<h2>Dressage: Kohmann &amp; Famous win at TerraNova on a borrowed freestyle&nbsp;</h2>
Next Qualifier: Mid Atlantic Dressage Festival (May 14) | The Final:&nbsp;Desert Dressage, Thermal CA (November 13)
Kevin Kohmann &amp; Famous won Saturday's Grand Prix Freestyle at TerraNova with 74.635% - a personal best for the horse and a six-point lift over their Grand Prix score the day before. The field had narrowed considerably by then: Monica Burssens and Sahar Daniel Hirosh&nbsp;were both eliminated in the Grand Prix, and Susan Dutta withdrew before the freestyle, leaving Kohmann and Micah Deligdish to contest the class. Deligdish &amp; Carpe Diem De Massa finished second at 69.610%, also a personal best for the horse.&nbsp;
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Needing a freestyle for Famous, Kohmann went looking through old music. Normally, he&rsquo;d borrow his wife Devon Kane&rsquo;s music, but that had already been given to Deligdish, who he was competing against. So, he landed on the original Avicii freestyle he rode at the World Cup Final with Duenensee. He rode it once at home, it fit, and he went for it.&nbsp;
"I love the music and it worked out," he said afterward, noting that Famous handled the loud music and the looming storm without issue. The show adjusted the class time around the weather, and it stayed dry. Kohmann closed with one-handed passage into the final halt - a deliberate degree-of-difficulty play that paid off.
The result moves Kohmann to 9th in the Series with three qualifiers completed. Deligdish climbs to 27th, still well outside the top-18 finals cutoff.
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The Series returns in two weeks at the Mid Atlantic Dressage Festival in Lexington, KY.
<a href="https://www.usequestrianopen.org/categories/dressage" target="_blank" rel="noopener"><img src="https://usef-admin.fly.dev/assets/df3afaab-1f25-4fab-a1dc-c46c608169fb.png?width=1080&amp;height=171" alt="Read More Dressage"></a>
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<h2>Eventing: Tryon&rsquo;s big field makes this a key week in the Series</h2>
Next Qualifier:&nbsp;Tryon International (May 6)&nbsp;| The Final:&nbsp;Morven Park 4*-L, Virginia (October 8th)
With over 25 entries, the Tryon qualifier this weekend class reaches the higher points band meaning 50 points to the winner rather than 40. Last year, this event had just 16 starters. This year, it steps into a different category entirely. It is now one of the few qualifiers this season to exceed that mark.
A full preview article is coming later this week, but even an early look at the entries suggests a highly competitive field that will have an impact at the top of the leaderboard.
Off The Record &amp; Will Coleman heads the entries and Win Chance. A combination that need no introduction, having finished second in last year&rsquo;s Final, only missing the win with a rail on the final day. This will be his first international start of the season, likely part of a light campaign ahead of Aachen, but the quality is established.
Lucienne Bellissimo brings two entries, Dyri and Kitsch Couture HPK.&nbsp;She sits within reach of the top of the leaderboard and will be targeting points here. With two horses in a high-value qualifier, the opportunity is significant.
Last years Series winner Boyd Martin is entered with two rides, as well as the current Series leader Tamie Smith is also well represented. She has three entries in the field, including two rerouted from Kentucky.&nbsp;
<a href="https://us.equestrian-hub.com/us-equestrian-open" target="_blank" rel="noopener"><img src="https://usef-admin.fly.dev/assets/05e29bc4-7a50-441e-bd03-1f503445c1c3.png?width=1098&amp;height=1164" alt="Ny3sf Leaderboard of the Us Equestrian Open of Eventing "></a>
<a href="https://www.usequestrianopen.org/categories/eventing" target="_blank" rel="noopener"><img src="https://usef-admin.fly.dev/assets/254e09dd-d92e-4194-986b-baf0dbd8460b.png?width=1080&amp;height=158" alt="Read More Eventing"></a>
<h2>&nbsp;</h2>
<h2>Jumping: Farrington wins again&nbsp;</h2>
Kent Farrington needed sixth place or better in Monterrey to win the Major League series. He finished third. It secures his second Major League Show Jumping individual title and brings the season back in line with the underlying numbers. Farrington has been the most consistent rider across the series &mdash; more wins, more podiums &mdash; and the final result reflects that.
The Grand Prix itself went to Rodrigo Pessoa (BRA) and Prins van&rsquo;t Eigenlo, who proved untouchable in the jump-off. Marilyn Little finished second, just 0.13 seconds behind, while Farrington rounded out the podium in third-place.&nbsp;
From a US perspective, three riders finished inside the top 10. Little (2nd), Farrington (3rd), and Natalie Dean (10th) &mdash; all of whom competed at WEF this winter &mdash; underline the strength of that Wellington group translating form onto a five-star final stage.
<a href="https://www.usequestrianopen.org/categories/jumping" target="_blank" rel="noopener"><img src="https://usef-admin.fly.dev/assets/eeee484b-ef16-4e10-9de3-6d72b0a7f0c7.png?width=1080&amp;height=161" alt="Read More Jumping"></a>
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<h2 data-path-to-node="4">Stay in the loop with The Open Weekly</h2>
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The US Equestrian Open was born from a strategic&nbsp;Board of Directors decision in 2023 to build a permanent legacy for US&nbsp;Equestrian sport.&nbsp;Its mission is to grow and foster a deeper connection to equestrianism by delivering a premier, unified championship series in the Olympic disciplines.&nbsp; With top-level competition, storytelling, and a dynamic, entertaining experience, the&nbsp;vision is to transform disparate events into a cohesive, narrative-driven season.&nbsp;The series is anchored by&nbsp;core values which include fan-first accessibility, competitive integrity, storytelling, and a dynamic&nbsp;entertaining experience onsite

