Tracy Fenney rode MTM Reve du Paradis (Crown Z x Adelfos) to victory in the $40,000 Mutual of Omaha Bank Speed Derby at the fifth annual International Omaha. Fenney topped a field of 35 horses by turning in the fastest fault-free ride in the one-round class.

CSI3* International  Omaha is produced by the Omaha Equestrian Foundation (OEF) and runs May 5-7 at the CenturyLink Center in Omaha, Nebraska, site of the 2017 Longines FEI World Cup™ Jumping Final and the FEI World Cup™ Dressage Final.

Riding 20th in the order, Fenney guided her 11-year-old Selle Francais gelding to a clean round in 57.10 seconds over the 14-effort course designed by Alan Wade. That was good enough to take over the lead from Andrew Kocher  who had taken an early lead on Uppie de Lis (Andiamo x Landsieger I) with a clean round in 64.84 seconds.

No one came close to Fenney until the penultimate ride of the night when Lisa Goldman thrilled the crowd of 4,379 with an electrifying ride on Centurion B (Rebel Z I x Indoctro). Goldman finished clean on her 14-year-old, American-bred, but her time of 57.83 just missed Fenney's time and gave her a second-place finish.

"It was a thrilling night," Fenney said. "The crowd really pumps you up. We don't do a lot of speed classes these days and it turned out to be a very exciting night."

Goldman said that she could feel the crowd rootling for her and her long-time partner that she's had since he was two years old. "He really felt the crowd pulling for him and I think it really helped him. He's very much my partner and he took good care of me tonight."

Christian Heineking of Germany finished third with a clean ride in 59.14 seconds on Aje Cluny (Cash and Carry x Starlight) with Kocher holding on to fourth.

Source: Press release from The International Omaha // Picture © The International Omaha