And just like that, it's the final day of the Defender Kentucky Three-Day Event and it's a full one in terms of the schedule. Before moving on to the final phase, competitors in both the CCI4*-S and CCI5*-L divisions will have to undergo the final horse inspection at High Hope Lane which will kick off with four-star competitors at 8 a.m. EST and be followed immediately by the five-star contingency. This final horse inspection is not broadcast, but we will have a report out as soon as it concludes to keep you in the know!
As of Saturday evening, we are set to see 38 pairs present before the Ground Jury in the CCI4*-S for the final inspection and show jumping. Show jumping for this division is scheduled to begin at 10:30 a.m. EST and will run in reverse order of placing.
The top three in the CCI4*-S did not change after cross-country, despite none of the pairs that contested this course throughout the day being able to make the time. Will Coleman goes into the final phase in first aboard longtime partner Off the Record, and Phillip Dutton held onto his second and third place positions with Possante and Denim respectively. Coleman only has one rail in hand with a 4.5 point difference between his and Dutton's second-place score, so "Timmy" will need to be on his A-game to bring home the win.
In the CCI5*-L, we are expecting 26 pairs to be put forth before the Ground Jury early this morning and hopefully all will show jump later today starting at 2:30 p.m. EST.
Our leader from day one, Michael Jung and fischerChipmunk FRH, have two rails in hand as they go into the final phase on a score of 21.0. They have won here before and know how to operate under pressure in big environments, giving them good odds in the Rolex Stadium today.
Flying the flag for the U.S. in second place is Boyd Martin aboard Commando 3. "Connor" is aiming to tick off his first five-star completion today, and Martin describes him as a champion of a horse. If they can produce a double-clear round, we could see a U.S. rider in the top-three and Martin could bring home the coveted title of National Champion.
Harry Meade sits in a nice position in third and fourth, after being the only rider to make the optimum time on cross-country yesterday on not just one, but both of his entries.
Here is what you need to know to follow along today:
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When Will Coleman, the overnight leader in the Cosequin Lexington CCI4*-S division at the Defender Kentucky Three-Day Event, walked Derek di Grazia’s cross-country track, he knew time was going to play a major factor in how the results would shake out upon the completion of the second phase.
“I really love riding the horses,” said Michael Jung. “I do it every day— riding the horses, training the horses, going to many, many competitions. I am really into the sport and with horses. I know it can go wrong all the time. So I try to go out, do my best, take care of the horse; if it went wrong, OK. It can happen, now you just be prepared for the next day.”
The time was tough to make in the Cosequin Lexington CCI4*-S this morning at the Defender Kentucky Three-Day Event, and cross-country course designer Derek di Grazia made it just as tough in the CCI5*-L as well with just one rider making the optimum time of 11 minutes and 20 seconds—and somehow managing to do it twice on both of his entries!
In Derek di Grazia’s CCI4*-S cross-country course this morning at the Defender Kentucky Three-Day Event, there were two obvious challenges: the time and the Mighty Moguls question early on in the course at fence 4.