It was a true derby test today with 15 numbered obstacles and 19 jumping efforts including a couple of jumps, up and down the banks, a ditch and three double combinations. Course Designer Olaf Petersen of Germany also offered up a couple of options along the way. Forty-two horses lined up to challenge the Friday faults converted test.
Of the 42 that started, nine completed the course without penalties, but it was the time taken over the course that meant the most today. In fact, 13 horses today broke the 90 second barrier, only to see their time increased because of knockdowns along the way. The top three finishers all tripped the timers in less than 90 seconds.
Brianna Link, a 17-year-old high school senior from Long Island, New York, and Q Royal Palm raced around the derby track in 87.292 seconds without penalty to seal the victory.
Molly Ashe Cawley, who had gone earlier on Vernal, a catch ride for the day, had been leading with a clear go in 89.112 seconds. Link sliced over two full seconds off of that time. Ashe-Cawley stood at the gate and watched Link knock her out of first place. "I went before her, thank goodness. Brianne's round was so slick because it was smooth. She just hit that good gallop and never once had to interrupt it," she said. "I'd never ridden the horse that I rode today and so we had a little miscommunication on the way to number three. It was like I was going through a blinking red light - he sort of stopped and then I got too much of a reaction when I pulled, so I had to make up some time. I would've been close, but I don't think I would've had her if I hadn't done that, but it would've been closer," she smiled.
In third place, Lucas Porter actually had a much faster time with Psychee D'Amour in 85.835 seconds, but a knockdown along the way bumped that time up to 89.835 seconds.