LEXINGTON, Ky.--Alex Matz on Cashew CR won the $35,000 CSI5*, 1.45m Speed class Friday evening, April 25 during the Kentucky Three-Day Event.

File photo of Alex Matz on Cashew CR (Photo by Ben Radvanyl Photography)Matz finished clean in 58.21t to win by two seconds over long time leader Simon McCarthy of Ireland on Gotcha, who had gone second in the order, and who had been clean in 61,20.

Conor Swail of Ireland on My Lady Lavista was third, clean in 62.42 and Alexandra Volpi on Candy Luck Z was fourth, clean in 62.72,

Matz went 38th of 52 and stood by the in-gate watching nervously as the last few horses went to see if his time would hold up, but no one came near to his time.

"He's done everything for me, said Matz. "I've had him from the beginning. He's the horse that changed everything for me."

"He loves to jump," said Matz. "He's lazy at home, but when he gets in the warm-up ring he lights up and he turns on."

"He thinks turn before I think turn," he said."As to where I think I won, I think the turn back after six, and then I left one out to the last."