When Tamie Smith cantered through the finish flags of the show jumping with a double-clear round on Molly Duda’s Lillet 3, she didn’t just win the Cosequin Lexington CCI4*-S, she also became the first person to have won both the CCI5*-L (in 2023) and now the CCI4*-S at the Defender Kentucky Three Day Event.
Later that afternoon, Will Coleman would match this feat with his own win in the CCI5*-L on Diabolo, with the pair having taken the 4*-S here in 2025. But for a few short hours, Tamie had that record all to herself and was delighted with the win on the 10-year-old Holsteiner mare.
“She was super, I couldn’t have asked her to be better” said Tamie “She came out just enough to rise to the occasion and didn’t get tense or tight and jumped amazing. She keeps going from strength to strength and she was so ridable and tried her heart out. I don’t think she even touched a rail.”
There were plenty of clean show jumping rounds to go around, but only Tamie managed to leave all the rails up and incur no time penalties. Will Coleman and Very Dignified jumped clean and added 1.6 time penalties to hold on to second place, and Mia Farley and Invictus added only 0.4 to stay in third. Sharon White and Claus 63 moved into fourth with 1.6 time penalties after Dan Kreitl and Carmango lowered two jumps.
“The time was very influential in show jumping, and I’ll admit I didn’t think was achievable,” Tamie said. “Good riding was happening and they still were not making the time. I just went in and rode to the plan of me and my coach Scott Keach and it worked. It’s very rewarding to be the only double clear.”
In addition to his big win in the 5*, and Very Dignified’s top performance in the 4*, Will Coleman also had a strong showing in the 4* with his other horse, Team Rebecca’s Fahrenheit Addict also adding only 1.6 time to move into fifth.
“(Very Dignified’s) awesome, I love this mare,” he said of the 11-year-old Irish Sport Horse. “She’s very opinionated, kind of an alpha female and really classy. I thought she was great all weekend.
We didn’t have the dressage she’s capable of, but she jumped great for me today. This is her first advanced start of the year, so all things considered, I’m thrilled. It was Fahrenheit Addict’s first advanced run of the year too, and I thought he put forth a nice run.”
Mia Farley was thrilled with her round on “Sammy” a 10-year-old American Warmblood owned by Karen O’Connor, especially after she admitted to learning to work through nerves on the final day.
“It was weird, I felt normal today, which is not how I normally feel going into Sundays with my other experienced horse,” she said with a laugh. “So today I just decided I wanted to ride the best I could and Sammy and I together answered everything. He jumped really well and really high. I’m so impressed with him and it was also nice to feel myself answer those questions.”
Other Notable Award Winners
Breeder of the Winning Horse: Fritz Maschamann
Highest Placed International Rider: David Doel of Great Britain with Galileo Neiuwmoed
Highest-Placed Young Rider: Braden Speck/BSF Liam
Highest-Placed Sole Owner/Rider: Alexander Conrad and Malibu Preacher
Highest-Placed Registered Thoroughbred: Artist/Monica Spencer
Buckeye Nutrition Best Turned-Out Award: 5*-Brookfield Quality/Adam Short (groom). 4*-Little Hail/Whitney Grabbe (groom)
Dubarry of Ireland Best-Dressed Award:
5* (first inspection): Harry Meade
5* (second inspection): Emily Hamel
4* (final inspection): Laine Ashker
Richard Picken Sportsmanship Award: Alexander Conrad
James C. Wofford “On The Rise” Trophy: Alexander Conrad
