Flag Drama Tightens the Race at Morven Park

Will Coleman and Off The Record maintained their lead after a tense cross-country phase at the US Equestrian Open Eventing Final CCI4*-L, but a late-night flag review tightened the competition heading into Sunday's show jumping finale.

Coleman became the first rider to make the optimum time twice at Morven Park's CCI4*-L - first finishing with his new ride Very Dignified and then finishing in 10:04 with Off The Record - five seconds inside Derek di Grazia's 10:09 time allowed. The performance keeps him on his dressage score of 25.1, but his cushion has shrunk considerably.

Will Coleman spoke about his round with Off The Record:

"It wasn't the smoothest round we've ever had. He got really worked up in the warm-up and was just like a freight train starting out. It took us a bit to find our rhythm, but it's a credit to him; on a day where we weren't totally in sync, he still hunts the flags and does whatever it takes to stay between them."

 Will Coleman and Very Dignified

 

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The Flag Review That Changed Everything

Boyd Martin and Miks Master C initially sat in 13th place on 58.7 penalties with two flags under review. When officials removed both penalties late Saturday evening, Martin moved into second on 28.7—just 3.6 penalties behind Coleman.

The flags being reviewed moved Sunday's show jumping from a near-certain Coleman victory into a genuine contest. Coleman now holds less than one rail's advantage over Martin, while Martin can afford one rail over third-placed Lucienne Bellissimo (33.5) but not two.

Lucienne Bellissimo and Kitsch Couture HPK produced one of the standout rounds of the day, adding just 2.0 time penalties to climb from eighth after dressage into podium contention. Phillip Dutton and Denim hold fourth on 33.9, while Phillip was eliminated with his second horse Possante following a broken bridle on course. Caroline Pamukcu delivered the day's fastest round with HSH Double Sixteen, finishing inside the optimum time to rocket from 17th into fifth.

 

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Win Chance Post Cross Country:

 

 

The inaugural US Equestrian Open Eventing Champion will be crowned on Sunday. Showjumping starts at 1:30 p.m. EST over Christopher Barnard's show jumping track, with $200,000 in prize money on the line. What seemed like Coleman's race to lose has become a genuine battle - one rail could decide everything.