Lexington, Ky. – The cross-country phase proved influential on Saturday at the Defender Kentucky Three-Day Event presented by MARS Equestrian™ with both the CCI4*-S and CCI5*-L seeing movement across the standings after combinations tackled the expansive course set at the Kentucky Horse Park. Monica Spencer (NZL) and Artist maintain their overall lead in the CCI5*-L division, while Diabolo and Will Coleman retook their hold of the Defender/USEF CCI5*-L Eventing National Championship after a stellar cross-country round. In the Cosequin Lexington CCI4*-S, Tamie Smith remained atop the leaderboard, but with a different partner in Lillet 3, after the duo put in the fastest cross-country round of the day in the division.
Defender Kentucky Three-Day Event CCI5*-L presented by MARS Equestrian
Monica Spencer (NZL) and Artist held onto the lead in the Defender Kentucky Three-Day Event CCI5*-L presented by MARS Equestrian after completing Derek di Grazia's (USA) demanding 6,312-meter course clean and inside the optimum time of 11:05. The track, set at a speed of 570 meters per minute, proved to be a significant test for horse-and-rider combinations, particularly as afternoon temperatures climbed in contrast to the moderate morning start for the CCI4*-S division.
Will Coleman (Ocala, Fla.) moved up from fifth to second following a strong, confident performance from Diabolo, a 2012 Holsteiner gelding (Diarado x Roulett M), owned by the Diabolo Group, tackling his first career five-star track. The pair navigated the challenging course with determination, adding nothing to their first phase score of 27.3, and finishing well within the demanding time allowed after taking all direct routes; a strategy Coleman said was essential given the time allowed. "[You’re] not going to get the time with too many non-direct routes," he said simply. Only four combinations in the entire CCI5*-L field finished within the optimum time.
"He was amazing out there," Coleman said. "For his first five-star, I thought he was just sensational. I don't have any words to describe how happy I am," Coleman said of the round, solidifying everything he believes about the horse. "He just confirmed what I've thought about him all along. He's a special guy."
When asked which moments would stick with him from Diabolo’s CCI5* debut, Coleman didn't hesitate. "The finish," he said. He described being deliberate about managing Diabolo’s effort early on the course, mindful of both the distance and the increasingly warming conditions. "He hasn't gone this distance ever, and it was warm, probably 10 degrees warmer than it was this morning, and the air just seemed to get kind of still," Coleman said. "I was worried I might find the end of him too soon, but he still had a bit left. When I jumped through the bank, I said, 'Come on, let's go’ and he was there for me."
Coleman noted that the Care Credit Question at 7ABCD presented the biggest challenge of the day, describing the terrain as unusually difficult to approach. "The ground takes you left; you have to set up in a way that I think makes it hard for the horses to understand what they're actually supposed to do," he explained. "My horse was very genuine there, but I could see where he could have had a problem." Despite the tricky line to the ditch, Diabolo came through, and Coleman said the moment captured what the sport is all about. "It just felt like a real partnership going around there. It's pretty cool."
Caroline Pamukcu (Springtown, Pa.) and HSH Blake, a 2015 Irish Sport Horse gelding (Tolan R x Doughiska Lass) owned by Mollie Hoff, Sherrie Martin, Caroline and Deniz Pamukcu, sit in third after jumping around the course with just two added time faults. Overall, four U.S. combinations sit inside of the top ten, with Boyd Martin (Cochranville, Pa.) and Commando 3, a 2013 Holsteiner gelding (Connor x R-Adelgunde) owned by Yankee Creek Ranch,tied for sixth, and Phillip Dutton (West Grove, Pa.) and Possante, a 2013 KWPN gelding (Namelus R x Wendelien), owned by The Possante Group, rounding out the top ten.
Cosequin Lexington CCI4*-S
Tamie Smith (Murrietta, Calif.) maintained her lead in the CCI4*-S division, a US Equestrian Open Eventing Series qualifier, following Saturday's cross-country phase, aboard a different mount in Lillet 3, a 2016 Holsteiner mare (Livello x Princess L.), owned by Molly Duda, after her previous leader, Danito, was retired on course. Smith and Lillet 3 jumped clear around the track, just adding 1.9 time penalties to their dressage score. The CCI4*-S track was also designed by di Grazia, which saw an array of questions throughout and an optimum time of 6:37.
Smith shared nothing but glowing praise for Lillet 3, after their round, describing the mare as an exceptional partner. "She was super. She was like a little race car out there," Smith said. "It was really fun, felt great."
Smith noted the course rode true to form, calling it a typical Derek di Grazia design with great flow and no shortage of serious questions. "She just zipped around like it was nothing," she added.
Reflecting on the pair's developing partnership, Smith said the two have been working to find their rhythm together over the past several months. "We've just come out the last probably eight months on the same page and really clicking," she said, adding that building a connection with a new horse takes time. "I was just coming off the course and thought, ‘Can I only just ride horses like that?’ She's so fast and rideable and quick and just smart and intelligent. She's just a dream."
Looking ahead to Sunday's final phase, Smith expressed quiet confidence in her mount. "She's careful and she's smart," Smith said. "I just have to do my part so she can do hers."
Will Coleman and Very Dignified, a 2015 Irish Sport Horse mare (Dignified Van’t Zorgvliet), owned by Jerome Broussard, Gloria Callen, and Elizabeth Lendrum, moved from seventh place into second after jumping clear with just 4.9 added time faults, while Mia Farley (Ocala, Fla.) and Invictus, a 2016 Holsteiner/Thoroughbred gelding (Diarado x Sunset Paradise), owned by Karen O’Connor, made one of the day's most impressive climbs, moving up the leaderboard from 11th all the way up to third following a clear jump round with just 5.6 added for time.
Competition Information
Competition will conclude Sunday, April 26, with the final phase of show jumping to ultimately decide the winners of the 2026 Defender Kentucky Three-Day Event presented by MARS Equestrian™, alongside the 2026 Defender/USEF CCI5*-L Eventing National Championship, as well as the Cosequin Lexington CCI4*-S. The CCI4*-S combinations will take to the Rolex Stadium for the jumping phase starting at 10:45 a.m. ET, with the CCI5* horses-and-athletes set to follow at 2:00 p.m. ET.
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