Lexi Reed and her new mount Afandina took charge in the Ocala Horse Properties Stadium on Wednesday afternoon. Anderson Lima also designed this course of 13 efforts set at 1.40 meters. Seven horses moved on to the jump-off. Thaisa Erwin from Middleburg, Virginia, riding Wild Card, owned by Hollberg Equestrian of Ocala, was first to contest the jump-off. She completed the eight effort final course without a fault in a trim 41.490 seconds. The lead changed hands with the next rider on course, David Jennings from Franklin, Tennessee, riding Full Circle Farm’s Blue Moon, who shaved almost a full second off of Erwin’s time, finishing in 40.565 seconds. The lead changed for the final time when Afandina and Lexi Reed from Beaver Falls, Pennsylvania, flew around the course in 38.185. Four more made the attempt. Only the combination of Via Dolorosa and Derek Petersen from Archer, Florida, managed to beat the time but had a rail down to finish fourth in 37.886 seconds. Reed said of her ride, “Today was very exciting for me! This is a new horse that is just 8 this year and he has only been in America five weeks. I was double-clear but slow on him all three days last week, so today I decided to kick it up a notch and it paid off. I think we will try the Friday prix this week and try our luck there. So far it has been a great circuit and I am very much looking forward to what the last couple of weeks have in store!”
