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Things were calmer Friday afternoon. Only Becky Holder and Courageous Comet slipped into the top three, tying Australia's Clayton Fredericks and Ben Along Time - both finished the Dressage Phase on scores of 47.4 a mere .4 of a fault behind the leaders Amy Tryon and Le Samurai. (Becky and Courageous Comet are pictured at the left at Rolex Kentucky 2006.)

Heidi White Carty made it into a tie for tenth with Northern Spy on a score of 52.0.

With the top five competitors separated by less than one fault, one might be inclined to think that the Ground Jury had been unwilling, or unable, to choose among them. Add to that the fact that the top nine competitors are all within 2.3 faults of each other and one has to ask, "What did the first two days at Rolex really mean?"

It is some source of comfort to know that both Anne-Mette Binder (DEN), the President of the Ground Jury, at "C", and Christian Landholt (SUI), at "M", both scored Amy Tryon and Le Samurai the best. However Marilyn Payne, at "E" scored Gryffindor and Kristin Bachman, who ended up in 6th place, the highest of any competitor on 70.74. Payne scored Bonnie Mosser, who ended up in 7th place, the second highest of any competitor on 70.0 and Amy Tryon with Le Samurai in tenth place on 65.56.

Doesn't "difference of opinion make horse racing" not dressage judging? Go figure - - -

Cora C. Cushny, Editor

The Top Ten Competitors After the Dressage Phase:

1. Amy Tryon, Le Samurai - 47.0
2. Polly Stockton (GBR), Tangleman - 47.2
3T. Clayton Fredericks (AUS), Ben Along Time - 47.4
3T. Becky Holder, Courageous Comet - 47.4
5. Missy Ransehousen, Critical Decision - 47.8
6. Kristin Bachman, Gryffindor - 48.2
7. Bonnie Mosser, Jenga - 48.3
8. Phillip Dutton, Connaught - 48.7
9. *Tiana Coudray, King Street - 49.3
10T. Karin Donckers (BEL), Gazelle de la Brasserie - 52.0
10T. Heidi White Carty, Northern Spy - 52.0

* Tiana Coudray is a Young Rider.

*Friday Morning

Fridayitis - the inclination of judges to give better scores on the second day of Dressage than on the first - struck with a vengance at the Rolex Kentucky CCI**** today. Four competitors out of the six atop the leader Board did their Dressage on Friday morning. Only Missy Ransehousen, the overnight leader, Kristin Bachman, second overnight, managed to stay in the top six, though they dropped from first and second to fourth, fifth.

The first to go on Friday morning was Australia's Clayton Fredericks with Ben Along Time, the Individual Silver Medalists from the WEG last summer in Aachen Germany. This pair had been tipped to win the entire competition by Jimmy Woffard, in The Chronicle of the Horse's Rolex Preview. Ben Along Time displayed a good deal of self carriage, the first to do so, and was rewarded by the judges with a score of 47.4 to temporarily take over the lead. (Clayton is pictured at the right on the Medal Podium at the WEG last summer.)

Polly Stockton, of Great Britain, was the last to go in the first rotation with Tangleman. This pair had placed seventh at Kentucky in 2006. Their score of 47.2 then took over the lead by .2 of a fault.

Two horses later Amy Tryon, for the USA, the Individual Bronze Medalist from last year's WEG, that with Poggio II, scored another .2 of a fault better than her predecessors and took over the lead riding Le Samurai. That lead should at least last through the lunch break. (Amy and Le Samurai are pictured at the left at The Fork, earlier this spring.)

Because Ryan Wood's (AUS) Koyuna Azgard was a late scratch, Bonnie Mosser and Jenga were moved up from the first to go after the lunch break to the last to go before lunch break. Their score of 48.3 put them in sixth place and dropped Phillip Dutton and Connaught to seventh place on a score of 48.7

The Ground Jury:

At "C": Anne-Mette Binder (DEN), President
At "E": Marilyn Payne (USA)
At "M": Christian Landolt (SUI)

The Top Seven Competitors after Friday Morning's Dressage:

1. Amy Tryon, Le Samurai - 47.0
2. Polly Stockton (GBR), Tangleman - 47.2
3. Clayton Fredericks (AUS), Ben Along Time - 47.4
4. Missy Ransehousen, Critical Decision - 47.8
5. Kristin Bachman, Gryffindor - 48.2
6. Bonnie Mosser, Jenga - 48.3
7. Phillip Dutton, Connaught - 48.7

* * * * *

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE April 27, 2007

U.S. Rider Amy Tryon and Le Samurai Take the Lead after Dressage Phase of 2007 Rolex Kentucky Three-Day Event, presented by Farnam

(Lexington, KY)—Day Two of dressage during the 2007 Rolex Kentucky Three-Day Event, presented by Farnam, welcomed much drier skies than the previous day, and it provided a much nicer environment in which to wrap up the dressage phase and head into cross-country. At day’s end, Amy Tryon (U.S.) aboard Le Samurai, a 12-year-old Holsteiner/Thoroughbred gelding, took the overall top spot on the leaderboard. The horse is fairly new to the rider, but that really didn’t show in today’s dressage test as they scored a 47.0. (Amy and Le Samurai are pictured at the right. Photo courtesy of Robert Futh.)

Coming in second was Britain’s Polly Stockton aboard Tangleman (47.2). Third place went to Australia’s Clayton Fredericks and Ben Along Time (47.4). In fact, it was one thin point that separated the top five riders.

Tryon said that she only had about 40% of the horse’s attention when she went in the ring, and she admitted that she wasn’t convinced it was a really good ride during the first half.

