Those attributes were exactly what was needed to successfully negotiate the 16-fence course and the ensuing 7-obstacle jump-off course designed by Canadian David Ballard.
Of the field of 30 competitors, only five managed to leave all the jumps up. The problem spot was obvious. More than half the field had trouble at fence 11A, the first part of a treacherous triple combination that was preceded by a massive wall set at a difficult angle.
Grubb managed that feat easily, along with the challenges of the jump-off that included very tight turns and stretches of out and out galloping.
Grubb's time of 35.957 seconds led the way, but less than a 10th of a second separated him from the No. 2 finisher. That was Michael Matz, of Collegeville, Pa., on Rhum IV, a 9-year-old Selle Francais he has been victorious on several times, including last year's U.S. Equestrian Team Show Jumping Championship.
Last night, Matz had a clear round, but his time of 36.031 seconds was good enough only for second place.
As always, Matz was philosophical about his placing. "I would have liked to be on the other side of that 10th of a second, but what can you do?" he said.
Matz, a veteran of last Summer's Olympic Games in Barcelona, said he was very pleased with the performance of Rhum IV, a horse owned by F. Eugene Dixon of Lafayette, Pa.
"I think this horse has a lot on the ball," he said.
Third place went to Terry Rudd of Berwyn, Pa., on P.S. Gazpacho, who along with Matz were crowd favorites.
After winning his Three Year Old Non-Thoroughbred breeding class yesterday, All In Favor was named Best Young Horse for the second year in a row. All In Favor is owned by Cismont Manor Farm, Keswick, Va., and B.J. Meeks, West Palm Beach, Fla.