The Open Weekly: Kohmann wins at TerraNova and Tryon draws a big field

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Main

The Grand Prix Freestyle at TerraNova Dressage III has a clear favorite, a compelling debut, and enough variance in the rest of the field to keep it interesting. Here's the breakdown.
<h2 dir="ltr">Dutta's Shot at a Win</h2>
On freestyle averages &mdash; a reliable predictor of final placings &mdash; Dutta and Don Design DC stand out as the clear favorite. Her last three freestyles average 72%, the strongest mark in the field, and she has a consistent pattern of building on whatever she lays down in the Grand Prix.
Two podiums from their last three starts, both at Wellington, underline the pair's current form. Having previously faced some of the circuit's most formidable competition, they arrive here as favorites for a first Open leg win.
With four qualifying rides banked, a fourth-place finish or better allows Dutta to drop her lowest score and climb the standings - but a win would carry her into the Series top 10.
<h2 dir="ltr">Kohmann's Proven Formula Faces a Debut Question</h2>
Kevin Kohmann is the reason Dutta&rsquo;s win chance deserves a second look. He and Famous are making their Grand Prix Freestyle debut together, (the horse's one freestyle on record was an amateur-level test with a different rider) and Kohmann's Grand Prix average on Famous sits around 66%.&nbsp;
That&rsquo;s not a lot to go on for a prediction, but although the horse is unknown, the rider is absolutely not. Kohmann has completed over 20 Grand Prix Freestyles with his World Cup mount, Duenensee. Together, they&rsquo;ve never scored below their Grand Prix score in the freestyle and consistently add six to eight points. It&rsquo;s unlikely that a brand new partnership would have the same results, but if we apply even two-thirds of that to Kohmann&rsquo;s baseline with Famous the projection lands around 70.3% &mdash; competitive for second and within range of Dutta. Apply the full amount and he's projecting around 72.3%, which puts him directly on par with the class favorite. That's an optimistic read for a debut freestyle on a horse he's ridden in just six FEI tests. But it's not a baseless one.
He currently sits 20th in the Series on two qualifying scores. Last place this weekend moves him to 16th. A win puts him in the top eight.
<h2 dir="ltr">The Rest of the Field</h2>
Monica Burssens is the hardest rider in this field to predict. Her freestyle scores span nearly nine points with Elfentanz &mdash; 63.4 on the low end, 72.4 at the top &mdash; and she has scored below her Grand Prix score in a freestyle twice. Her Grand Prix form has been trending down lately, but her results at higher-level shows tend to suffer while she rebounds at CDI3*, which is what this weekend is. If she's going to land in the upper part of her range, this is the class for it.
Micah Deligdish and Carpe Diem De Massa have one Grand Prix Freestyle together, and it came in nearly four points above their Grand Prix average. One data point is one data point, but a debut freestyle that lifts rather than drags suggests something is working.&nbsp;
Finally, Sahar Daniel Hirosh and Handsome C are a very new partnership having only been showing together since March. The horse carries a personal best of 71.155 under a prior rider, so the talent is there, even if the partnership hasn&rsquo;t yet accessed it yet.&nbsp;
<iframe id="datawrapper-chart-sYeef" style="width: 0; min-width: 100% !important; border: none;" title="Grand Prix Freestyle Stats: TerraNova Dressage 3 CDI3*" src="https://datawrapper.dwcdn.net/sYeef/1/" height="528" frameborder="0" scrolling="no" aria-label="Table" data-external="1"></iframe>
Stream TerraNova Dressage III live on the <a href="https://www.clipmyhorse.tv/en_US/events/18593/terranova-dressage-iii">USEF Network</a>. <a href="https://www.usef.org/membership/join-renew">Sign up for free</a> as a fan to watch the action. The Freestyle kicks off at 4 p.m. EST on May 2.&nbsp;

