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

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.

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—but the math just got more complicated.

The Plantation Wild Card

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.

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.

Limited Options, Rising Pressure

September brings a packed run of qualified and Jess's potential path forward is narrowing by the week. 

September

• The Fork — 11th–14th
• Plantation Field — 18th–21st
• Twin Rivers — 19th–21st
• Stable View — 25th–27th

October

• Woodside — 3rd–4th

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—every day Phillip gets closer to Plantation, her window of opportunity shrinks.

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.

The Competing Strings

Both riders come into the finale with serious firepower. Jessica has four horses—Freedom GS, Wabbit, Aeronautics, and Fluorescent Adolescent—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.

But who is actually better?

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. 

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—the perfect example of the razor-thin margins that separate these horses.

More Than Just Points

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.

The Final Question

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 — the next few weeks will decide if Jess rewrites the story or if Phillip can hold onto his lead.

One thing’s certain: Jess has got her sights set on Morven.

“And the Morven four-star long — we will bring almost every horse we have, because not only is it part of the US Open, but we truly believe it’s one of the best venues in North America to produce event horses.”

Listen to Jessica Phoenix on the US Equestrian Open podcast.

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