After placing second in the CSI3* Speed during the first week of the Great Lakes Equestrian Festival (GLEF), presented by CaptiveOne Advisors, McCarthy knew what he was up against and cranked into speed gear. His mare Gotcha, owned by Rock Ridge Farms, was up for the challenge, following him every step of the way around the second phase of the track set by Bernardo Costa Cabral (POR). The pair, 21st in the order of go, blazed through the course, leaving all rails intact, in 22.11 seconds.

“We've had a run of second places now and it was starting to annoy me a little bit so I think I gave it everything I had today,” McCarthy remarked.

Second place went to last week’s CSI3* Grand Prix winner Amanda Derbyshire (GBR) with Wonder If, owned by Gochman Sport Horses. Their time of 22.17 in the speed phase was just barely off the pace. Tanner Korotkin (USA) with the Castlewood Farm Inc.-owned Ideal claimed third place in 23.25 seconds.