It all came down to Anky van Grunsven in the freestyle at the Exquis World Dressage Masters. She rode last in the class and came in knowing Steffen Peters had laid down a formidable score of 81.70 percent. But van Grunsven enjoys a challenge, and she upped her game with a trademark performance to take home her second Palm Beach Exquis World Dressage Masters freestyle win in Wellington, Fla., tonight, Feb. 6.

Van Grunsven was the only one to really put in a mistake-free ride, from her first immobile halt to her last. Peters had to ride just a bit tactfully at times, as Ravel appeared lit up by the electric evening atmosphere and the chilly winds blowing through the International Arena.

“We certainly saw what he can be capable of with his exit strategy the other day,” said Peters, referring to Ravel’s speedy departure during the victory lap after the Grand Prix test. “I knew there would be a little bit more horse in there. He still did a great job. I wouldn’t say it was a test that was tense. But there were some movements where I had to be careful.”

Salinero, on the other hand, appeared completely at ease under the lights.

“It was really good that I could practice yesterday evening with the crowd,” said van Grunsven. “He gets a bit nervous about the atmosphere. Today he completely settled down. I was very happy. He was concentrated. Tonight everything worked out the way it should.”

“When Anky is on, the freestyle seems to happen by itself. Her music and her choreography and her interpretation are so outstanding that it’s very hard to beat if she’s having a good test,” said Gary Rockwell, who judged at M. “Tonight it looked effortless. The horse was much better than in the Grand Prix. The extended trots were better, the passage was better. Her freestyle test is just so beautiful.”

Isabell Werth also brought her A-game, as the German superstar does not like to place third. But she ran into a major snafu in the canter half-passes at the end of her test with Satchmo.

“At the end of the half-pass I was a bit too sidewise, and he kicked himself and fell into trot. I couldn’t get him back into canter soon enough. I tried, but I missed the last half-pass. I was really happy with him though, because he was so concentrated and full of power and energy. He was just brilliant. There was a mistake at the end, so next time I have to do it better,” said Werth.

The top three riders were using the same freestyle music that served them so well at the 2008 Olympic Games in Hong Kong. Van Grunsven rode to Wibi Soerjadi’s “Dance of Devotion,” a composition created for Salinero. Peters rocked out to the strains of The Rolling Stones’ “Sympathy for the Devil,” Men Without Hats’ “The Safety Dance” and Coldplay’s “Viva La Vida.” Werth also rode to music made for for Satchmo called “Hymn of Emotion.”

Peters did decide to spice up his freestyle with one-handed two-tempis on a curved line. “I didn’t have the guts to do it in the one-tempis, but I should have,” he said with a laugh.

Canada’s Ashley Holzer wasn’t far behind the top three with 76.30 percent for fourth place aboard Pop Art. She was followed by Denmark’s Mikala Münter Gundersen on Leonberg (72.20) and the Netherlands’ Christa Laarakkers on Ovation (71.15%).

Final Placings

1. Salinero, Anky van Grunsven, 84.45%
2. Ravel, Steffen Peters, 81.70
3. Satchmo 78, Isabell Werth, 78.95
4. Pop Art, Ashley Holzer, 76.30
5. Leonberg, Mikala Münter Gundersen, 72.20
6. Ovation, Christa Laarakkers, 71.15
7. Calecto V, Tina Konyot, 70.70
8. Le Mont d’Or, Anja Ploenzke, 69.95

For full results, check Fox Village.