For the first time in 15 years, an American will enter show jumping in first place at the Land Rover Kentucky Three-Day Event. Tamie Smith and Mai Baum are the first U.S. pair to lead the Kentucky five-star after cross country since Becky Holder and Courageous Comet in 2008. However, the bigger history they hope to make will be becoming the first American winners of the event since Phillip Dutton and Connaught overtook Holder and Courageous Comet for the 2008 title.
There was quite a shakeup in the standings on cross-country day this year. Smith and the 17-year-old German Sport Horse gelding (Loredano 2 x Ramira) that she affectionately calls “The Black Stallion” moved from third to first with one of six double-clear rounds on Derek di Grazia’s five-star cross-country course. Only four of the top-10 after dressage remain in the top-10 after cross-country: Smith and Mai Baum (1st); Tom McEwen and JL Dublin (2nd); Liz Halliday-Sharp and Miks Master C (3rd); and Sandra Auffarth and Viamant Du Matz (4th). Three horses went from 20th or lower after dressage into the top-10 after cross-country: Maxime Livio and Carouzo Bois Marotin (20th to 7th); David Doel and Galileo Nieuwmoed (22nd to 8th); and Jennie Saville and FE Lifestyle (23rd to 10th).
The CCI4*-S horse inspection kicks off at 7:30 a.m. with an anticipated 40 horse and rider pairs coming forward if no more withdrawals happen overnight. The CCI5*-L final horse inspection will take place immediately following the four-star inspection, and if all of today's cross-country finishers come forward, 26 horses will be presented.
Show jumping for both the four-star and five-star on the courses designed by Steve Stephens will run in reverse order of placing with the CCI4*-S scheduled to take place at 10:45 a.m. Show jumping for the CCI5*-L will get underway at 2:00 p.m. with awards taking place at 4 p.m.
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