Lexington, Ky.—April 29
It’s finally Rolex Kentucky CCI**** cross-country day! Riders will set out on Derek di Grazia’s track at 10:00 a.m. this morning. Follow along with our live commentary here all day.
(Check out scores and ride times, or see all of the Chronicle’s Rolex coverage from this year.)
The top 10 standings after cross-country:
- Michael Jung and FischerRocana FST (Germany)-38.7
- Maxime Livio and Qalao des Mers (France)-44.6
- Zara Tindall and High Kingdom (Great Britain)-46.6
- Matt Brown and Super Socks BCF-47.8
- Hannah Sue Burnett and Under Suspection-50.8
- Phillip Dutton and Mr. Medicott-52.8
- Phillip Dutton and Fernhill Fugitive-53.2
- Doug Payne and Vandiver-53.8
- Boyd Martin and Crackerjack-57.0
- Tim Bourke and Luckaun Quality (Ireland)-57.2
2:02 p.m. Buck just cruising with Flower the rest of the way around, looking like they’re having a great trip minus that one runout. They jump the last, and they’re done!
1:58 p.m. Buck’s the last rider on course, and Flower’s looking very keen out there. She picks up a runout at fence 13b.
1:55 p.m. Jessie picks up a runout at fence 13b with a runout at the open corner. She’s elected to retire out there.
Mr. Medicott clear the last water, still looking SO strong and happy to be out there! He finishes clear but about 20 seconds over time!
Buck’s clear through fence 7.
1:53 p.m. Bentley’s Best quite sticky over fence 7 but she taps him with the stick after that, and he gallops on.
Mr. Medicott clear through the water at 18. We have our very last of the day, Buck Davidson on Petite Flower, starting now.
Tight Lines finishes with Will Coleman!
1:50 p.m. Jessie Phoenix is clear 4abc, and Phillip is clear 13ab, looking very strong.
Holly has finished with More Inspiration! She just had the 20 penalties on course, and she looks happy to be done.
1:46 p.m. Tight Lines still galloping SO strong! They make quick work of the Hollow for this horse’s first four-star. We are hearing that Will had a stop at the HOTL somewhere, and then he does pick up a runout at the A element of fence 18. They take the option.
Mr. Medicott and Phillip Dutton meanwhile looking like the absolute experts they are out there.
1:42 p.m. Will Coleman takes the option with Tight Lines at 4. He’s REALLY galloping and has a little bit of a sticky moment at the brush at 5. They have a nice trip through 7abc.
Phillip Dutton and Mr. Medicott set out!
Jessica Phoenix will be next to start Bentley’s Best on course. And Will Faudree is almost home! He finishes! One jumping and time.
1:40 p.m. More Inspiration has been assessed 20 penalties right now at fence 7 for taking the option, but we’ll see if those are later removed. They make it through the Head of the Lake and carry on!
Now we have Will Coleman on his second horse, Tight Lines, starting out. Meanwhile Will Faudree is clear through the Hollow, still just carrying those early 20 penalties.
1:38 p.m. Steady Eddie slips going around the turn after the Normandy Bank, and he just falls onto his side. Both are up and walk away!
Holly Jacks-Smither is on course now with More Inspiration. They look great over 4, though she takes the option there.
1:35 p.m. Doug Payne and Vandiver are heading for home now. They clear the last, and they finish up with about 13 seconds of time.
Pfun has his ears pricked, and he’s galloping along nicely at the start of his course, but he did pick up a runout at fence 4c.
1:32 p.m. Boyd has now been assessed 20 penalties at fence 4. But he’s having a great trip so far besides that; they easily jump through the HOTL.
1:30 p.m. Steady Eddie and Boyd run by the C of fence 4, not sure if that was a drive-by, or if he always intended to take the option. He jumps the option and gallops away. The score is showing him clear there.
Next out: Will Faudree and Pfun.
1:28 p.m. Next we’re going to see Boyd Martin on Steady Eddie heading out the box.
