It's a silver-medal three-peat for the U.S. equestrian team. McLain Ward, Karl Cook and Laura Kraut combined to give the U.S. a third straight silver medal in the jumping team final on Friday.
Ward and Ilex closed for the U.S. with a clear round in a time of 76.57 seconds to guarantee a spot on the podium and put the team in contention for gold.
After Ward's clear round, France's Julien Epaillard and his horse Dubai Du Cedre had a rail down in the final to guarantee the U.S. of at least silver. Great Britain's Scott Brash and his horse Jefferson then closed the event with a time of 79.54 and one penalty point to secure gold. Great Britain finished with a team time of 237.47 with two total penalties, the U.S. had a time of 229.90 with four penalties and France took bronze with a time of 238.12 and seven penalties.
Cook and Caracole de la Roque -- who just prior to Thursday's qualifier replaced top-ranked American rider Kent Farrington after his mare, Greya, experienced “allergy related” discomfort -- again delivered for Team USA. He had a clear round and clocked in with the fastest time of the day to that point at 75.88 seconds. Kraut and her horse Baloutine led off for the United States with a time of 77.45 seconds, accruing four penalty points on jump faults.
The United States, which last won gold-medal in 2008, has won more team medals in show jumping than any other nation. Ward, in his sixth Olympics, captured a third-consecutive medal. He won in Tokyo with Kraut and Jessica Springsteen, the daughter of legendary musician Bruce Springsteen.