Coyle rode eighth of the nine who reached the jump-off by riding fault-free over the 16-effort first-round course designed by Bernardo Costa Cabral of Portugal, course designer for this year’s FEI World Cup Finals. He and For Gold, Falkirk Farm LLC’s 12-year-old Holsteiner gelding, turned in a blazing ride over the eight-jump tiebreaker course, finishing clean in 34.568 seconds to take the lead from five-time U.S. Olympian McLain Ward who had just moved into first with a clean ride in 35.276 seconds on First Lady.

The final entry, Jimmy Torano (USA) on Chewbacca HCC, winner of last week’s $75,000 Great American Insurance Group Grand Prix Presented by Alliant Private Client, finished clean in 35.328 seconds to place fourth. Third went to Ward on Cedric 84 with a clean ride in 35.282 seconds, and Torano took fifth on Kochio Z with a clean ride in 36.498. Torano’s two top-five placements, coupled with last week’s win, earned him the Richard & Diana Feldman Perpetual Trophy for Excellence for the best combined finishes in Lake Placid’s two Grand Prix events.

“He’s a new horse to me,” Coyle said. “My wife’s been a little frustrated with me that I haven’t been going fast enough with him. Everything we’ve jumped, he’s been in the top five, but today I threw everything at it and I’d say he’s pretty good at going fast! He’s a phenomenal horse and he’s quite easy to ride, so he makes my job easy. He felt fantastic today. Any day you can beat McLain Ward, you’re doing pretty well!”