Doug Payne adds in the 4abc combination but makes it look smooth. Tim Price is at the 7 minute marker on course, and he then has a runout at 18a! Looks like the horse just never saw it. He does the option and continues on.
1:25 p.m. Matt Brown is over the last, and he finishes 4 seconds inside the time!
Doug Payne and Vandiver are over the first two jumps now, while Tim Price clears the Head of the Lake.
1:22 p.m. Ringwood Sky and Tim Price and heading out now for New Zealand. They’re over the first combination at 4abc.
Woodge Fulton finishes clear! Some time but no jumping penalties.
Matt Brown clears the final water.
1:19 p.m. Matt Brown easily through the Hollow and then very smooth through the water at 18.
Meanwhile Rolex rookie Woodge Fulton’s clear through 23 and galloping for home!
1:15 p.m. Captain Jack and Woodge Fulton are clear the Hollow. Matt Brown looks bold through the HOTL.
Lillian Heard finishes clear on her second horse of the day!
1:13 p.m. Matt Brown and Super Socks start out next. They have a great shot through 4abc.
Savannah Fulton is out there too, and she’s clear through the Head of the Lake. Jordan Lindstedt has decided to withdraw before the start.
1:10 p.m. Michael and Rocana still strong at the final water. They jump the last combination beautifully. And they’re home CLEAR, just 4 seconds over. That will keep them in the lead heading into tomorrow!
1:08 p.m. Michael and Rocana so perfectly through 18 and then the same through the Normandy Bank at 20abc. Is he human?
Tim Bourke has finished jumping clear with a time of 10:54, so that’s by far our fastest time of the day!
1:05 p.m. And Michael perfectly through the HOTL with Rocana, still going SO quickly but never looking even remotely out of balance. The same through the Teton Rails at 13ab.
Lillian Heard and LCC Barnaby also out there right now with Michael.
1:02 p.m. So easily through 4abc for Michael and Rocana. They are FAST through 7ab, and make it look like a training-level element.
Zara and High Kingdom jump the last water and gallop on. They finish WITHIN the time! 1 second inside.
1:00 p.m. What we’ve all been waiting for today…Michael Jung and FischerRocana starting out next. He’s over the first
High Kingdom galloping strong and easily jumps through the combination at 18. Tim Bourke clear the HOTL.
12:58 p.m. Oh and such a bummer. After stumbling over the wide table at 22a, they miss the B element. Kim’s decided to retire.
Zara’s beautifully clear the Hollow.
Now we have Tim Bourke on Luckaun Quality starting their course.
12:55 p.m. And Kim’s clear the Teton Rails at 13ab. And another nice trip through the Hollow! Great through 18 as well. A tiny bit sticky at the end of the Normandy Bank but Kim is such an expert, she gets him out beautifully.
Zara’s having a lovely round; she’s through the Head of the Lake.
Ryan Wood picks up another stop at the A element of the final water at 25.
12:53 p.m. Kim’s mount peeks at 7a, but then jumps in well. They’re now clear through the Head of the Lake!
Hannah Sue Burnett finishes with about 15 seconds time. She did NOT have a stop earlier; she just took the long route.
Zara Phillips and High Kingdom are over the first two.
12:50 p.m. Kim Severson sets out! She has a nice trip through 4abc.
Hannah Sue picked up a stop at the Normandy Bank, so that’s a major bummer for her. Meanwhile Ryan Wood clear through the HOTL.
12:47 p.m. Ryan Wood picks up a runout at the C element of the Mighty Moguls. Sharon White is walking home after getting a stop at the Normandy Bank.
Kim Severson and Cooley Cross Border, third after dressage, are heading to the box now.
Hannah Sue Burnett has a super ride through the water at 18!
12:45 p.m. Hannah Sue Burnett and Under Suspection are on course now, and they look great through 4abc and then the first water at 7.
Sharon White picks up a stop at C of the Hollow combination. They go nicely through fence 18.
Ryan Wood and Fernhill Classic are next to start.
Aidan finishes after sliding over fence B of the Horse Park Barns! He did have two stops on course, but he looks happy with the completion.
