lead to 65 points, requiring Jess to win her next outing just to pull within 25 points of the lead.</p>
<p>&nbsp;</p>
<hr>
<h2><br>Limited Options, Rising Pressure</h2>
<p>September brings a packed run of qualified and Jess's potential path forward is narrowing by the week.&nbsp;</p>
<p>September</p>
<ul>
<li>The Fork &mdash; 11th&ndash;14th</li>
<li>Plantation Field &mdash; 18th&ndash;21st</li>
<li>Twin Rivers &mdash; 19th&ndash;21st</li>
<li>Stable View &mdash; 25th&ndash;27th</li>
</ul>
<p>October</p>
<ul>
<li>Woodside &mdash; 3rd&ndash;4th</li>
</ul>
<p>The west coast events Twin Rivers and Woodside are likely off her calendar, leaving just three venues where she can strike. But now she faces a ticking clock&mdash;every day Phillip gets closer to Plantation, her window of opportunity shrinks.</p>
<p>The historical numbers are not in her favor. Jess has not competed at any of the remaining venues since 2022, and the last time she stood on the podium at one of them was back in 2017. That's a long drought to break when the pressure is on.</p>
<p>&nbsp;</p>
<hr>
<h2>&nbsp;</h2>
<h2>The Competing Strings</h2>
<p>Both riders come into the finale with serious firepower. Jessica has four horses&mdash;Freedom GS, Wabbit, Aeronautics, and Fluorescent Adolescent&mdash;that have already competed in US Open qualifiers this season. Phillip brings Denim, Possante, and Quasi Cool to match her stable strength, having recently handed the reins of Jewelent over to his daughter Olivia Dutton. This shift in horse allocation could prove pivotal. Jessica now holds the advantage in numbers (4 vs 3), giving her more options and chances to gain points and for the finale.<br><br></p>
<hr>
<h2>&nbsp;</h2>
<h2>But who is actually better?</h2>
<p>The head-to-head battles this season between these combinations have been tight. At TerraNova in March, Jess took the win with Freedom GS and second place with Fluorescent Adolescent, while Phillip's Possante finished third and Denim back in sixth.&nbsp;</p>
<p>But the tables turned at the Kentucky CCI4*-S in April, where Phillip's Possante claimed second place, with Jessica and Freedom GS just behind in third, followed by Phillip's Denim in fourth&mdash;the perfect example of the razor-thin margins that separate these horses.</p>
<p>&nbsp;</p>
<hr>
<h2>&nbsp;</h2>
<h2>More Than Just Points</h2>
<p>The battle between Phillip and Jess is not purely about bragging rights. The prize money for winning the series adds a tangible incentive. At this stage of the season, every second, every rail, and every point counts.</p>
<p><img src="https://usef-admin.fly.dev/assets/f698a19a-3030-4d6c-8ea4-7038546ee6e1.png?width=762&amp;height=757" alt="Screenshot 2025 08 14 152041"></p>
<p>&nbsp;</p>
<hr>
<h2><br>The Final Question</h2>
<p>Will Jess take the fight to Phillip now, striking before Morven Park? Or will she hold her ace until the series finale, risking it all in one high-pressure showdown? The countdown is on &mdash; the next few weeks will decide if Jess rewrites the story or if Phillip can hold onto his lead.</p>
<p>One thing&rsquo;s certain: Jess has got her sights set on Morven.</p>
<blockquote>
<p><em>&ldquo;And the Morven four-star long &mdash; we will bring almost every horse we have, because not only is it part of the US Open, but we truly believe it&rsquo;s one of the best venues in North America to produce event horses.&rdquo;</em></p>
</blockquote>
<p>&nbsp;</p>
<hr>
<p>&nbsp;</p>
<p>Listen to Jessica Phoenix on the US Equestrian Open podcast.</p>
<p><iframe style="border: none;" title="Embed Player" src="https://play.libsyn.com/embed/episode/id/36737995/height/192/theme/modern/size/large/thumbnail/yes/custom-color/4c414c/time-start/00:00:00/hide-playlist/yes/download/yes/font-color/ffffff" width="100%" height="192" scrolling="no" allowfullscreen="allowfullscreen"></iframe></p>
<p>&nbsp;</p>
<hr>
<h2 dir="ltr">&nbsp;</h2>
<h2 dir="ltr"><strong>Follow the US Equestrian Open of Eventing</strong></h2>
<p dir="ltr">Check out the full Series calendar below and stay connected with the latest news and standings on<a href="https://www.facebook.com/usequestrianopen" target="_blank" rel="noopener">&nbsp;Facebook</a>&nbsp;and<a href="https://www.instagram.com/usequestrianopen" target="_blank" rel="noopener">&nbsp;Instagram.&nbsp;</a>Use #USEqOpen to join the conversation.</p>
