Nifty Hamilton and Makari Design (Photo: Picsofyou.com)

Lexington, KY. – After the dressage phase of competition at the Kentucky Classic CDE Thursday night, Nifty Hamilton (Alva, Fla.) and Makari Design lead the 2017 USEF Single Horse Combined Driving National Championship with 53.49 points.

The American drivers hold the next three positions behind Hamilton. Leslie Berndl (Newcastle, Calif.) and Uminco completed the first phase with 54.88 points, earning them the second position going into the marathon phase on Saturday. Donna Crookston (Saltsburg, Pa.) and Viktor follow with 61.01 points. Daphne White (Durango, Colo.) and Halstead by Legacy are poised for the next round in the fourth position with 65.12 points.

Tune in on Saturday, October 7, to stream the marathon phase live on the USEF Network.