Myakka City, Fla.— Nov. 17— Cornelia Fletcher (USA) and Daytona Beach 8 were the only pair to jump double clear in the B&D Builders CCI4*-L at The Event at TerraNova, claiming the win with a final score of 41.4 penalties.
Overnight leader Jessica Phoenix (CAN) and her 16-year-old Canadian Sport Horse mare Fluorescent Adolescent (Gaudi x Amelia II) finished in the time allowed but had two rails down – the first and last elements of the triple combination – and finished second on 47.1. Brooke Burchianti and Karin Burchianti’s 11-year-old Dutch Warmblood gelding Cooley Space Gray (Harley x Zaylanda), with one rail down and .8 time faults, placed third overall (49.6). The top three finishers in this division moved up from 15th, 14th, and 17th after dressage, respectively.
Fletcher said of the HCS Syndicate’s 14-year-old Oldenburg mare, “From the beginning Daytona got here and she knew what she was here to do, and I think she wanted to go and do it. Dressage is not her favorite phase, but she was a good girl and stayed calm. Then she went and did what she’s best at, which is double clear. She helped me out a little bit yesterday on cross country and I helped her out a little bit today in the show jumping and I think that shows our partnership and bond.”
Fletcher said that she had set the goal to go double clear on cross-country yesterday and was thrilled to meet all of her mile markers and make the time. Fletcher gave birth to a daughter in June and said, “It was hard to take the time off to have her, but I think it’s one of the best things I’ve done.”…