Steffen Peters left the ring in tears after his Grand Prix Special ride today aboard Floriano.  Not tears of sadness or frustration, but tears of joy for a truly spectacular ride on June 17, in Gladstone, N.J.
   
“You don’t have too many of those rides in your life,” said Peters after he scored 77.24 percent to win the class.  “He was so expressive.  To be that supple and energetic at 16 is unbelievable.”
   
Peters said he didn’t change anything with Floriano, he just came out with an extra suppleness right from the start.
   
There were no mistakes in the test, and Floriano scored straight 9s for his two-tempi changes.  Peters received four 9s and a 10 in the collective marks for his riding.
   
Seidel repeated his second place finish with Aragon (73.32%), despite a mistake in the first extended trot.
   
“I tried to keep him open and loose, and he came too high,” explained Seidel. 
   
Despite the troubling start, Aragon remained obedient and relaxed throughout the test.
   
Leslie Morse rode directly after Peters with Tip Top 962, but she was delighted to have the bar raised so high.  “I’m playing with great players,” she said with a smile.
   
Tip Top looked super in the first part of his test, scoring straight 8s for his two-tempi changes.  But they ran into trouble in the one-tempis.
  
“He came in with a big, buoyant stride, and I thought I could keep it in the one-tempis,” said Morse.  “I gained experience.  In the future I’ll keep him more collected.”
   
The mistakes didn’t drag them down too far, and they finished third (72.00%).  In the final centerline Tip Top let out a loud snort, which had Morse and the audience in stitches.
   
Six combinations rode the Intermediaire II test and contested the inaugural Brentina Cup.  Elisabeth Austin won the test aboard Olivier (70.39%) with a fluid and powerful ride.  This was only the ninth time Austin had showed the American-bred Dutch Warmblood stallion. 
   
“It’s important that you don’t have to go to CDIs to qualify,” said Austin.  “It made it financially possible.”
   
The 22-year-old trains with her mother, Madeleine Austin in Williston, Vt.  She also was competing with Mononucleosis, so she planned to turn in early instead of spending the night celebrating.
   
Bethany Peslar placed second in the Brentina Cup with More Magic.  She’s only been riding the Westphalian gelding since April when she bought him from Christine Traurig.  She hopes to compete him at Grand Prix this summer and qualify for Dressage At Devon (Pa.).
   
The Para Equestrian championship also wrapped up in the morning with the freestyle rides.  Rebecca Hart continued her domination of that division, scoring 78.51 percent with Nordkap for her ride to the theme from Phantom of the Opera.
   
Barbara Grassmyer was the reserve champion with Ryan O’Riley.

Grand Prix Special Results
1. Floriano, Steffen Peters (77.24%)
2. Aragon, Guenter Seidel (73.32%)
3. Tip Top 962, Leslie Morse (72.00%)
4. Arabella, Heather Blitz (70.04%)
5. Wild One, Arlene Page (69.36%)
6. Cooper, Susanne Dansby Phelps (67.48%)
7. Marnix, George Williams (67.48%)
8. Basquewille, Mette Rosencrantz (65.48%)
9. Succes, Melissa Taylor (64.60%)
10. BeSe, Catherine Morelli (64.40%)
11. Jazzman, Donna Richardson (64.32%)
12. Eminence, Lisette Milner (64.12%)