United States Eventing Association

It takes a good horse to win a big event, but it takes a really good horse to win two cars in two months.

Trading Aces has earned his keep, as Phillip Dutton is now the proud driver of a brand new 2014 Land Rover Evoque since the pair crossed the finish flags exactly on the optimum time of 11:12. Dutton was awarded the Land Rover Optimum Time award, which earns him a two-year lease on his fancy new wheels.

When asked if he would be sharing the keys with Boyd Martin, who normally rides “Oscar” but was sidelined due to a broken leg, Dutton laughed that he didn’t have to. The 10-year-old Irish Sport Horse (Coevers Diamond Boy - Ballyvannon Beauty VIII) also won a one-year lease on a new Mercedes SUV after winning the Red Hills International Horse Trials CIC3* in March with Martin.

However, the evening belongs to William Fox-Pitt and Catherine Witt’s Bay My Hero, who jumped clear and inside the time on cross-country to take the overnight lead on a 44.0. While Fox-Pitt seems like a permanent fixture on the podium at the major international events, he is just enjoying the moment of being at the top before tomorrow’s challenging show jumping course, designed by Richard Jeffries.

“I knew for my two horses that this was a decent track and a big test for them,” said the British eventing legend. “There’s always certain things [at Rolex Kentucky] that throw surprises at you. You never know how the coffin is going to ride; the angled hedges were something we were looking at all week and scratching our heads about, but it actually rode really well. It was a very transparent course. The horses could see their way through the fences and the horses that were bold and forward were rewarded.”

Derek di Grazia’s course encouraged a forward, aggressive ride and necessitated the riders to hold very precise lines without losing a positive momentum. While a variety of the 27 fences on course (many of which had multiple elements) caused problems, the Normandy Bank complex made trouble for five pairs, and the Water Park (5AB) and the Tobacco Stripping Bench (12AB) both caused four pairs to pick up jumping penalties. Overnight leaders Allison Springer and Arthur were one of the pairs that fell prey to the Normandy Bank complex, dropping them down to 26th place.

Still, nineteen pairs made it around the course with no jumping penalties and within the optimum time of 11:12. One of those pairs was Lauren Kieffer with Team Rebecca’s Veronica, who are sitting in the enviable position of second place on a 46.7 for tomorrow’s finale.

The pair never seemed to lose their groove on course, even after being stopped for a hold on course when Kaitlin Spurlock and Expedience encountered some trouble and the horse pulled up lame.

“Everything rode the way I expected it,” said Kieffer of The Plains, Va. “I knew I would have to fight for it and focus on being accurate.”

With a remarkable 35,471 spectators in attendance for today’s cross-country, there was no shortage of a cheering section for fan-favorite Phillip Dutton. He piloted Mr. Medicott, owned by the Mr. Medicott Syndicate, to a double-clear finish. Or, as Dutton tells it, Mr. Medicott piloted him.

“Mr. Medicott has been around so many courses throughout the world that I was just hanging on and letting him do it,” laughed Dutton, who hails from Unionville, Pa.

The Irish Sport Horse gelding (Cruising – Slieveluachra) has only been in Dutton’s program for about a year after he was ridden Karen O’Connor and Frank Ostholt.

“He sort of goes like a Thoroughbred and I learned a lot of my trade on hot Thoroughbreds, so it’s like coming home to a horse like this,” said Dutton. “I’m not as good with the slow cold ones. I think we’re forming a partnership.”

RF Demeter and Marilyn Little are just outside of the top three on a 51.3; Michael Pollard and Mensa G picked up two time penalties to sit fifth on a 51.1; and Buck Davidson and Ballynoe Castle RM, who were the last pair to go today, are in sixth on a 51.7.

A few horses sustained injuries today, but none are life-threatening. After Kyle Carter and Madison Park fell at the Head of the Lake, Madison Park was treated for a small elbow laceration and abrasions that required sutures. Timothy Bourke’s Luckuan Quality also fell, but is resting comfortably at his stable. Kaitlin Spurlock’s Expedience pulled up lame at the final element of the Head of the Lake and is being surgically evaluated for a fracture within the hoof. All horses are resting comfortably and have been seen by the veterinary delegate for the competition, Dr. Lisa Crump.

The conditions were perfect for a day of cross-country riding, and the lovely weather is predicted to continue for tomorrow’s show jumping course, which will be influential in the final standings.

Check out the current standings.