Dressage leader Mara Dean finished the cross-country course at the Radnor Hunt CCI** 3 seconds slow today, leaving her tied for first place with young rider Ralph Holstein, who jumped clear. And just as he was yesterday, Stuart Black is lurking only 1.8 penalties behind them.

Of the 74 starters on the course designed by Mike Etherington-Smith, 21 (including six of the top 10) finished with no jumping or time penalties.
But Dean, Bluemont, Va., wasn’t one of the double-clear finishers. She decided to change her plan and take the longer, more circuitous route at the Cherry Bank (fence 13) after barely making the turn to the second of two tables set on a 90-degree angle at fence 10B. But she said she wanted to guarantee a clean, educational round for Good Stuff, 8. “If that was the 1 or 2 time faults, so be it,” she said. They had 1.2 time faults.

Good Stuff is an Irish-bred of unknown pedigree whom Dean, 31, purchased in England two years ago. He hadn’t competed at the point. Radnor is his second CCI**, having finished the Bromont CCI** (Que.) in May 2003 with one refusal.

Holstein, 19, said he finished about 10 seconds fast. If he and Dean remain tied after tomorrow’s show jumping, he’ll be the winner because Dean had time faults. “I was really surprised that the turns rode really smoothly this time,” said Holstein, who fell with Arctic Dancer between fences last year and didn’t finish. He said he didn’t use any larger studs today. “I was just a lot more aware of how I went around turns,” he said with a smile.
Dean exuded confidence about Good Stuff’s show jumping, while noting that she’s twice been in the lead at three-day events before and lowered rails to lose the lead. The last time was at the Rolex Kentucky CCI*** in 1996, on Hopper.

Holstein hasn’t been in this position before, though. “I’m a little nervous, although [Arctic Dancer] tries really hard when I’m accurate. But there’s only so much he can do when I’m wrong,” said Holstein.

Black, who won Radnor in 1993 and 1995 (neither time did he lead before show jumping), observed that the frequent, sharp hills that add to the challenge of Radnor’s cross-country course take a physical toll on the horses, a toll that shows up on the final day. “To win here, you need a horse who’s allergic to wood,” said Black.

He added, “I truly hope that luck is on [Holstein’s] side. But, having said that, I’ll give both him and Mara a hard time.”

Holly Johnson, of Metamora, Mich., was tied for fourth after dressage, but she’s now there all alone, 3 penalties behind Black. Johnson urged The Frenchman, a 10-year-old Selle Francais, home 4 seconds slow (1.6 time faults).

Denise Rath, with whom Johnson had been tied, had a rough round on Dinosaur Roar, 11, and was eliminated after refusals at four separate jumps. No other horse was eliminated for refusals on course.

Nathalie Bouckaert and the gray Everest moved up one place, to fifth, with a faultless round, while Linden Wiesman and Kirby Park Jamaica suffered a run-out at the second water complex (fence 21) to drop from seventh to a tie for 32nd.

That mistake put Liza Horan, of Unionville, Pa., in sixth since she and Johnny McCarthy finished within the time. Are You Ready and Kristen Bond, of Gig Harbor, Wash., ninth after dressage, had a run-out at fence 5C (the toothbrush after the drop following the carved red fox) and a run-out at the bounce into the first water complex. They’re standing 53rd now.

Carol Kozlowski and Nordic Sparrow Hawk moved up from 11th to seventh by galloping home with 2.8 time faults.

Sally Cousins, who rode three horses to clean rounds today, moved up to eighth with 3.6 time faults on Tell Me Why. She’s also tied for 32nd on Top Deck II and 46th on Kintyre.

Sharon White (on O.K. Charlie) and Jane Sleeper (on New Moon) were tied for 17th, but they’ve moved up to a tie for ninth with perfect rounds.
The day’s only two serious falls happened in the same place–on the new ground with only sparse grass after fence 23, the second-last fence. After landing from the brush at fence 23, riders made a 180-degree left turn to head for the last fence, and both horses lost their footing as their riders attempted to save time. Sara Kozumplik and Nicole Parkin were each severely shaken up after their horses (The MiddleMan and The Panther) crashed to the ground unexpectedly and were then evaluated by medical personnel. Event officials put down bluestone after Kozumplik (the 15th starter) went. Parkin was the day’s final rider.

Pedro Gutierrez of Mexico performed the day’s most spectacular save. His Iona Grey hit hard with his hind legs at fence 17, a palisade with a steep drop down a hill, dislodging Gutierrez. But he hung on determinedly to his mount’s neck, right leg still across his horse’s back, as they careened down the hill. Gutierrez seemed a goner as Iona Grey broke through the ropes defining the galloping lane, but he stopped suddenly when faced with a post-and-rail fence, giving Gutierrez a chance to haul himself back into the saddle and continue. Gutierrez had three stops elsewhere and is in 65th place.

Show jumping begins about 1 o’clock tomorrow afternoon.