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12:41 p.m. Glen’s clear the Park Question at 23abc, looking tired but still galloping on. He clears the final water. Ah and he picks up another runout at 27b. He’ll finish with those 40 jumping penalties and plenty of time.
Sharon White’s nicely through the first water at 7abc. Aidan had that one issue early on course, but he’s looking strong as he makes his way around the second half.
12:39 p.m. Oh and so sadly, Glen has a runout at 18a! That’ll clear the way for Michael Jung to possibly take over the lead later today… They do the option and continue out. Glen takes a peak at 19, but Clark pushes him over it, and then bumps him with his stick a few times to send him on.
Sharon White and Cooley On Show clear 4abc.
12:36 p.m. Glen clears the Hollow, just a tiny bit sticky.
Aidan has a runout at fence 4. Bobby also has a runout on the Normandy Bank, and then he picks up another fence 23c. We hear he’s picked up a third refusal, and he’s now sadly eliminated.
12:33 p.m. Glen clear the Head of the Lake!
We also have Master Tredstep with Ireland’s Aidan Keogh on course now. Bobby Meyerhoff still having a nice round, they’re on the backside of the course now.
12:30 p.m. Clark and Glen easily over 4abc. They also have a good ride through 7abc.
Token a little sticky at the very last element of the HOTL, but he’s having a nice trip so far. Also clear the Hollow.
Ellen jumps the last water nicely, and she’s galloping for home now.
12:26 p.m. Bobby and Token over fence 4abc very nicely and then they have a good trip through 7abc as well.
Lisa Marie finishes with her mount still galloping strong! Not sure about their time yet.
And now our dressage leader Clark sets out.
12:24 p.m. And now we’re going to see Bobby Meyerhoff on Dunlavin’s Token. Then will be our dressage leader, Clark Montgomery on Loughan Glen!
Ellen tips over the horse’s neck when he stumbles on landing in the HOTL. But she stays on! They missed the fish the first time though and catch it on their way out.
12:21 p.m. Kurt Martin and Delux Z finish clear, with just about 45 seconds of time!
Honor Me easily through the HOTL. Andrea Baxter is still working her way around, going the long way at 18 after having a stop at the A element.
12:18 p.m. Indy 500 goes the long way at 13, and that goes well for her.
Lisa Marie gets a little tight to the B of 7, but he jumps out and goes on. Ellen Doughty-Hume is now leaving the box on Sir Oberon.
12:15 p.m. Kurt Martin’s horse stumbles badly after the first skinny brush at 18, but then he picks right back up and jumps out clear!
Andrea Baxter clears the HOTL with a bit of a wild ride, while Lisa Marie Fergusson and Honor Me are over the first two fences.
12:13 p.m. Jolie Wentworth finishes with time and the two stops. Holly Payne is not far behind her, and she finishes jumping clear and just 4 seconds over the time!
Delux Z has a nice trip through the water at 7. Andrea Baxter and Indy 500 start out.
12:12 p.m. Rachel tips off after the fish in the HOTL after the horse badly stumbles. She’s up and walking, and Irish Rhythm is just wandering around in the water. They catch him!
Now we have Kurt Martin on Delux Z setting out the box.
12:09 p.m. Rachel McDonough sets out with Irish Rhythm now. They’re clear fence 4abc. A little sticky through 7, but still clear there.
We’ve just heard that Buck has withdrawn Copper Beech.
12:05 p.m. Phillip and “Jack” are nearly home, still galloping strongly. And they finish with just some time!
Jolie clears the Hollow. Holly Payne has a strong trip through the Head of the Lake. Jolie picks up a stop at 18.
12:02 p.m. Jolie’s horse jumps very awkwardly into 7a, which causes her to miss the B. She does the option and gallops on, but she’ll now carry that 20.
Phillip easily through 18, equally easily through the Normandy Bank at 20. Holly Payne Caravella is out the box now and FLIES 4abc.
