LEXINGTON, Ky.--Monica Spencer of New Zealand on Artist leads the CCI5*-L after the dressage phase on 22.3, with Tim Price, also of New Zealand, on Vitali second on 22.6 and Tom McEwan of Great Britain on Brookfield Quality third on 25.1. 

Monica Spencer on Artist (Photo by Jen Emig for MacMillan Photography)Caroline Pamukcu on HSH Blake is fourth on 26.6 with Will Coleman on Diabolo fifth on 27,3, Phillip Dutton on Possante sixth on 28.1 and Boyd Martin on Commando 3 seventh on 28.2.

New Zealand and Great Britain account for six of the top 10 positions, with Harry Meade of Great Britain on Grafennacht eighth on 28.9, Price on Global Quest ninth on 29/8 and Meade on Superstition 10th on 30.2.

But, with less than 8 penalties separating the top 10, Saturday's cross country could change things considerably.

The leading horse Artist is a thoroughbred, belying the notion that thoroughbreds can't equal warmbreds in the dressage phase.

“‘Max’ was super today and gave me good energy in the test,” Spencer said of Artist. “I’m really pleased with him.”

 

SPENCER has owned and ridden “Max” since he was a 4-year-old.

Caroline Pamukcu on HSH Blake (Photo by Jen Emig for MacMillan Photography)His test was highlighted by its smooth flow and intense focus, and just a touch of natural flamboyance.

Spencer feels the work on their dressage has all been worth it because of the natural advantages a thoroughbred brings to the second phase of competition, the cross-country.

“On cross country, it’s always nice to be on a fast horse,” she said. “But in the dressage, I’m very lucky with Max. He’s a beautiful mover and he’s always been very trainable, I quite enjoy riding him the dressage.

“I’ve had a few thoroughbreds over the years that have been quite good at dressage, but he’s quite an expressive horse for a thoroughbred. He likes to throw his front legs around and he did that today,” she said..

Price has a veteran campaigner in Vitali, and while he’s had lots of good finishes, including in Kentucky, that big win has eluded him.

“It’s not his first rodeo,” Price said of Vitali. “He’s a good dressage horse but not usually in the spring; he doesn’t always do his best work, but we still managed to keep on track with a good test."

Tim Price on Vitali (Photo by Jen Emig for MacMillan Photography)“I’ve had him 6 or 7 years and I’ve been through a lot with him. A lot of disappointments in terms of final results, but he’s an incredible horse in so many ways,” he said. “I didn’t get him as a young horse, so it took a couple of years to form a good partnership with him. It was a matter of tinkering away to try to find something help us be truly successful at this level. I hope it happens one day, preferably sometime soon.”

McEwen finished second here in 2023 and 2024 on a different mount, JL Dublin.

“I’m absolutely delighted,” he said. “Norris (Brookfoeld Quality's barn name) did the test he does every time and laid everything down. I’m really looking forward to tomorrow.”

The 28 obstacle cross country course was designed by Derek di Grazia..

“It’s a proper 5 star,” Price said. “There’s nothing non-5 star about it. The demands are right through the course. Derek is very clever at putting the right questions at the right place. Walking it gives me a little feeling of nerves and excitement, but it’s to be respected. It’s a long way around.”

Tom McEwan on Brookfield Quality (Photo by Jen Emig for MacMillan Photography)“There are tough combinations the whole way and there’ll be problems everywhere, which is a sign of good course design,” Spencer said. “As usual with Derek, all the jumps are there to be jumped, but it’s easy to have a problem anywhere on course.”

“I completely agree,” said McEwen. “You are going to see some pairs through the combination make it look hard and others make look like nothing. It walks and feels like a proper 5-star form start to finish, and it makes me excited to go out and try it.”

Tamie Smith on Danito held on to her overnight lead after the second day of dressage in the CCII4*-S, keeping her top spot with a score of 27.0.

Smith has three horses in the  CCI4*-S, and she also sits tied for third on Lillet 3, and is 13th on Kynan.

But after the second day of dressage, her margin narrowed with Pan Am silver medalist Sharon White moving into second on Claus 63 on 28.1, and Great Britain’s Elizabeth Barratt on Ride For Thais Chaman Dumontceau tied for 3rd on 29.7 with Smith and Lillet 3.

“I was really thrilled with Claus today,” White said. “He was relaxed and mature and well within himself. We’ve been working on that our whole partnership, and at 14 years young, he’s really coming into his own."

Sharon White on Claus (Photo by Martha Miller for MacMillan Photography)“I’m super excited about the rest of weekend,” she said. “The track looks amazing, like always here.”

White and the Holsteiner gelding have competed here previously in the 5*, but she’s aiming to add to his confidence and experience this weekend.

“The 4*-short here is certainly one of the hardest in the world, and that’s because of the atmosphere,” she said. “It’s Kentucky, there are so many people here, and that is so good for horses’ learning before championships. The crowd is a big reason it makes it harder than anything else. Personally, I’ve brought him here before, he’s done the 5* here and I’ve made a conscious decision to do the 4*-short. He’s had a bit of loss of form, and this is what’s best for him and for me to get him back.”

Barratt is here as part of a program from the British federation called “Rising Lions” for riders under the age of 25 at the CCI4* level.

She’s been riding the grey Selle Francais gelding for just over a year, and is loving her first trip to the U.S. and the horse park.

“I was really pleased with my horse this morning,” Barratt said. “He wants to rise to occasion and he loves a crowd. This was our best test as a combination. He was listening and forward, we had a great ride together.

“It’s my first time in the U.S. and at the horse park, and it’s an incredible place,” she said. “We’ve had an amazing time so far, the course looks amazing and we’ve felt so welcomed. It’s a great feeling and I’m excited to be here.”

The event continues with the cross country on Saturday and the weekend will finish up with the show jumping phase on Sunday.

You can watch Kentucky for free on the USEF Network powered by ClipMyHorse.TV and on ESPN+.

· ESPN 2 - Sunday, May 10 at 8:00-10:00 a.m. ET

· ESPNews – Friday May 22 at 6:00-8:00 p.m. ET

The Kentucky International CSI5* Grand Prix will be shown on ESPNews on Sunday, May 3 at 7:00 a.m. ET.