Susan Dutta and Don Design DC in extended trot in a grand prix competition

Dutta and Don Design DC Head to TerraNova Chasing Their First Series Win 

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<h2 class="standard-markdown grid-cols-1 grid [&amp;_&gt;_*]:min-w-0 gap-3 standard-markdown">Eventing: Tamie Smith makes it two in a row to take the Series lead</h2>
Next Qualifier: Tryon International (May 6)&nbsp;| The Final: Morven Park 4*-L, Virginia (October 8th)
Tamie Smith&nbsp;and&nbsp;Lillet 3 won the Cosequin Lexington CCI4*-S at Kentucky to secure back-to-back wins for Smith following her Ocala victory a week earlier. After dressage she sat third on 29.7. It was cross-country that changed the picture. Lillet 3 added just 1.6 time penalties (the fastest round of the day from 31 starters) to move into the lead heading into show jumping. From there, she held it. Smith and Lillet 3 were the only combination to jump clear within the time. A 31.3 final score and 50 points banked.
<img src="https://usef-admin.fly.dev/assets/4dda56bd-176d-4a1d-b81b-88a86335dd70.png?width=697&amp;height=846" alt="Screenshot 2026 04 28 114843">
Two wins in two weekends saw a huge points boost. She now leads the 2026 Series on 205 points, 20 clear of Caroline Pamukcu on 185. For the full picture on why everything points firmly in her direction for the rest of the season, read our feature here: <a href="https://www.usequestrianopen.org/stories/tamies-on-top-with-a-west-coast-advantage" target="_blank" rel="noopener">Tamie's on top and has a West Coast advantage</a>
<img src="https://usef-admin.fly.dev/assets/f87bb6d0-d6fd-4b81-b392-c797d1baf01c.png?width=1080&amp;height=974" alt="Open Weekly Quotes (9)">
<h3 class="font-claude-response-body break-words whitespace-normal leading-[1.7]">The Podium</h3>
Second place went to&nbsp;Will Coleman&nbsp;and&nbsp;Very Dignified - a mare produced in Ireland with Robbie Kearns and is now who showing real promise for the Coleman Team. Will and 'Dora' who were on the podium at the US Equestrian Open Final last year, are still building their partnership, but she is a horse to keep a close eye on as that relationship develops. Third went to Mia Farley&nbsp;and&nbsp;Invictus, who delivered a strong show jumping clear to complete the podium on 38.3.&nbsp;
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<h2>&nbsp;</h2>
<h2>Dressage: Williams wins and Holzer leads after WEC Ocala</h2>
Next Qualifier: TerraNova (April 30)&nbsp;| The Final:&nbsp;Desert Dressage, Thermal CA (November 13)
Jennifer Williams &amp; Joppe K won the CDI4* Grand Prix Freestyle at WEC Ocala with a 75.460%. Ashley Holzer &amp; Hawtins San Floriana finished second at 74.880%, enough to take the lead in the US Equestrian Open of Dressage. Frederic Wandres, not competing, watched the Series lead pass to Holzer: 51 points to his 49.
<img src="https://usef-admin.fly.dev/assets/29981285-ad67-41f5-825f-8612fd0fa09b.png?width=700&amp;height=847" alt="Screenshot 2026 04 28 131735">
Holzer not only needed a top-two finish to take the Series lead, but also needed Claire Darnell to finish outside the top 3. She got it. Hawtins still hasn't won a Grand Prix Freestyle, but second place accomplished what mattered this week. Williams, meanwhile, posted another score squarely in her recent range. Her 41 points move her into sixth on the leaderboard.
Darnell and Harrold S finished sixth at 68.425%, well below the form she's shown this season. It didn't affect her Series total &mdash; she'd already completed four qualifiers, so the score didn't count &mdash; but it didn't help, either. She sits third at 47, two points behind Wandres and four behind Holzer, with her window to change that narrowing. Jordan LaPlaca &amp; Gold Play posted a 72.250% in their Grand Prix Freestyle debut together.
