Mary Bess Davis Wins at Stable View as Caroline Pamukcu Takes Second in the Series
A first international win for Davis, nearly 24 years after her debut. Behind her, Pamukcu held second at Stable View Oktoberfest by two seconds, and that settled the Series podium.
Mary Bess Davis & Imperio Magic won the Stable View Oktoberfest CCI4*-S on 39.9, the only combination in a field of 21 to finish on their dressage score. Davis made her international debut nearly 24 years ago. She had finished second at international level five times. This is her first win.
Caroline Pamukcu & HSH Limited Edition were second on 40.4, half a penalty behind. The 35 points replace one of Pamukcu's two 25s and take her to 220.
Before the last event in Woodside, the podium is settled: Tamie Smith first on 265, Pamukcu second on 220, Will Coleman third on 215. Boyd Martin is fourth on 210, one place outside the prize money.
Emily Hamel & Corvett finished third on 41.2, moving up from tenth after show jumping.
Pamukcu came to Aiken level with Martin and five points behind Coleman. Lucienne Bellissimo was further back in fifth, but her weakest scores were so low that almost everything she earned this weekend would count. Both women brought two horses, and both had a route onto the podium.
After show jumping, Bellissimo had the upper hand. Dyri and Qatar M were tied for third. Pamukcu's pair, HSH Limited Edition and HSH Sebastian, were tied for sixth, a single penalty behind.
Kim Severson & Cooley Corraghy Diamond led the class, with Alyssa Phillips & Rockett 19 second.
The time was hard to get. Only two combinations managed it all day: Davis, and Waylon Roberts & Fernhill Salt Lake, one of the fastest horses in the Series.
Dyri was first out and came home well over the time. That opened the door. Pamukcu went sixth on HSH Limited Edition and rode for the clock from the start box. She came home nine seconds over and took the lead.
Then she had to wait. Fifteen combinations were still to come, and several of them had started cross-country ahead of her on the leaderbaord.
Davis went straight after her and came home inside the time. For part of the afternoon a flag penalty sat against the round. It was removed, and Davis moved to the top.
Qatar M's chances ended on the clock, well off the pace, and with it went Bellissimo's chance of catching Pamukcu in the Series.
Then the leaders set out. Severson could have gone 18 seconds over and still won the class. She went 65 over. HSH Sebastian followed and picked up 11 penalties for a frangible device, so Pamukcu had no second horse to fall back on. Hamel came closest, finishing less than a penalty behind her. Phillips and Rockett 19 had time to spare and could not make it count. Roberts and Chevalier, the last real threat, picked up 20 penalties.
Second place held. So did the Series podium.
Two seconds slower and Pamukcu would have finished level with Hamel, and Hamel would have taken the place for being closer to the optimum time. Third at Stable View would have left Pamukcu level with Coleman in the Series, and he wins that tie. The difference between second and third in the Series is $5,000.
Bellissimo finishes fifth on 195. Dyri's fourth place, level on score with Rockett 19 but ahead on time, replaced her lowest result.
The Series closes at Woodside on October 2. The US Equestrian Open of Eventing Final follows at Morven Park International & Fall Horse Trials on October 8 to 11, a CCI4*-L with a $200,000 purse.
The Series podium is done. The Final is just 12 days away.
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