<p dir="ltr">Also follow US Equestrian on<a href="https://www.facebook.com/USequestrian" target="_blank" rel="noopener">&nbsp;Facebook</a>,&nbsp;<a href="https://www.instagram.com/usequestrian/" target="_blank" rel="noopener">Instagram</a>,&nbsp;<a href="https://www.tiktok.com/@usequestrian" target="_blank" rel="noopener">TikTok</a>, and&nbsp;<a href="https://x.com/usequestrian" target="_blank" rel="noopener">X (Twitter)</a>.&nbsp;</p>
<p dir="ltr"><img src="https://usef-admin.fly.dev/assets/aee0755f-7ba0-4aaf-b197-8570742781c8.png?width=1080&amp;height=1350" alt="Competition Calendar for the 2024-2025 US Equestrian Open of Eventing"></p>
<p dir="ltr">&nbsp;</p>
<hr>
<p dir="ltr">&nbsp;</p>
<p dir="ltr"><em>For Sport Department questions, please contact Christy Hawkins at&nbsp;<a href="mailto:USEquestrianOpen@usef.org">USEquestrianOpen@usef.org</a>.</em></p>
<p dir="ltr"><em>For media inquiries about the US Equestrian Open Series, please contact Carly Weilminster at&nbsp;<a href="mailto:cweilminster@usef.org">cweilminster@usef.org</a>.&nbsp;</em></p>
<p dir="ltr"><em>For sponsorship opportunities, contact Layson Griffin at&nbsp;<a href="mailto:lgriffin@usef.org">lgriffin@usef.org</a>.</em></p>

The Phoenix Factor: The Final Push in the US Equestrian Open

<p data-start="267" data-end="884">Sitting on 215 points, the Olympian holds a 30-point cushion over Canada&rsquo;s<strong> Jessica Phoenix.</strong> On paper, that margin looks comfortable, but there&rsquo;s a twist: <strong>Phillip Dutton </strong>has already posted all six of his counting scores, while Phoenix still has one to add.&nbsp;</p>
<p data-start="267" data-end="884">With $25,000, $15,000, and $10,000 on the line for the series podium &mdash; not to mention the $200,000 prize fund for the CCI4*-L finale at Morven Park &mdash; every single point between now and October matters.<br><br><em>Listen to the Phillip Dutton on the US Equestrian Open Podcast now.</em></p>
<p><iframe style="border: none;" title="Embed Player" src="https://play.libsyn.com/embed/episode/id/37694370/height/192/theme/modern/size/large/thumbnail/yes/custom-color/4c414c/time-start/00:00:00/hide-playlist/yes/download/yes/font-color/ffffff" width="100%" height="192" scrolling="no" allowfullscreen="allowfullscreen"></iframe></p>
<p data-start="267" data-end="884">&nbsp;</p>
<hr>
<h3 data-start="886" data-end="909">&nbsp;</h3>
<h3 data-start="886" data-end="909">Building the Lead</h3>
<p data-start="910" data-end="1261">Dutton&rsquo;s series campaign has been a masterclass in targeted performance. He took the lead after <strong>TerraNova in November 2024 </strong>and has never gave it up, combining smart scheduling with clinical execution. His six counting results include wins and podiums from East Coast majors, each carefully chosen for their fit in his horses&rsquo; seasonal build-up.</p>
<p data-start="1263" data-end="1331"><strong data-start="1263" data-end="1328">Phillip Dutton&rsquo;s 2024&ndash;2025 US Equestrian Open counting scores</strong>:</p>
<ul>
<li data-start="1263" data-end="1331"><strong data-start="1334" data-end="1372">The Event at TerraNova &ndash; Nov 2024:</strong> 40 pts &amp; 35 pts</li>
<li data-start="1263" data-end="1331"><strong data-start="1393" data-end="1431">The Event at TerraNova &ndash; Mar 2025:</strong> 30 pts</li>
<li data-start="1263" data-end="1331"><strong data-start="1443" data-end="1482">Bouckaert International &ndash; Mar 2025:</strong> 30 pts</li>
<li data-start="1263" data-end="1331"><strong data-start="1494" data-end="1543">Defender Kentucky Three-Day Event &ndash; Apr 2025:</strong> 35 pts &amp; 45 pts</li>
</ul>
<p data-start="1563" data-end="1908">For Dutton, the series&rsquo; spread-out format is a gift. <em>&ldquo;You don't want to be going flat out on them week in, week out,&rdquo; </em>he explained on the US Equestrian Open Podcast.<em> &ldquo;I can pick and choose and say, that will be a good weekends to really stretch them and get them to a good fitness and build-up to some of these bigger events.&rdquo;</em> That bigger event, in this case, is the Morven Park finale.</p>
<p data-start="1563" data-end="1908">&nbsp;</p>
<hr>
<h3 data-start="1910" data-end="1956">&nbsp;</h3>
<h3 data-start="1910" data-end="1956">Denim and Possante &ndash; Two Paths to the Top</h3>
<p data-start="1957" data-end="2425">Dutton&rsquo;s campaign has been anchored by <strong data-start="1996" data-end="2005">Denim</strong> and <strong data-start="2010" data-end="2021">Possante</strong>, two very different rides. Denim has been <em>&ldquo;A little bit of a rock star,&rdquo;</em> from the day he arrived in the barn, competitive from lower levels right up to the top. Possante, by contrast, arrived with big expectations but needed time to adjust to Dutton&rsquo;s system. Dutton explained how he spent time making him more adjustable and quick footed.</p>