<img src="https://usef-admin.fly.dev/assets/30973477-eb65-4a70-8844-e7acfbbad0bd.png?width=1240&amp;height=714" alt="Gl Jzk Current Leaderboard of the Us Equestrian Open of Dressage (1)"> 
<h2 dir="ltr"><a href="https://www.usequestrianopen.org/categories/dressage" target="_blank" rel="noopener"><img src="https://usef-admin.fly.dev/assets/3c1ea641-4e2f-4bda-9592-bac6f8b526cf.png?width=1080&amp;height=171" alt="Read More Dressage"></a></h2>
<h2>&nbsp;</h2>
<h2>Jumping: Farrington does it again and introduces a new star</h2>
Kent Farrington won the $340,000 Kentucky International CSI5* Grand Prix on Saturday night but the headline wasn't just the result. It was the horse.
Descartes SR is nine years old and this was his first five-star Grand Prix. Farrington set the pace going first in the jump-off, stopping the clock at 39.92 seconds. From there, no one could catch him. McLain Ward&nbsp; &amp; High Star Hero pushed hardest at 40.42, with Shane Sweetnam &amp; James Kann Cruz completing the podium in third at 40.71.
The context around all three results adds texture. Ward was making his return from injury - his first competition in seven weeks after a fall in Week 10 at Wellington, by his own admission "mildly against doctor's orders." Sweetnam and James Kann Cruz, secure another podium to continue to prove themselves as the most consistent five-star combinations in the world.
But the story of the night was Farrington's newly minted five-star Grand Prix horse. Descartes SR was sourced from Mexico on the recommendation of Francisco Pasquel. Nine years old, first five-star, and he won it.&nbsp;
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"He has an incredible stride. He covers ground like a racehorse and still has the power to give a lofty jump at the final fence, which is a rare combination of attributes in a horse. I had a lot of trust in him to the last fence.&rdquo;
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There will be more to come from this one.
<a href="https://www.usequestrianopen.org/categories/jumping" target="_blank" rel="noopener"><img src="https://usef-admin.fly.dev/assets/eeee484b-ef16-4e10-9de3-6d72b0a7f0c7.png?width=1080&amp;height=161" alt="Read More Jumping"></a>
<h2 data-path-to-node="4">&nbsp;</h2>
<h2 data-path-to-node="4">Stay in the loop with The Open Weekly</h2>
Thanks for joining us for this week's edition! Don't forget: a fresh update of&nbsp;<a href="https://www.usequestrianopen.org/categories/the-open-weekly" target="_blank" rel="noopener">The Open Weekly</a>&nbsp;drops on the site&nbsp;every Tuesday.
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<h3 data-path-to-node="6">Go Beyond the Article</h3>
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<h3>The Mission of the Open&nbsp;</h3>
The US Equestrian Open was born from a strategic&nbsp;Board of Directors decision in 2023 to build a permanent legacy for US&nbsp;Equestrian sport.&nbsp;Its mission is to grow and foster a deeper connection to equestrianism by delivering a premier, unified championship series in the Olympic disciplines.&nbsp; With top-level competition, storytelling, and a dynamic, entertaining experience, the&nbsp;vision is to transform disparate events into a cohesive, narrative-driven season.&nbsp;The series is anchored by&nbsp;core values which include fan-first accessibility, competitive integrity, storytelling, and a dynamic&nbsp;entertaining experience onsite

