Becky Holder rode Courageous Comet to second place (45.2), and Phillip Dutton rode The Foreman to third place (47.2).

O'Connor, 52, won the Rolex Kentucky Three-Day Event in 1999, while Dutton, 46, won the 2008 event. All three of the leaders are also Olympic veterans and are among the leading candidates for the U.S. team that will compete at the 2010 Alltech FEI World Equestrian Games. (Karen and Mandiba are poictured at the right in the Dressage phase at The Fork, 2010.)

O'Connor, of Middleburg, Va., said that Mandiba's performance today was consistent with his other performances so far this year. "He's more confirmed [in his flatwork] than he's ever been, for sure, so I can ride down the centerline with more confidence than ever before," said O'Connor.

"Plus, he's such an elegant horse and has such try in him, so I was just over the moon when we finished the test," added O'Connor about Mandiba, a 10-year-old, Irish-bred Thoroughbred.

Dutton, of West Grove, Pa., said he was "pleased" with The Foreman's test, especially since the 14-year-old, Thoroughbred gelding hasn't competed in a three-day event in almost three years. After winning the 2007 Fair Hill CCI3*, he had surgery to have a splint bone removed on a foreleg and then suffered a series of complications that kept him out of action. (Phillip and The Foreman are pictured at the left.)

"He's one of the best horse's I've ever had, so you do whatever you can to get him going again. And he always shines in the biggest events," said Dutton. The Foreman is owned by Ann Jones, who has supported Dutton as an owner since shortly after he moved to the United States from his native Australia in 1993.

Dutton also rode Kheops Du Quesney to a tie for 14th place (55.3). Tomorrow he'll ride Woodburn and Waterfront into the main arena.

Holder, 41, and her horses moved from Minnesota to Chattahoochee, Ga., last winter. She's been in the top three after dressage at Rolex Kentucky before but has never won the top prize. (Becky and Courageous Comet are pictured at the right below..) She did, however, win the competitors' drawing for a Rolex watch at Wednesday night's welcome reception, and she'd like to take the watch that goes to the Rolex Kentucky winner home with her too.

But she said she's trying not to think about Sunday yet. "It's a long weekend, and this is just the beginning of it. I've been here before, and I'm just planning one day at a time and jumping one jump at a time," said Holder.

Dressage concludes on Friday, starting at 9:30 and ending at 3:36. On Saturday the first horse-Kheops Du Quesnay with Dutton-starts on the cross-country course at 9:30, and the last horse-Waterfront with Dutton-starts on course at 3:30.

The Rolex Kentucky Three-Day Event, presented by Bridgestone, is America's only four-star competition and is a member of the HSBC Classic Series. The world's best horses and riders vie for $250,000 in prize money and the coveted Rolex Championship.

This year NBC has expanded its television coverage of the Rolex Kentucky Three-Day Event from 60 to 90 minutes. The program will air on Saturday, May 15, from 3:00 to 4:30 EDT, just prior to the Preakness Stakes.

Media Contact:
Marty Bauman
Press Chief
ino@Classic_Communications.com
859-233-3374

About The 2010 Alltech FEI World Equestrian Games

The Alltech FEI World Equestrian Games are the world championship of eight equestrian disciplines recognized by the Federation Equestre Internationale (FEI). The World Games are held every fur years, and this will be the first time in the United States. The World Games will be broadcast on NBC Sports, which has marked the largest commitment to network coverage of equestrian sports in U.S. television history. The 2010 World Games are expected to have a statewide economic impact of more than $150 million, and current sponsors include Alltech, Rolex, John Deere, Ariat International Inc., Meydan and UK Healthcare.

For more information on the 2010 Alltech FEI World Equestrian Games, please visit www.alltechfeigames.com.

Media Contact:
Amy Walker
Public Relations
859-255-2010, ext. 235
awalker@feigames2010.org

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