By the end of Friday afternoon, Becky Holder’s score of 39.3 from Thursday proved to be the best of the bunch, leaving her 1.3 penalties ahead of Heidi White and Northern Spy.

“I watched the final tests, and I have to admit I was sweating bullets,” said Holder. “I was happy that I was good enough and that other people had good tests, too.”

“I’ve been working with Kim Severson in dressage, and you can see the difference in my test and accuracy,” said White. “She’s done a super job with my dressage. He doesn’t have the biggest trot, but his canter is fantastic, and he is always good in the walk. I’ve gotten more accurate in the ring and am not giving points away.”

The last ride of the day, Phillip Dutton aboard Connaught, moved into third place with a 41.3. Connaught entered the arena, came up the centerline, halted and stuck his head up and around to look at his surroundings, eliciting some laughs from the crowd. But then he got down to business, earning 8s on his trotwork. The highlight of the trot was the extended trot, which scored two 8s and a 9. His collected canter also earned two 8s and a 9, but the flying changes were the low point of the test, with some 4s and 5s as he jumped into them.

“I was pleased, but there is always room for improvement,” said Dutton. “I was very proud of my horse. It doesn’t come easy for him to relax in an environment like that, and today there were a lot of people. I do have one change that has been a problem for us for a long time, and we missed there on two occasions. But I was still happy with him.”

Stephen Bradley and From stand in fourth place, with a 42.6 for From’s gorgeous, elegant movement and phenomenal extended trot. His high level of collection and self carriage scored a 9 right from the first movement, and his extended trot earned 9s.

Dobbin and Corinne Ashton are in fifth place (43.5), ahead of Emilee Libby and Cahir (44.8) and Bonnie Mosser on Merloch (50.0). The top 10 are rounded out with Brandenburg’s Joshua and Stephen Bradley in eighth (50.7), Charles Owen Tangleman and Polly Stockton are in ninth (52.2), and Kingpin and Mike Winter in 10th (52.6).

A few riders had tests to forget this afternoon, including Blair King, 22, and Kings Whisper, who stand last with a score of 91.8. He leapt around the arena, rearing into the first halt and cantered through most of his trotwork, then settled to get a few 5s and 6s, then jogged through the walk.

But, of course, tomorrow’s course is what the riders really came for, and the riders at the top are trying not to worry about the extra pressure of proving they’re on form for Olympic selection.

“I’m very lucky to be sitting on the horse I’m on,” said White. “But in a way that’s harder because this is a big year, and there’s a lot on the line. We’ve been here five times, and the expectations over the years are greater. I’m just happy to be back and be on this horse again.”

“The head game’s always been the most difficult element of competition for me, focusing on concentrating on the moment,” said Holder. “I’m excited to be in the lead, but that’s one day and tomorrow is another. I just hope to jump one jump at a time and put them all together, and hopefully that’s going to mean a clean round.”