The Open Weekly Graphic with Tamie Smith & Lillet 3 on it

The Open Weekly: Smith and Holzer take the Series leads

Eleven qualifiers in. Two wins in a row. A leaderboard lead of 205 points over Caroline Pamukcu on 185. If there was any doubt about who the 2026 US Equestrian Open of Eventing Series favorite is, Tamie Smith has spent the last two weekends removing it.
<img src="https://usef-admin.fly.dev/assets/c09f80e8-7dc8-4c6b-a734-019d145f71c5.png?width=1234&amp;height=1212" alt="W1 N Zj Leaderboard of the Us Equestrian Open of Eventing Nbsp (2)">
Three weeks ago, we called it (read the full article<a href="https://www.usequestrianopen.org/stories/six-horses-two-weekends-why-tamie-smith-is-the-series-favorite" target="_blank" rel="noopener"> here</a>). Six horses across two back-to-back qualifiers, open scoring slots, and a West Coast calendar that was always going to favor her. The prediction was Tamie Smith wins the 2026 Series. She went to Florida and Kentucky and made believers of anyone who wasn't already.
&nbsp;
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<h2 class="font-claude-response-body break-words whitespace-normal leading-[1.7]">How the wins arrived</h2>
At Ocala, Smith steered Jump To Day D to victory in just his second CCI4* appearance, finishing on his dressage score of 31.5 - a feat only three combinations had managed in the event's entire history, all at a previous venue. She also placed fifth with Spiro P on his CCI4* debut. Two horses, two results, 60 points banked.
<img src="https://usef-admin.fly.dev/assets/7c7ce645-0353-48a5-aac3-7d21f9406bce.png?width=904&amp;height=1099" alt="Screenshot 2026 04 20 121920 (1)">
Then came Kentucky, where Smith &amp; Lillet 3 won the Cosequin Lexington CCI4*-S with a score of 31.3 - a performance built on precision across all three phases. After dressage, Tamie sat third on 29.7. It was on cross-country day that the race changed.&nbsp;Lillet 3 added just 1.6 time penalties around the course (the fastest round of the day) to move from third into the lead heading into the showjumping. From there, she held it. Of 31 pairs to jump&nbsp;Guilherme Jorge's course, Tamie and Lillet 3 were the only combination to go clear within the time.
<img src="https://usef-admin.fly.dev/assets/e087b808-6ca6-488f-a2a0-978352401e22.png?width=697&amp;height=846" alt="Screenshot 2026 04 28 114843">
<h2 class="font-claude-response-body break-words whitespace-normal leading-[1.7]">&nbsp;</h2>
<h2 class="font-claude-response-body break-words whitespace-normal leading-[1.7]">Why the big wins matter most</h2>
In a series where the points scale is tiered by field size, winning big is not just better, it's structurally different. A win in a field of more than 25 starters pays 50 points. Win a smaller qualifier and you're getting 40. The ten-point gap compounds across a season.
<img src="https://usef-admin.fly.dev/assets/f4c60395-4300-4ffc-a11d-a722b69c73c4.png?width=717&amp;height=397" alt="Points Scale for Blog Inserts">
Look at how Boyd Martin built his winning 260-point campaign in 2025. His platform was the large-field qualifiers: a win and multiple top-four finishes in fields of 25-plus. He didn't even need two outright wins in those events to get there. Tamie already has two - Kentucky and Carolina, both with&nbsp;Lillet 3. That is a stronger foundation than Boyd had at the same stage.
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<h2 class="font-claude-response-body break-words whitespace-normal leading-[1.7]">Tryon International Three Day Event</h2>
But the opportunity for big points isn't finished yet either. In two weeks, Tryon will field a 25+ field and Tamie will compete with Ferrie's Cello and Spiro P.&nbsp; She arrives with two more shots at a maximum score before the season tips into the West Coast stretch.
&nbsp;
<h2 class="font-claude-response-body break-words whitespace-normal leading-[1.7]">The West Coast factor</h2>
Here is where Tamie's campaign takes on a different shape to anyone trying to chase her.
The second half of the season, the calendar tilts west. Rebecca Farm (July 18), Twin Rivers (September 17), and Woodside (October 2) are all West Coast events. Historically, they draw smaller fields. That is not a weakness, it is an opportunity.
Smaller fields mean wins are more attainable. Tamie's current 20-point scores (earned in tough, competitive fields) become very replaceable with 40 point wins on home turf.&nbsp;
&nbsp;
<h2 class="font-claude-response-body break-words whitespace-normal leading-[1.7]">The Call</h2>
Nine qualifiers to go. 205-points. A string of seven horses. Two 50-point wins already banked.&nbsp;Tamie Smith is on course to win the 2026 US Equestrian Open of Eventing Series.
<a href="https://www.usequestrianopen.org/categories/the-open-weekly" target="_blank" rel="noopener"><img src="https://usef-admin.fly.dev/assets/797de4a4-a9fd-4ef8-8f83-7253791613fc.png?width=4048&amp;height=577" alt="Us Open Blog Inserts"></a>
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<h3 data-path-to-node="6">Go Beyond the Article</h3>
Catch the latest insights and expert interviews on the&nbsp;<a href="https://sites.libsyn.com/559710" target="_blank" rel="noopener">US Equestrian Open Podcast.</a>&nbsp;
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The US Equestrian Open was born from a strategic&nbsp;Board of Directors decision in 2023 to build a permanent legacy for US&nbsp;Equestrian sport.&nbsp;Its mission is to grow and foster a deeper connection to equestrianism by delivering a premier, unified championship series in the Olympic disciplines. With top-level competition, storytelling, and a dynamic, entertaining experience, the&nbsp;vision is to transform disparate events into a cohesive, narrative-driven season.&nbsp;The series is anchored by&nbsp;core values which include fan-first accessibility, competitive integrity, storytelling, and a dynamic&nbsp;entertaining experience onsite&nbsp;.