“Physically it is easy for him, but mentally it’s challenging,” said Tryon. “He was all lit up by the atmosphere.”

However, that changed during the second portion of her test. “You try to go in so focused,” said Tryon. “You don’t have time to enjoy what’s going on beneath you.”

Focus is critical, and especially so in an arena like the one challenging these riders. Heavy on “atmosphere,” it can present a downfall to even the most experienced pairing—even to an Olympic and FEI World Equestrian Games medalist like Tryon. “This arena is hard to ride in…trotting down the strip is like being thrown to the lions.”

A former firefighter, she retired from that job last summer to devote herself exclusively to riding. “Then, I was lucky to ride three days a week when I was firefighting. Now, I can spend seven days a week at the barn. That doesn’t mean my life is any less hectic, but at least I can focus all my attention on the horses. I have a great team of horses and owners. Becky and Jerome Broussard who own Le Samurai are fantastic owners, and I am happy I have the time to put into it.” (Amy and Le Samurai are pictured at the left. Photo courtesy of Robert Futh.)

Stockton and Tangleman (a 14-year-old Thoroughbred gelding) stand only two-tenths of a point of Tryon’s lead going into the cross-country phase.

“This horse came here four years ago quite inexperienced,” said Stockton. “He had a lower score today, but his dressage has actually gotten better, and I hope the jumping will go well, too.” This pairing placed 22nd at the Mitsubishi Motors Badminton Horse Trials last year.

Last year’s leader going into the cross-country phase, Becky Holder (U.S.) and Courageous Comet (an 11-year-old Thoroughbred gelding) are sitting in a tie for third after putting down a 47.4 to match the work done by Australia’s Fredericks and the 12-year-old Irish gelding he is riding.

Holder was pleased with her dressage ride. Looking toward a challenging day of cross-country, she admitted that she has one strategy when approaching a tough course like the one ahead. And, it is advice that she takes from her husband.

“My husband says the most important jump on-course is the next one,” she said laughing. “If I take it one at a time, then I can probably look back and say I enjoyed it.”

As for Fredericks, he hoped to approach Saturday’s work with a calm head and steady hand. “I hope to give it the best ride I can,” he said. “He’s [Ben Along Time] doing good. The horse you have in the end is the main thing.”

He said that one of the reasons he travels half-way around the world to come to the Rolex Kentucky event is that his fellow competitor, Stockton, has given it such high praise.

“Polly gave it a great reputation as a really good event, with really good footing,” he said. “It’s a big effort and expense to come all that way, but ever since I first spoke to Janie Atkinson [of Equestrian Events, Inc.], the organizers have done everything to make it a pleasure. It makes a difference to be in a relaxed, friendly atmosphere. No doubt it gives us a good feeling to come here.”

American Missy Ransehousen and Critical Decision (an 11-year-old Warmblood/Thoroughbred gelding) now sit in fifth place on their score of 47.8, sliding down a few spots after posting Day One’s lead score.

Kristin Bachman, another rider from the previous day, aboard the 13-year-old Thoroughbred gelding Gryffindor, is seated right behind Ransehousen at sixth place after posting a 48.2.

Bonnie Mosser and Jenga (a 14-year-old Thoroughbred gelding) were the last to go before today’s lunch break, and they closed out the morning session with a score of 48.3 to find themselves in seventh place going into cross-country.

Phillip Dutton, former Aussie-turned-American, made a good start on Day One aboard Connaught with a 48.7, putting them in an eighth-place finish overall. Today, it was his second Rolex entry, Truluck, taking to the ring. The results weren’t quite as good with a 55.7, which lands the pairing in a three-way tie for 15th. The rider, who rode for two Olympic Gold-medal teams for Australia, switched his citizenship at the end of last year. For more than a decade, the rider had been based out of Pennsylvania.

Ninth place is where Tiana Coudray and King Street (a 12-year-old Irish Sport Horse gelding) are after their dressage round on a rain-soaked Day One. They posted a 49.3.

Last year’s runner-up to the title, Heidi White Carty, and her 14-year-old Thoroughbred gelding, Northern Spy, didn’t quite match their last year’s dressage score. However, they did end by finishing in the same place after the first phase. The pair scored a 52.0 today, just over the 49.4 from last year. Sharing the 10th-place spot with White Carty is Belgium’s Karin Donckers and Gazelle de la Brasserie.

Saturday’s cross-country phase begins under what is being forecast as a 30% chance of showers and overcast afternoon skies.

The Rolex Kentucky Three-Day Event, presented by Farnam, is the only four-star event in the Western hemisphere. Riders compete in this competition for their share of $200,000 in prize money, with the winning owner receiving $65,000. The winning rider gets to sport a new Rolex watch. The USET Pinnacle Trophy is presented to the top American rider, who is also named the United States Equestrian Federation (USEF) National CCI**** Eventing National Champion. This year celebrates the 10th year the prestigious award is being given.

Highlights from the event will be broadcast by NBC Sports in a one-hour special on Sunday, May 6, from 5:00-6:00 p.m. EDT. In addition, fans that aren’t able to make it to the Kentucky Horse Park for the event can still catch the action live through NBCSports.com’s daily webcast, available at www.mediazone.com/channel/nbcsports/equestrian/index.jsp. These webcasts were made possible through the joint efforts of NBC; Equestrian Events, Inc., the producer of the event; and the USEF.

By Brian Sosby

ENDS

For more information, please contact Maria Partlow, USEF Senior Vice President of Marketing/Communications, at (859) 225-6941, or by e-mail at mpartlow@usef.org.