United States Eventing Association

Stuart CIC2* - Leslie Law Returns For More Gold Cup Glory

Live Scoring | Photo Gallery

The 2009 Adequan USEA Gold Cup Champion, Leslie Law, proved that he truly has the golden touch. Entering his first Gold Cup division of 2010, Law earned a 46.1 in today’s CIC2* dressage phase at the Cosequin Stuart Horse Trials to become the overnight leader aboard Missy Miller’s Pembridge Swingtime.

“Swinger is a lovely horse that I bought for Missy Miller last year in England,” Law said. “Missy is at Young Riders camp this week preparing for the upcoming NAJYRC competition, so I said that I would be willing to bring her out for a run. I am very proud of Swinger because she truly just put her head down and got to work today. It is very impressive that she is in the lead of such a strong division.”

This is Law’s first time competing at Stuart and he is complimentary of tomorrow’s cross-country course. “It is a beautiful course with beautiful jumps,” said Law. “I think the terrain is definitely the hardest factor, but it should make for a very interesting run! Swinger is good at all three phases, so hopefully tomorrow will go well.”

Sitting a mere 1.1 point behind Law is Jennifer Brannigan riding Cambalda, a Thoroughbred gelding owned by Nina Gardner. The pair has had a very successful spring season having won their last four events including a blue ribbon at the CCI2* at Jersey Fresh.

“I thought the test was very good,” said Brannigan. “It rode very similarly to Jersey Fresh, and I was hoping it would score comparably. Cambalda’s trot is still developing in general, and I am so excited about his future because he is not anywhere near his full potential and he is already consistently scoring in the forties at FEI events”

“The cross-country course looks very challenging,” Brannigan continued. “Time is going to be hard to make, so hopefully Cambalda is good and strong tomorrow. I used to joke around with Leslie [Law] about always finishing in second to him, and it was okay because he is an Olympic Gold Medalist. But you know what? It is getting old so he better bring it because this weekend is far from over!”

Molly Rosin and The Minyan Syndicate’s Havarah’s Charly put in a strong and accurate test to earn the third place position. Phillip Dutton and Syd Kent are lying in fourth with Skyeler Icke and Tika rounding out the top five.

The CIC2* division is set to run cross-country tomorrow at 2:30 pm.

The Adequan USEA Gold Cup Series is made possible through the support of its many sponsors: Title: Adequan; Legacy: Nunn Finer and Nutrena, and Patron: Broadstone Equine Insurance Agency, Mountain Horse, and Succeed.

Winners of the CIC2*, the designated "Gold Cup division," will take home $500 in prize money, 7-dose box of Adequan, a three-month supply of SUCCEED, and a pair of Nunn Finer American Style open front boots. Second place finishers take home a Nutrena feed gift certificate and a pair of Nunn Finer American Style open front boots, and third place receives a pair of the Nunn Finer boots as well.