United States Eventing Association

Lauren Billys has only been riding her mount Castle Larchfield Purdy for a little more than a year, but she's made that year a productive one. At last year's Woodside International the pair won the CIC2*, and this year, with a lead going into the decisive cross-country phase, they look ready to take the blue ribbon in the Adequan USEA Gold Cup and PRO Tour Series CIC3*.

Billys and Castle Larchfield Purdy took the lead in dressage, scoring 53.1 penalties, ahead of James Alliston on Tivoli (53.7) and Mary Burke on Prince William (55.7).

"Honestly, I'd been at a bit of a plateau with my dressage, and sometimes when you're trying to make something better you have to break down the good things to make them great. I've been doing that every day, and I feel like it's starting to come together with him. I was really pleased with today," said Billys, who lives in Carmel Valley, Calif.

The show jumping would shake up the standings - Burke dropped a rail and received 7 time penalties - allowing Alliston's second horse, the veteran Parker, to slide into third with a double-clear round. Alliston and Tivoli added 4 time penalties, but it didn't affect the placings. Billys put in a picture-perfect, double-clear to solidify her lead.

"I tried to be patient in my mind but forward in my riding--I tried to just see the jumps and not hesitate between fences. This has been the hardest phase for me. It's our first double-clear at Advanced, so I'm really happy," said Billys.

Alliston was circumspect about his time penalties on Tivoli. "I thought they both jumped really well. The drawback to going first is you don't know the speed, I went what I thought it should be, and it was a bit slow. I could have gone a bit more, but you just don't know," he said.

Alliston and Billys are each based in the U.S., but represent foreign countries-Alliston is from Great Britain, and Billys represents Puerto Rico. Both are using this competition as preparation for a run at the Galway Downs CCI3* on Oct. 29-Nov. 1, but Billys has her eye on a longer game.

"I'm trying to get enough points to qualify [as an individual] for the Olympics in 2016. If you get enough points to finish in the top 25 percent of all riders from that region you have a chance to go," she said.

Points from FEI divisions such as those offered at Woodside are the only points that count toward Olympic qualification.

Alliston, Billys and their competitors will now turn their minds to Ian Stark's cross-country test tomorrow.

"It's a forward, advanced-size track," said Billys. "But there are some technical questions, like the first water, that come really early. Having a horse that's super-keen to come out of the box, you have to think about that, but he uses the terrain well, and it's a super course."

"He's a really good cross-country horse," Billys added about Castle Larchfield Purdy. "That's the whole reason I got him - he's a forward horse and he loves to jump. He squeals coming out of the box. So I'm looking forward to tomorrow. I just have to go out there and ride him well so we have a good prep for Galway."

"I'll need to be awake tomorrow. It's definitely not soft," she added.

Marc Grandia and Team Rebecca LLC's Fernhill Eagle are leading the other Adequan USEA Gold Cup qualifying division, the Advanced class, on a 40.3 for a 10 point leading heading into cross-country.

The CIC divisions culminate with the cross-country phase on Saturday. The CIC3* horses will be on course from 2 p.m. to 2:40 p.m., with the CIC1* and CIC2* divisions running earlier.

Keep up with the live scoring here.

About the Adequan USEA Gold Cup and PRO Tour Series

The Woodside International H.T. is a qualifying Adequan USEA Gold Cup Event for the 2016 Gold Cup Finals which will be held September 1-4, 2016 in Tryon, N.C. The Adequan USEA Gold Cup Series features 11 qualifying competitions throughout the United States at the Advanced Horse Trials and CIC3* levels. Riders who complete a qualifier earn the chance to vie for $40,000 in prize money in the Adequan Advanced Division and the title of Adequan USEA Gold Cup Champion.

The Adequan USEA Gold Cup Series is made possible through the support of its many loyal sponsors: Adequan, Standlee Forage, Nunn Finer, Nutrena, Broadstone Equine Insurance Agency, Point Two, Dubarry, and FITS.

The PRO Tour Series consists of 13 premier destination events in the United States and Canada, featuring the best riders and most entertainment. Riders and Horses are awarded points on the PRO Tour Rider Leader Board and PRO Tour Horse Leader Board.

The Professional Riders Organization would like to thank the following sponsors for their support of the 2015 PRO Tour Series: KER Optimum Time, Tex Sutton, Triple Crown Nutrition, and SSG Riding Gloves.