11:58 a.m. Phillip is clear through the Head of the Lake, having a classic, lovely trip. Liz has fallen at the Normandy Bank, but she seems to be up and walking away.
Jolie Wentworth has now started after her shoe issue earlier. She goes the long way at the first combination.
11:55 a.m. Liz has a lovely trip through the rails at 3ab. Then she unfortunately picks up a stop at 15c, looks like he just ran out of steam at the top of that little hill. They continue on.
Jessica Phoenix is clear over the Park Question at 23abc and heading towards home. Roti looking tired coming up the last hill, but he’s almost done! She finishes just about a minute over time.
Next out is going to be Buck and Copper Beech.
11:52 a.m. Phillip Dutton and Fernhill Fugitive are heading out next.
Lauren Kieffer and Bug are clear the last water, still carrying those 20 penalties but looking very strong. Roti very sticky over the skinny brush in the water, but he stays clear there!
Liz is clear through the Head of the Lake.
11:48 a.m. Jessie Phoenix and Roti sticky through 7a, but then they find their way out nicely.
Jen McFall and Billy jump the last water great! They jump the last combination and finish jumping clear! So many pats for Billy. Meanwhile Roti is clear the HOTL.
Liz and “Blackie” go the long way at 4.
11:45 a.m. Lauren Kieffer picks up a stop in the HOTL after the horse jumped in super bold and got a bit disorganized.
Jessica Phoenix and “Roti” have a wild ride through 4abc but they get it done!
Jen McFall’s horse still galloping strong towards the back half of the course, and she’s still clear as well.
11:41 a.m. High Times is clear at the HOTL and then again through 18, which has been causing so many problems. Lauren and “Bug” have a great shot through 4abc. And then again through 7.
Kelly Prather is home with just the one stop earlier and some time. Caroline Martin has also finished with the two stops and some time.
Next out: Jessica Phoenix on Pavarotti, sixth after dressage. Then we’ll see Liz Halliday-Sharp on Fernhill By Night, who’s fourth after dressage
11:39 a.m. Truly Wiley hangs a leg over the fish in the HOTL, but then they pick up and carry on. She picks up a runout at the first skinny brush at 18.
Caroline Martin picks up a second runout at fence 23, but she picks up and go on. High Times jumps awkwardly into 7a, but he finishes up the combination fine!
Lauren Kieffer getting ready to start on Vermiculus, and they’re seventh after dressage.
11:37 a.m. Caroline Martin easily through the Hollow. Kelly is clear through 7.
Caroline picks up a runout at 18, the first of the very skinny brushes.
Meanwhile we have Jennifer McFall on High Times starting out the box. Still raining a bit, but it looks to have let up slightly.
11:34 a.m. Hawley finishes with just time!
Meanwhile Caroline is easily through the Head of the Lake. It’s REALLY raining now! Jenny picks up a second stop at the corner at 13b after getting jumped loose on the A fence. She’s retiring.
11:32 a.m. Now we have Kelly Prather and Truly Wiley on course. Hawley and Jolly look great through the last water at 25ab.
Jenny still looking extremely professional through the Hollow, and Caroline has a good ride through the first water at 7. Ahh and bummer, Jenny picks up a stop at 18a, the very skinny first brush.
11:30 a.m. Hawley and Jollybo looking fresh and very smooth through 18, and then still looking strong through the combination at 23.
Caroline sets out and is over the first two. Jenny Caras has an absolutely perfect trip through the Head of the Lake!
11:27 a.m. A great ride through the HOTL for Hawley. Jenny’s trip through 4abc is lovely. A little sticky at 7a but they get it done.
Now we’re going to see another four-star first timer on the track, Caroline Martin on Spring Easy.
11:24 a.m. Hawley and Jolly are through fence 7, just a bit sticky but still clear.
Now we’re going to see another first time four-star rider with Jenny Caras on Fernhill Fortitude on course.
11:21 a.m. And Maxime finishes clear! He finishes EXACTLY on the time of 11:17.
It’s started to rain now. Hawley’s over the first two.
