As the 2 pm start time neared, the crowds filed into the bleachers and around the world class grand prix field to catch a good seat to watch 29 horse and rider teams prepared to tackle the course designed by one of the most famous and well-respected course designers in the world, Leopoldo Palacios of Caracas, Venezuela.
In the beginning I wanted ten to seven to jump off and as far as double cleans, maybe we'd have six or five," commented Palacios. Palacios was right on the money and eight went clean in the first round.
The most challenging aspect of the first round, according to Palacios was the position of the triple combination. "I designed it so the VIP, sponsors and audience could see it close up. The position of the triple combination and the distance was a normal one to a little bit long and sometimes when you push too much, you get the front pole. Come in too fast and the middle is tight, you'll drop a back rail. This was the toughest part of this course," he commented.
Frank Owens of Windcrest, Texas in the irons of DS Holdings, LLC's Capricello 2 turned in the first clear round in a time of 79.254 seconds, well within the 83 seconds time allowed.
Second to go clear was crowd favorite Matt Cyphert of Northlake, Texas and his own Lochinvar. The pair turned in clear first round in a time of 76.931 seconds and insured there would be a jump off!
Scott Head's Carjo Z, ridden by Christoph Schroeder of Wellington, Florida joined the jump off roster after posting a clear first round in a time of 79.733 seconds.
Brooke Kemper of Culpeper, Virginia and her own Classified followed with a clear first round in a time 80.932 seconds and became the fourth to qualify for the jump off round.
Loretta Patterson's Triompf, ridden by Holly Shepherd of Grand Bay, Alabama turned in a clear first round in a time of 78.966 seconds and joined the jump off roster.
Ciana, owned by Eagle Valley Partners, LLC, and ridden by Andy Kocher of Ocala, Florida, winners of last week's $35,000 Apollo Jets Grand Prix, added themselves to the jump off list after posting a clear first round time in 77.331 seconds.
Penny Brennan of Buhl, Alabama and her own Sun Tzu posted the next clear round. This was the second ride for Brennan and her first to go clear in a time of 79.411 seconds.
Helen Gilbert's Emir D, ridden by Shannon Hicks of Lake St. Louis, Missouri added themselves to the jump off roster and became eighth to go clear in the first round after posting a time of 80.264 seconds.
Palacios set the jump off round with a time allowed of 60 seconds. Owens and Capricello 2 were first to enter the jump off phase and earned a four fault round in a time of 45.963 seconds.
Cyphert and his own Lochinvar followed fellow Texan Owen and posted the first clear jump off round in a time of 42.450 seconds to the delight of the crowd.
Schroeder and Helianta followed Cyphert and posted a clear second round in a time of 41.697 seconds, setting the new time to beat and temporarily taking the lead.
Kemper and Classified were next to go in the order of go. Their jump off round in a time of 43.329 seconds with eight jump faults would have them finish in eighth place overall.
Shepherd and Triompf followed Kemper and posted a clear second round in a time of 41.762 seconds.
Ciana and Kocher followed Triompf and beat Schroeder's time in a lightning fast clear second round in a time of 41.596 seconds taking the lead.
The lead wouldn't last for long. Brennan and Sun Tzu came in for their turn at the jump off and posted the fastest clear round in a time of 39.160 seconds, bringing the cheering crowd to their feet!