An all-star group of riders faced off in the jump-off of the 35th annual $200,000 Budweiser American Invitational. Between the five contenders there are Olympic and Pan American Games gold medals, World Equestrian Games silver and 26 collective appearances in the FEI World Cup Show Jumping Finals.

So, it was no surprise that the spectators at the Raymond James Stadium in Tampa, Fla., were treated to a stellar tiebreaker on April 7, during an uncharacteristically chilly Florida evening.

And Authentic, the horse that starred in last summer’s World Equestrian Games (Germany) and earned team and individual silver medals, continued to add to his laurels after he and Beezie Madden nipped Sapphire and McLain Ward by .18 seconds for their second victory in the country’s most prestigious grand prix (they also won in 2005).

“He just loves this stadium,” said Madden, of Cazenovia, N.Y. “He felt really fresh, and I knew that if I could get to the jump-off I’d have a shot.”

Of the 30 starters, just six riders managed to leave all of the jumps up over Steve Stephens’ challenging 14-jump, 17-effort course. Trouble occurred in several areas, including early on the course at 5AB, a double combination of two airy pillared walls and later at 11AB, two more airy oxers in which the second element included a liverpool.

Stephens challenged the riders with three double combinations, and the long, testing course didn’t give the riders much breathing room. In addition, he opted to test the horse’s concentration and scope with frequent maximum-height verticals, and the word triple wasn’t uttered this evening as there was no triple combination or triple bar on the course.

Amateur Cara Cheska, a first-time Invitational starter, went first in the order aboard King, and they made the course look easy, dropping just one rail at 5A to show the way.

The rails kept falling until the other Cara in the class, Cara Raether, going 10th, became the first to post a clear round. Unfortunately, she and Ublesco took a few too many strides and picked up 1 time fault to ultimately finish sixth.

Margie Engle, who now has 150 career grand prix victories, sought to add her name to the Invitational champions list after she guided Hidden Creek’s Quervo Gold to the first perfect score of the class as the 19th in the order.

Richard Spooner, the California-based professional who traveled to Florida in mid-March for the end of the Winter Equestrian Festival circuit, made the long trek from the West Coast worthwhile when he and Cristallo guaranteed a jump-off when they too went clear.

Immediately after Spooner, Ian “Capt. Canada” Millar posted a classically beautiful round aboard In Style to join the jump-off.

The crowd cheered enthusiastically when Madden and Authentic walked into the ring and were introduced. And their appreciative roar after Authentic performed perfectly gave Madden reason to smile as she left the arena.

Ward, the No. 1 qualifier for the Invitational, made the first-round course look easy aboard Sapphire. The mare aired the fences with ease. Ward hoped to add a second Invitational title after his first victory in 1998 with Twist du Valon. It wasn’t meant to be, however.

After Engle and Spooner each posted faults over the twisty jump-off course of nine fences, Millar and In Style set the mark to beat with a clear round in 47.99 seconds.

Millar, Perth, Ontario, was resigned to his situation.

“After the first two riders had problems, I had no choice but to go clear,” he said with a smile. “I didn’t want to give them [Madden and Ward] a Christmas present by having a rail. I went a little more conservatively for the clear. That’s the disadvantage of being in that position.”

Indeed, Madden and Authentic sped around the jump-off, skimming the turns and dropping strides on their way to the winning time.

Ward, Brewster, N.Y., the final starter, closely followed Madden’s track, and even left out strides where he could, but he said he lost some time on the approach to the second-to-last fence when he had to add a stride. Nevertheless, he was pleased with his game mare.

“I’m very happy with my horse. I hate to lose, but if I have to lose someone, she’s a good one to lose to,” said Ward.

1. Authentic/Beezie Madden, 0-0/44.79 2. Sapphire/McLain Ward, 0-0/44.97 3. In Style/Ian Millar, 0-0/47.99 4. Cristallo/Richard Spooner, 0-4/46.46 5. Hidden Creek’s Quervo Gold/Margie Engle, 0-8/47.28 6. Ublesco/Cara Raether, 1 7. Paradigm/Mario Deslauriers, 4/88.17 (rail at Fence 13) 8. Coeur/Rodrigo Pessoa, 4/91.13 (rail at 5B, the airy pillar wall) 9. Hickstead/Eric Lamaze, 4/91.53 (rail at 5A, the airy pillar wall) 10. Cocu/Molly Ashe, 4/92.41 (rail at 11B, a Liverpool oxer)