11:17 a.m. Maxime easily through the water at 18 and then again easily through the combination at 23abc. Daniela has a fall at 4c. Her horse gallops away, and she’s standing up.
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Next out is going to be Canada’s Hawley Bennett-Awad on Jollybo.
11:13 a.m. Maxime’s ride through the HOTL is a bit sticky but he gets it done on his leggy horse.
We’ve heard Jolie’s horse lost a show in the warm-up, so they’ve pushed her time back a bit. Next we’ll see Daniela Moguel on Cecelia.
11:10 a.m. Erin Sylvester finishes! Another jumping clear and she is ON the time exactly. Our very first double clear.
Maxime having a beautiful trip through fence 7ab, making it look super easy so far.
Next out: Jolie Wentworth on Good Knight.
11:06 a.m. France Maxime Livio, in eighth after dressage, is out the box next. He’s clear the first few.
Allie Sacksen and Sparrow’s Nio take a tumble jumping into the HOTL, but they’re both up and walking away.
Kristin Schmolze finishes jumping clear!
11:04 A little sticky through the Hollow for Kristin but still clear! They have a great ride through 18abc.
Selena is over the last and home safely! She’s in a time of 11:44. Meanwhile Sparrow’s Nio is over the first few.
11:02 a.m. Kristin has a lovely trip through the HOTL. Meanwhile Erin Sylvester has a strong trip through the first combo at 4.
Selena’s horse is looking a bit tired through fence 23abc, but she’s still clear.
Our next rider out is going to be Allie Sacksen on Sparrow’s Nio.
10:59 a.m. Kristin Schmolze’s clear through 7, and Selena’s now through the Hollow and carrying on strong.
Next out: Erin Sylvester on Mettraise.
10:56 a.m. Selena is clear the first water at 7 and then through the big ditch and brush at 9.
Madeline clears the last water at 25ab. She’s heading for home now! She’s over the last, and she’s going to have time, but that’s a jumping CLEAR at her first four-star.
Bunnie Sexton has an issue at 18, and she’s deciding to retire.
Kristin Schmolze and Ballylaffin Bracken are on course now.
10:54 a.m. Madeline through 18abcd very nicely! She’s one of the youngest here, and in her first four-star, but having a lovely trip so far. She has a little sticky time through 22ab, but she’s still carrying on and clear.
Selena O’Hanlon sets out on Foxwood High.
Bunnie Sexton is clear through the Head of the Lake.
10:52 a.m. Bunnie Sexton picks up a runout at 7b, and she takes the option and continues on. She’s over fence 9 with a HUGE smile.
Ariana stumbles before fence 13b, but she just picked up and carried on beautifully!
10:50 a.m. Sally and Sue having a lovely trip still, and they’re through the Hollow and then have a nice time at the Land Rover Landing (18). Madeline clear so far and heading towards the HOTL. She has a great trip through there!
Next out is Bunnie Sexton on Rise Against, one of our West Coast pairs, and they’re over the first few fences.
10:47 a.m. Crackerjack is home! He’s the fastest so far, finishing on 11:39, so he’ll still have some time.
Sally Cousins has a perfect, bold trip through the HOTL.
Madeline Backus through fence 4abc, and she did that beautifully, but she was late to the box, so she has a running time total right now that’s much greater than her time on course.
10:43 a.m. Crackerjack’s at minute 10 and still looking strong and jumping clear. Courtney Cooper has a problem in the Head of the Lake and she opts to retire there.
Sally Cousins and “Sue” through the second combination at fence 7ab, just a bit sticky there.
Next out: Rolex Rookie Madeline Backus on PS Arianna.
10:40 a.m. Courtney picks up one stop at fence 7b, but she carries on. Boyd flies through the water at 18, looking really strong.
Now out we have Sally Cousins on Tsunami. Lillian becomes our fourth finisher of the day! About 1 minute over the time but clear in the jumping.
10:38 a.m. Share Option jumps beautifully through 18abc at the Land Rover Landing and then she’s still looking good at 23 and clear so far.
