The warm temperatures and mostly sunny skies continued on day two of dressage at the 2026 Defender Kentucky Three-Day Event. Though the weather remained largely the same, the tests in the ring caused some big shake-ups on the leaderboard. Most notably, Monica Spencer (NZL) aboard the New Zealand-bred Thoroughbred Artist marked a 22.3, breaking into the top ten dressage scores ever posted at the Kentucky Three-Day Event — just one year after Michael Jung set a new record of 18.6.
“‘Max’ was super today — had good energy on the test,” Spencer said. “I’m really pleased with him.”
Now 15, Monica has had “Max” since he was four. She spoke to the stereotype surrounding Thoroughbreds in eventing, and why Max is the right mount for her.
“In cross-country, it’s always nice to be on a fast horse. In the dressage, I’m lucky with Max that he’s a beautiful mover and he’s always been very trainable,” Spencer said. “I enjoy riding him in the dressage and I have had a few good Thoroughbreds over the years that have been good at dressage … I am particularly lucky with the way Max moves; he’s quite an expressive horse for a Thoroughbred. He likes to throw his front hooves around and he did that today.”
Monica Spencer and Artist gained the lead with a beautiful 22.3. Photo by Mary Cage
Just barely behind Spencer with a 22.6, World #4 eventing rider Tim Price — previously third overall with Global Quest on the first day of dressage — dazzled the judges with 16-year-old Holsteiner gelding Vitali. Price now enters cross-country day with two horses in the top ten.
“I was really happy with him,” Price said. “He’s such a great craftsman and he’s got such a great body and mind for the job.”
Tim Price and Vitali sit narrowly behind Monica Spencer, scoring a 22.6. Photo by Mary Cage
Top-five finisher in the last three editions of the Kentucky Three-Day Event, including two runner-up finishes, Tom McEwen broke into the top three after dressage with a 25.1 aboard the 17-year-old Irish Sport Horse gelding Brookfield Quality. McEwen and Brookfield Quality finished fifth in this event last year, and look poised for another top finish.
“I’m delighted with ‘Norris’ as usual,” McEwen said. “He does everything he can and formed another pretty much foot-perfect, sort of “clear round” like we call it. So delighted — thought we put everything out there and he couldn’t have given me more so I’m thrilled.”
Tom McEwen and Brookfield Quality look to continue McEwen’s streak of top finishes at the Defender Kentucky Three-Day Event. Photo by Mary Cage
The final horse-and-rider pair to go, Caroline Pamukcu (USA) and HSH Blake continued the trend of changing the leaderboard. With a 26.6, Pamukcu secured a place in fourth going into cross-country, pushing previous leader Will Coleman (USA, with Diabolo) into fifth.
Caroline Pamukcu and HSH Blake prove their partnership with a 26.6. Photo by Mary Cage
Cosequin® Lexington CCI4*-S
While Tamie Smith held onto her early lead in the 4* with Thursday’s 27.0 aboard Danito, this division saw several changes to its leaderboard as well. Fan-favorite duo Sharon White (USA) and Claus 63 moved into second with a beautiful 28.1, and Smith added another horse into a top spot when she scored a 29.7 with Lillet 3. This score tied her for third with young rider Elizabeth Barratt (GBR) riding Ride For Thais Chaman Dumontceau, also a 29.7.
“I’m really thrilled with Claus today,” White said. “He was very relaxed and very mature and well within himself. We’ve been working on that our whole partnership, so I feel like at 14-years-young now, he’s finally coming into his own. I’m super excited about the rest of the weekend. The [cross-country] track looks amazing. As always here, there’s a lot to do, but it looks like something to go get, so excited for that.”
Sharon White celebrates a great test aboard Claus 63. Photo by Mary Cage
Stay tuned tomorrow for cross-country day in both divisions.
2026 Defender Kentucky Three-Day Event CCI5*-L Standings After Dressage
1. Monica Spencer (NZL) and Artist (22.3)
2. Tim Price (NZL) and Vitali (22.6)
3. Tom McEwen (GBR) and Brookfield Quality (25.1)
4. Caroline Pamukcu (USA) and HSH Blake (26.6)
5. Will Coleman (USA) and Diabolo (27.3)
6. Phillip Dutton (USA) and Possante (28.1)
7. Boyd Martin (USA) and Commando 3 (28.2)
8. Harry Meade (GBR) and Grafennacht (28.9)
9. Tim Price (NZL) and Global Quest (29.8)
10. Harry Meade (GBR) and Superstition (30.2)
2026 Cosequin® Lexington CCI4*-S Standings After Dressage
1. Tamie Smith (USA) and Danito (27.0)
2. Sharon White (USA) and Claus 63 (28.1)
=3. Elizabeth Barratt (GBR) and Ride For Thais Chaman Dumontceau (29.7)
=3. Tamie Smith (USA) and Lillet 3 (29.7)
5. Alyssa Phillips (USA) and Rockett 19 (30.1)
6. Molly Duda (USA) and Carlingfords Hes a Clover (31.1)
=7. Will Coleman (USA) and Very Dignified (32.0)
=7. Tommy Greengard (USA) and That’s Me Z (31.4)
9. Dan Kreitl (USA) and Carmango (32.0)
10. Ema Klugman (AUS) and RF Redfern (32.1)
For complete dressage scores and updates about the event, visit www.kentuckythreedayevent.com.
Find all of our coverage on our 2026 Defender Kentucky Three-Day Event landing page.
Thanks to CareCredit for our 2026 Defender Kentucky Three-Day Event coverage.