<p data-start="2427" data-end="2750">That patience has paid off. Both horses stepped up this season with standout runs at <strong>Kentucky CCI4*-S</strong> &mdash; where Dutton<em> &ldquo;Laid it all on the line,&rdquo;</em> for two top-five finishes &mdash; and Aachen, where they held their own against some of the world&rsquo;s best with Denim and Possante finishing 14th and 11th respectively. Possante's gallop has matured, Denim&rsquo;s reliability has been a constant, and both now look primed for Morven Park.</p>
<p data-start="2427" data-end="2750">&nbsp;</p>
<hr>
<h3 data-start="2752" data-end="2786">&nbsp;</h3>
<h3 data-start="2752" data-end="2786">Strategy and the Points Game</h3>
<p data-start="2787" data-end="3247">While Dutton chooses <strong>Plantation Field International in September</strong> as his last qualifier to add points, it&rsquo;s a slim window. Any gain means replacing one of his existing scores &mdash; a harder task with a consistent set already on the board. Meanwhile, Phoenix sits at <strong>185 points</strong> with an open slot to fill, making her the most likely to threaten the lead.</p>
<p data-start="3249" data-end="3467">Dutton&rsquo;s focus remains clear: keep the horses fresh, stay sharp, and peak for Morven. <em>&ldquo;Every long format, virtually, that's it. All the gloves are off then and you just go for it,&rdquo;</em> he said. That&rsquo;s where your career is decided and what your horses are set up to do.</p>
<p data-start="3249" data-end="3467">&nbsp;</p>
<hr>
<h3 data-start="3469" data-end="3488">&nbsp;</h3>
<h3 data-start="3469" data-end="3488">Looking Ahead</h3>
<p data-start="3489" data-end="3878">At 10 and 12, Denim and Possante are in their prime years, with travel and big-day experience under their belts. Though 2025 has been about short formats, Dutton sees this as the right education for the future. <em>&ldquo;In another couple of years, they&rsquo;re going to be pretty hard to beat,&rdquo;</em> he said.</p>
<p data-start="3880" data-end="4256">For now, though, the task is finishing what he started: a victory in the inaugural US Equestrian Open. As he joked at the end of the podcast, <em>&ldquo;Hopefully lets do an interview after I win the whole bloody thing.&rdquo;</em> Fans will be watching closely at Plantation and Morven to see if the veteran can hold off the challengers and close out a season-long lead in style.<br><br><em>Listen to the Phillip Dutton on the US Equestrian Open Podcast now.</em></p>
<p><iframe style="border: none;" title="Embed Player" src="https://play.libsyn.com/embed/episode/id/37694370/height/192/theme/modern/size/large/thumbnail/yes/custom-color/4c414c/time-start/00:00:00/hide-playlist/yes/download/yes/font-color/ffffff" width="100%" height="192" scrolling="no" allowfullscreen="allowfullscreen"></iframe></p>
<p data-start="3880" data-end="4256">&nbsp;</p>
<hr>
<h2 dir="ltr">&nbsp;</h2>
<h2 dir="ltr"><strong>Follow the US Equestrian Open of Eventing</strong></h2>
<p dir="ltr">Check out the full Series calendar below and stay connected with the latest news and standings on<a href="https://www.facebook.com/usequestrianopen" target="_blank" rel="noopener">&nbsp;Facebook</a>&nbsp;and<a href="https://www.instagram.com/usequestrianopen" target="_blank" rel="noopener">&nbsp;Instagram.&nbsp;</a>Use #USEqOpen to join the conversation.</p>
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<p dir="ltr"><img src="https://usef-admin.fly.dev/assets/aee0755f-7ba0-4aaf-b197-8570742781c8.png?width=1080&amp;height=1350" alt="Competition Calendar for the 2024-2025 US Equestrian Open of Eventing"></p>
<p dir="ltr">&nbsp;</p>
<hr>
<p dir="ltr">&nbsp;</p>
<p dir="ltr"><em>For Sport Department questions, please contact Christy Hawkins at&nbsp;<a href="mailto:USEquestrianOpen@usef.org">USEquestrianOpen@usef.org</a>.</em></p>
<p dir="ltr"><em>For media inquiries about the US Equestrian Open Series, please contact Carly Weilminster at&nbsp;<a href="mailto:cweilminster@usef.org">cweilminster@usef.org</a>.&nbsp;</em></p>
<p dir="ltr"><em>For sponsorship opportunities, contact Layson Griffin at&nbsp;<a href="mailto:lgriffin@usef.org">lgriffin@usef.org</a>.</em></p>

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