April 30—Lexington, Ky.

Kings Temptress and Mary King lead the way halfway through cross-country day at the Rolex Kentucky CCI****. Fourth on course, King laid down the first double-clear go of the day. The last pair on course this morning, Hannah Sue Burnett and St. Barths, logged the only other fault-free effort of the pack.

Six of the 21 pairs who went this morning found a clear way around: Remington XXV and Boyd Martin, Tipperary Liadhnan and Kim Severson, Shiraz and Colleen Rutledge, Parker and James Alliston and Subway and Olivia Loiacono.

Three riders opted not to start this morning: Buck Davidson with Titanium, Kristin Bachman with Gryffindor and Diana Burnett with Manny.

Penalties came all over Derek di Grazia’s course, particularly at the B element of Fence 13, The Hollow. Five horses (Phillip Dutton’s Fernhill Eagle, Michael Pollard’s Icarus, Kelly Prather’s Ballinakill Glory, Peter Barry’s Kilrodan Abbott and Kelly Sult’s Hollywood) jumped over the A element then couldn’t get lined up to the narrow brush four or fives strides later down the hill.

Allison Springer parted ways from Arthur at the offset brushes just two fences from the end of course. Both walked home. Mojito didn’t get quite lined up to the middle of the second duck in the Head of the Lake, and Kate Brown tumbled off. Twizzel hung a knee at a corner at 14, and his rider Will Coleman hit the dirt. All horses and riders appeared to walk away.

Competition continues after the lunch break at 1:30.