Leigh Mesher found herself atop the CCI** division at Galway Downs in Temecula, Calif., after dressage on Friday, Nov. 3. And her 16.2-hand gelding, My Beau, didn’t let his age stand in the away.

At 17-years-old, My Beau out-performed the rest of the 44-entry class and earned a 75.00 percent from Wayne Quarles, judge at C, and 70.42 percent from Gretchen Butts at B. The duo will take to Saturday’s cross-country course with 40.9 total penalties.

Jolie Sexson and Killian O’Connor took their trip just before Mesher and My Beau and their 46.6-fault finish was good enough to finish third just behind Amy Tryon and Leyland.

And Tryon and Leyland didn’t leave much breathing room between the top three. They caught the judges’ attention with a slick and flowing test (66.67 and 73.75 percent) and finished with a score of 44.7.

Jessica Heidemann and In Any Event also remain within striking distance sitting fourth with 47.2 faults, as do fifth-placed Hawley Bennett and Gin N’ Juice at 47.7 faults.

CCI** Top 10 After Dressage:
1. Leigh Mesher/My Beau—40.9
2. Amy Tryon/Leyland—44.7
3. Jolie Sexson/Killian O’Connor—46.6
4. Jessica Heidemann/In Any Event—47.2
5. Hawley Bennett/Gin N’ Juice—47.8
6. Kelly Prather/Ballinakill Glory—48.1
7. Jamie Lawrence/Coolnamara—48.8
8. Grant Hemingway/Neico—49.1
9. Gregory Stritzel/Balabooga Brawley—52.8
9. Shannon Lilley/Seacrest—52.8

Unlike last year, Galway offered only one short-format division of two-star competition but continues to run two divisions of CCI* competition; one with steeplechase and one without. But in both, the entry numbers have increased this year. The short-format edition saw 40 entries compared to 29 in the long-format.

But Saturday’s steeplechase and cross-country may put some breathing room between the top six in the long-format division. Arielle Eccher and Anthony Tiger squeaked out of the dressage ring with a conservative test that posted 51.1 faults, only .3 ahead of second-placed Rachel Dwyer and Catch A Star who also performed with forthright and clean movement.

Jaimie Kidston and Lindsay Connors both sit third with 52.1 faults aboard their respective 17-hand bay mounts, The Rock and Fiat Lux. In fifth, Tamra Smith and Gem Dandy are also nipping at the leaders’ heals with 52.5 faults while Sarah Haff and Sight Unseen are hot on their tail only .4 faults behind.

On the other side of the coin, Heather Morris emerged from the short-format CCI* dressage phase with a comfortable lead. She rode Genial, an 8-year-old Trekehner, to finish with 41.1 faults after scoring 75.24 percent from Axel Steiner, judge at C, and 70 percent from David Schmutz, judge at B.

David Adamo found himself in starting in a familiar second place again this year with 46.4 faults, but he and his mount, Edward Jordan, will have to stay in top shape through Saturday’s cross-country course to catch Morris and stay ahead of third-placed Tryon and Coal Creek (47.9).

CCI* Top 10 After Dressage:
1. Arielle Eccher/Anthony Tiger—51.1
2. Rachel Dwyer/Catch A Star—51.4
3. Jaimie Kidston/The Rock—52.1
3. Lindsay Connors/Fiat Lux—52.1
5. Tamra Smith/Gem Dandy—52.5
6. Sarah Haff/Sight Unseen—52.9
7. C.C. Castillo/Oberto—53.6
8. Sarah Keppner/Diamonds & Pearls—56.1
9. Kim Liddell/Miss Curtain Call—56.4
9. Dawn Bunge/O’Reilly II—56.4

CCI* without Steeplechase Top 10 After Dressage:
1. Heather Morris/Genial—41.1
2. David Adamo/Edward Jordan—46.4
3. Amy Tryon/Coal Creek—47.9
4. Jessica Rice/I’m So Bright—49.3
5. Matthias Schwarz/River Court—50.4
6. Alexis Helffrich/Spike—50.7
7. Hawley Bennett/SplendoroftheSun—51.8
8. Stephanie Parker/Debonair—53.2
9. Stephanie Montalban/First Impression—53.9
10. Lisa Pfeffer/Balou—54.3