Courtney Cooper is on course now with her homebred, Who’s A Star. She takes the option at 4abc.
Katie Ruppel jumps the last and finishes! She finishes with the 40, but she’s our third finisher of the day.
10:35 a.m. Katie picks up another runout at the Normandy Bank, fence 20abc. She takes the option and carries on. Boyd took the long route at fence 4 on “Crackers.”
Lillian is through the Hollow at fence 15abc, having a good trip so far!
10:32 a.m. Boyd Martin heads out on Crackerjack, his first of two rides today. The optimum time today is 11:17, and Joe Meyer finished on 11:55 and Phillip on 11:51, so we haven’t had any double-clears yet today.
Houdini has a runout at the first of the Land Rover Landing, the skinny brush into the water. They do the option and carry on.
10:30 a.m. Katie has a nice trip through the first water at 7ab. The horse stumbles a bit on landing in the Head of the Lake, but they carry on clear! They have a good shot at 13ab, the Teton Rails, and gallop on.
Lillian Heard and “Whitey” have a good ride through 4abc.
10:26 a.m. Next out is Katie Ruppel on Houdini! She’s our only rider on course at the moment. She goes the long route at 4, and it goes well for her.
Lillian Heard and Share Option will be the next pair out of the box.
10:22 a.m. Clip Clop and Joe Meyer are the first pair home! Not sure about their time yet.
Buck Davidson and Park Trader are on course now. Buck Davidson falls at 4a, the jump into the Mighty Moguls combination. He’s up, and Park Trader is fine.
Will Coleman has retired after some issue at the open corner at 13b. The only rider left on course right now is Phillip Dutton, and he’s through the last combination at 27ab, and he’s over the last! Our second finisher, but he is over the time.
10:18 a.m. Clip Clop is looking tired heading towards home, but he’s through 23abc and heading towards the last few!
Will Coleman looking very smooth through the first few minutes of the course. Phillip so far clear through fence 18!
10:16 a.m. Clip Clop a little rough through the Hollow at 15abc and 17/18, the Land Rover Lending (those VERY skinny brushes), but he’s still staying clear.
Phillip and I’m Sew Ready have a good, smooth trip through the HOTL.
Will Coleman and OBOS O’Reilly set out now.
10:14 a.m. Phillip and I’m Sew Ready through the first few, so easily through 4abc. Clip Clop again hangs a leg jumping into the Head of the Lake, but he climbs over and jumps out clear!
10:12 a.m. A smooth trip through 4abc, the Mighty Moguls, for Joe Meyer on Clip Clop. The gelding hangs a leg jumping into the first water at 7a, but he makes it over and continues on!
Phillip Dutton’s next to leave the box on his first horse of the day, I’m Sew Ready.
10:08 a.m. Jessie and “Blue Eyes” have a little bit sticky trip through the first combination at fence 4, but then the mare stops at fence 7a, the Frog Pond. Jessie opts to retire there.
Next out is Joe Meyer on Clip Clop. Looking for our first finisher right now!
10:06 a.m. Parker falls at the table coming towards the Rolex Head of the Lake, fence 10. Both horse and rider are up and walking away.
10:04 a.m. Parker has an easy trip through the first combination at 4ab. He’s cruising along easily through the fourth minute, just letting his rangy stride carry him along.
Jessica Phoenix and A Little Romance are next to set out, riding for Canada.
10:00 a.m. Aaaaand they’re off! First horse, Parker, is on course.
9:50 a.m. We’re watching James Alliston complete his warm-up on Parker. They’re sitting 39th after dressage, but we all know that cross-country is Parker’s favorite phase!
We’re hearing reports that the ground is good after some rain last night. So far there’s nice cloud cover, but we are anticipating very warm temperatures (up to 90 degrees) later this afternoon.
9:15 a.m. While we wait for the first pair, James Alliston on Parker, to set out at 10, we’re nervously watching the weather forecast. While it looks like the rain might miss us, it’s still fairly foreboding.
Stay away, red blob.
