United States Eventing Association

Nearly 30,000 specatators poured into the Kentucky Horse Park in Lexington, Kentucky to enjoy a thrilling day of eventing at the 2011 Rolex Kentucky CCI4*, presented by Bridgestone. Fresh off her third place finish at last weekend's Badminton CCI4*, Mary King of Great Britain, one of the most experienced riders in the sport of eventing, sits proudly atop the leaderboard at the close of cross-country day with the top two positions, amazingly. Kings Temptress, King's homebred mare, scooted from fourth to take over the lead after posting a double-clear this morning, adding nothing to their dressage score of 47.7. Later this afternoon, King put forth another brilliant ride aboard her four-star rookie, Fernhill Urco, to skip into second with just 8 time faults added to their 41.7.

Australian Clayton Fredericks had a very steady round with his mare Be My Guest, who finished 3rd last year at Burghley CCI4*. Fredericks added only 2.4 time faults to head into show jumping with a 52.6.

Sinead Halpin, 29, is our top American rider, having enjoyed a fantastic ride aboard Manoir de Carneville (owned by Carraig LLC) in her and the Selle Francais gelding's first four-star event. Halpin had her game face on to churn out a superb and gutsy round, adding just a handful of time penalties to her dressage score to finish her day with a 53.1.

Not far behind Halpin with a 53.3 is another rising star in U.S. Eventing, Hannah Sue Burnett, who had the ride of her life with Richard Thompson's powerful little Thoroughbred St. Barths to end the cross-country day in fifth, after rising 15 positions. Even though they were held on course for a few minutes while a broken frangible pin was repaired from the previous rider, the pair buckled down and tackled the rest of the course with gusto. Burnett and 'Nike' were one of only three double-clear rounds--Jessica Phoenix of Canada and Exponential were the third combo to accomplish this feat, and currently lie in eighth.

VIDEO: CROSS-COUNTRY PRESS CONFERENCE

VIDEO: INTERVIEW WITH COURSE DESIGNER DEREK DI GRAZIA

William Fox-Pitt of Great Britain, who won the event here last year with Cool Mountain, tactfully guided Neuf des Coeurs around the gelding's first four-star to sit in 5th, as did Oliver Townend and his young ODT Sonas Rovatio, who finished in 7th. Both riders finished just over the time.

Remington XXV jumped well for Boyd Martin, but racked up 12.4 time faults for 9th place, with Kim Severson and Tipperary Liadhnan not far behind in 10th. Canadian Rebecca Howard had a brilliant ride with her WEG partner Riddle Master to tack on a few time penalties for 11th place. Michael Pollard gave Wonderful Will a fantastic ride to pick up just over 12 time penalties and 12th place.

Competing in his first Rolex, Quintus 54 looked wonderful as Karen O'Connor used all her experience to guide him carefully and cleanly over the course, adding just 14 time faults for 13th.

Joe Meyer of New Zealand had a few scrappy moments with his four-star veteran, the 19-year-old grey gelding Snip, tacking on 17.4 time faults, but jumping cleanly for 14th place heading into Sunday.

As the second rider on course, James Alliston, competing for Great Britain, confidently guided the young Parker II to a super finish, with just 2.8 time faults for their first four-star to sit in 15th. Right behind Alliston, is Colleen Rutledge, who had a speedy round with the talented copper-colored Thoroughbred Shiraz, who were just a smidge over the time allowed.

Our youngest rider to compete was Olivia Loiacono, 22, who had a brilliant round with Subway, adding only a few time faults to sit in 17th place in their first Rolex event. Missy Ransehousen and Critical Decision had a nearly foot-perfect gallop across the country, though they took their time, they looked fresh and jumped easily.

Troublesome Spots on Course

Tiana Coudray, the overnight leader, didn't have the ideal day with her dappled grey Ringwood Magister, who was competing in his first four-star. 'Finian' jumped massively into the second water (#9A), and she couldn't quite make the turn to the brush corner out of the water (#9B), and though she did not circle, she crossed her tracks, and subsequently picked up 20 penalties. A bit later, she picked up another 20 at the Hollow (#13), then sadly ended her day when she and Finian fell at the first of the Farmyard tables (#24A). Both popped up immediately, and will be back to ride another day. Jil Walton also took a tumble from My Sedona at the same fence, after having a nearly foot-perfect round, and similarly, both appeared relatively unscathed.

After a nearly foot perfect round, Allison Springer unfortunately had a tumble at the second offset brush (#26B) when Arthur misread the brush jump, and had a bit of a scramble. Springer popped off, and looked terribly disappointed, though unhurt, after ending their day just three fences from home. Mark Todd, fresh off his Badminton win, also had an uncharacteristic refusal at the first offset brush (26A) with his 2010 WEG partner Grass Valley.

The coffin (#7) rode fairly straight forward this year, handing out refusals to only two riders: Laine Ashker (Anthony Patch) and Heather Morris (Slate River).

The Hollow (#13) caused quite a bit of trouble, especially the the middle element, a brushed chevron that came up very quickly after the log drop in. Phillip Dutton (Fernhill Eagle), Michael Pollard (Icarus), Peter Barry (Kilrodan Abbott), Allison Springer (Destination Known), Hamish Cargill (Sandhills Tiger), Kelly Prather (Ballinakill Glory), and Kelly Sult (Hollywood) all had run-outs in the Hollow. Sult picked up 21 additional penalty points for breaking the frangible pin on the double corners (#15). Also, Cargill was held on course while the medics attended to the injured Nunnink, but luckily not for very long.

The large Normandy Bank (#22), with the up bank, followed by the rail on top, and ending with the brush corner, also caught a few riders. Susan Beebee (Prowler) picked up 20 points there; additionally, Kelly Prather picked up a second refusal there as well. After stops at the the Hollow and the Double Corners (#15), Springer and Destination Known were ultimately eliminated at the Normandy Bank. Martha McDowell and Gaelic Marriage, who picked up a stop in the second water (#9), also ended their day here.

Will Coleman (Twizzel) and Kristi Nunnink (R-Star) both fell at at the first element of the double corners (#15A). Both horses seemed to catch a leg over the first rail in the open corner, and twisted over the obstacle; neither seemed to sustain a serious injury. Nunnink was transported to the UK Medical Center for further evaluation after suffering a right arm injury.

Jessica Hampf (High Society III) had a duck-out at the second corner, but otherwise had a good round.

The Head of the Lake rode well for most riders. Unfortunately, Kate Brown had a dunking in the lake after she got off her line in the double ducks (#19,20) as Mojito twisted over the second duck. James Alliston was having a fantastic ride with Jumbo's Jake, but had a quick stop at the rails into the second part of the Head of the Lake (#19A), though he went to complete the course without further interruptions.

None of the horses or riders, other than Nunnink, were seriously injured in the falls on course.

Heather Gillette and Our Questionnaire retired at the Hammock (#10) after picking up 20 penalties in the coffin (#7). After having some trouble at the first water (#5) Jessica Phoenix and Exploring called it a day at (#8) the Trakehner. Debbie Rosen and Alchemyst also retired at the first water.

Kristin Bachman (Gryffindor), Diana Burnett (Manny), and Buck Davidson (Titanium) all withdrew before the start of cross-country.