This article originally published at www.USEventing.com.

Laine Ashker and Anthony Patch are sitting comfortably atop the Advanced division leaderboard at the Millbrook Horse Trials (Millbrook, N.Y.) in the Adequan USEA Gold Cup/PRO Tour Series. It's not an unfamiliar position for them, as they won the Advanced division here in 2013.

The track suits “Al” and Ashker knows how to bring out the best in her longtime partner, an off-the-track Thoroughbred (Castle Guard – Aimee Alexis). “I’m really honored to be in this position with these great riders,” said Ashker of Henrico, Va.  “We’ll see what happens tomorrow.”

Philip Dutton was looking for solid runs on his two Fernhill rides in the Advanced, Fernhill Cubalawn owned by Millbrook residents Tom Tierney and Simon Roosevelt, and Fernhill Fugitive owned, by Tom Tierney and Ann Jones. With multiple rides today Dutton gave a master class on cross-country technique to finish in second and tied for third. “These horses are tentatively going to Blenheim so I purposely wanted to give them a good run here and push them,” said Dutton of West Grove, Pa. “There is no point putting them on plane if they aren’t really ready to go and I think it was a really good experience for them.”

Buck Davidson had a very classy round on Copper Beech, owned by Cassandra & Carl Segal and Sherrie Martin, and is tied for third with Dutton. “I was really proud of him,” said Davidson of Unionville, Pa. “Copper Beech is only eight years old, but he rode around as well as he’s ever gone. I’m very, very happy with him and excited for the future.” 

Boyd Martin and SBF Cortez and Sarah Cousins and Ideal Contini lead their respective Open Intermediate divisions. Tremaine Cooper’s cross country tracks rode well and there were relatively few problems throughout the day. The footing was a little soft in some spots due to the heavy rain that came down late Friday afternoon, but the Millbrook ground’s crew was diligent throughout the day to ensure the best conditions possible.

Sunday features the inaugural $1,000 PRO 4-Bar Show Jumping Challenge, which will take place between the Intermediate and Advanced Divisions. Ryan Wood, Booli Selmayr and Richard Daley will take part in the fun on horses generously loaned by David Hopper of Longreen Farm and Pat Toole of Tatra Farm.

Ryan Wood will ride Storm Warning, an 8-year old 17.h, Selle Francais by Coconut Grove. A substitute to be named for Sharon White will ride Amadeus, an 8 year-old, 16.2h Dutch Warmblood by Timeless. Booli Selmayr will ride Amber Sky, a 9 year-old,15.2h Holsteiner/Thoroughbred cross. Owned, bred and trained at Tatra Farm in Clinton Corners, NY. Finally, Richard Daley will ride Clermont, a 6 year-old, 16.1h OTTB gelding.