Darkening skies greeted Courtney King as she entered the ring for her Grand Prix freestyle with Idocus, but her focus never wavered, and the pair went on to earn their highest score ever of 78.00 percent.

While that was more than enough to give her the freestyle win over Steffen Peters and Lombardi (76.40%), King couldn’t quite catch him for the overall Grand Prix title.  The freestyle only counts 20 percent in the calculation for Grand Prix Champion.

“I was thrilled that Idocus was a little better than yesterday,” said King.  “He had a good motor.  I was looking for the opportunity to redeem ourselves from the humiliation of the [Grand Prix].  I’m getting more comfortable riding him with more risk.”

Breeding too much, too close to the show, was in large part responsible for Idocus’ earlier discomfort.  King said that his owner, Christine McCarthy, hoped she would be able to reduce his schedule, so that he would be fit to compete in Aachen, Germany, at the July CDIO.

But Peters is definitely on for Aachen with Lombardi after taking his third National Grand Prix Championship. 

“Today was the ultimate for Lombardi,” said Peters.  “Today he felt more honest and more reliable in his changes.”

Lombardi danced to a Terry Gallo creation of music from Riverdance and other Celtic melodies. 

Dangerous weather put third-placed rider Kristina Harrison-Naness and Rociero XV (71.95%) at a distinct disadvantage, as she had to endure an hour-long rain delay just before she went in the arena.  Thunder, lightning and torrential downpours forced everyone to take shelter in the indoor arena and in the barns.

“It’s the first time I’ve had to deal with a rain delay,” she said.  “I went back to the barn and decided I was going to pull it together.  I started listening to rap music and got fired up.”

Harrison-Naness admitted that Rociero was a little tired after warming up twice, and that the wet footing did bog them down in spots, but she was still very pleased with their performance. 
 
Lauren Sammis and Sagacious HF topped the Intermediaire I earlier in the day with an impressive 72.65 percent over Christopher Hickey on Regent (71.40%) and Katherine Poulin-Neff on Brilliant Too (70.70%). 

That puts Sammis in a tight race with Hickey for the overall championship, because they traded places from the Prix St. Georges.  Her highlights in the Intermediaire I included the canter pirouettes and impulsion throughout the test.

“I thought he felt great.  I was happy to ride him,” she said.  “I knew I had messed up a change, so when I came around to my pirouettes, I thought, ‘Well, you screwed up one thing, so you’d better do really well on something else.’  In the pirouettes I was thinking to myself, ‘Come on buddy, bring it home!’ ”

Hickey blamed too much risk for his second-placed finish.  “I added a little more power to my horse today,” he said.  “The two-tempis got too big for my own good.  But to bring your score up, you need to ride with the risk.”

Reserve champion in 2006, Poulin-Neff was pleased to be back in the top three with her Intermediaire test.  “In the Prix St. Georges I was nervous,” she said.  “Today he had no mistakes.  He was very fluid, and I was really happy with my ride.”

Two horses have withdrawn from the Intermediaire I championship.  Caroll Lavell’s horse Much Ado fell ill, and Susan Halasz felt that her horse, Paradiso B, wasn’t up to his normal performance.  Both withdrew upon the advice of treating veterinarians.  Katherine Bateson-Chandler withdrew Rainier from the Grand Prix freestyle as well.

Kassandra Barteau won the Young Rider Individual Test (68.55%) and claimed the inaugural Young Riders Championship with Gabriella over Ashley Schempp on Mowgli and Hannah Holland Shook on Cape Town.  Barteau won both young riders classes.

“I’m excited and pleased with my horse,” said Barteau.  “My horse was spot on.  It’s really about a partnership.  I really know my mare, and I’m getting better now too.”

Saturday’s Results
Grand Prix Championship
1.    Lombardi, Steffen Peters
2.    Idocus, Courtney King
3.    Rociero, Kristina Harrison-Naness
4.    Maksymilian, Jane Hannigan
5.    Neruda, Michael Barisone
6.    Gumshoes DC, Susan Dutta
7.    Goubergh’s Kasper, Susanne Dansby Phelps
8.    Petit Danseur, Jennifer Hoffman
9.    Wonderful Walden, Betsy Rebar Sell
10.    Marnix, George Williams
11.    BeSe, Catherine Morelli
12.    Minna, Jo Moran
13.    Harmony’s Coolio, Timothy Malin
14.    Markant, Tami Crawford
15.    Rainier, Katherine Bateson-Chandler

Grand Prix Freestyle
1.    Idocus, Courtney King, 78.00
2.    Lombardi, Steffen Peters, 76.40
3.    Rociero, Kristina Harrison-Naness, 71.95
4.    Neruda, Michael Barisone, 71.30
5.    Markant, Tami Crawford, 68.15
6.    Marnix, George Williams, 67.90
7.    Goubergh’s Kasper, Susanne Dansby Phelps, 67.90
8.    Gumshoes DC, Susan Dutta, 67.40
9.    Wonderful Walden, Betsy Rebar Sell, 66.80
10.   Maksymilian, Jane Hannigan, 66.40
11.   BeSe, Catherine Morelli, 65.15
12.   Petit Danseur, Jennifer Hoffman, 63.35
13.   Minna, Jo Moran, 61.05
14.   Harmony’s Coolio, Timothy Malin, 60.70

Intermediaire I
1.    Sagacious HF, Lauren Sammis, 72.65%
2.    Regent, Christopher Hickey, 71.40
3.    Brilliant Too, Katherine Poulin-Neff, 70.70
4.    Pik L, Susan Dutta, 68.95
5.    Much Ado, Carol Lavell, 68.40
6.    Schumacker Solyst, Melissa Taylor, 67.55
7.    Wadamur, Susan Jaccoma, 66.90
8.    Wellington, Melissa Jackson, 66.80
9.    Dominion, Shelly Francis, 64.85
10.   Bocelli, Kathy Pavlich, 64.80
11.   Divinity, Tanya Vik, 64.40
12.   Paradiso B, Susan Halasz, 61.25

Young Rider Championship
1.    Gabriella, Kasandra Barteau
2.    Mowgli, Ashley Schempp
3.    Cape Town, Hannah Holland Shook
4.    Rigaudon, Caroline Roffman
5.    Lamborghini, Jocelyn Wiese
6.    Molinari, Emily Wagner
7.    Birkman, Lee Cross
8.    Lipton, Kayce Redmond
9.    Rubin, Ryan Eskridge
10.   Calido 49, Makenzie Rath
11.   Rolex, Chelsea Seburn
12.   Don Cheron, Emily Anderson

Young Rider Individual Test
1.    Gabriella, Kasandra Barteau, 68.55
2.    Lamborghini, Jocelyn Wiese, 66.60
3.    Rigaudon, Caroline Roffman, 66.35
4.    Cape Town, Hannah Holland Shook, 66.25
5.    Mowgli, Ashley Schempp, 65.60
6.    Molinari, Emily Wagner, 63.90
7.    Birkman, Lee Cross, 63.55
8.    Lipton, Kayce Redmond, 62.35
9.    Calido 49, Makenzie Rath, 61.80
10.   Rubin, Ryan Eskridge, 60.95
11.   Rolex, Chelsea Seburn, 59.20
12.   Don Cheron, Emily Anderson, 56.00