Tamie's on top and has a West Coast advantage

It was a big day on the Kentucky Horse Park cross-country course with a 62% clear rate and an average of 11.2 time penalties, 2.7 more than expected from this class. The course asked questions (mainly at the influential corner), and not everyone had the answers. But the below riders did.
Tamra Smith &amp; Lillet 3 proved the metrics right. Coming in as the fastest horse in the field by <a href="https://usequestrianopen.info/kentucky4s2026/cross-country" target="_blank" rel="noopener">Top Speed Percentage</a> at 95%, they delivered &mdash; picking up just 1.6 time penalties to move into the lead with a combined score of 31.3. Smith goes into the final phase with a 90% win chance on the prediction centre. A win would add 50 points to her series tally and hand her the Series lead, with a 20 point gap to Caroline Pamukcu. The&nbsp;<a href="https://us.equestrian-hub.com/public/championship/eventing/2" target="_blank" rel="noopener">leaderboard </a>implications are significant.
<a href="https://prediction-centre.equiratings.com/competitions/kentucky_4s_2026" target="_blank" rel="noopener"><img src="https://usef-admin.fly.dev/assets/ae835a41-976b-41c6-89e8-e70fc6263be8.png?width=964&amp;height=655" alt="Screenshot 2026 04 25 173650"></a>
Will Coleman &amp; Very Dignified, or Dora to those who know her, put in a smashing round, picking up just 4.4 time penalties to sit second. Coleman has spoken warmly about this mare throughout the season, and it is easy to see why. She jumped clear (and inside the time!) at the US Equestrian Open Final and she jumped clear again today. The prediction centre gives her just a 9% win chance but with a 93% top-three chance, a podium looks likely.&nbsp;
Mia Farley &amp; Invictus sit third after a strong round with just 5.6 time penalties. This combination has historically carried significant time penalties &mdash; often into double figures &mdash; but they have been getting faster, and today showed that progress clearly.&nbsp;
The breakout round of the day, though, belonged to Isabelle Cook. Tina Cook's daughter, competing as part of the GB Rising Lions programme, was the fastest combination on course for a spell &mdash; until Smith came out late in the order &mdash; posting just 3.2 time penalties to climb 28 places from 36th to 8th. A remarkable ride that will turn heads.
Tomorrow, show jumping decides it. Lillet 3 leads with a pole in hand. Very Dignified is 4.4 penalties behind. The <a href="https://prediction-centre.equiratings.com/competitions/kentucky_4s_2026" target="_blank" rel="noopener">EquiRatings Prediction Centre</a> has made its call.
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<img src="https://usef-admin.fly.dev/assets/334c046f-d772-4b4d-b0e6-1da2cc765efb.png?width=873&amp;height=670" alt="Screenshot 2026 04 25 174450">

Tamie Smith is set to take the Series lead 

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Tamie's on top and has a West Coast advantage

Tamie Smith is set to take the Series lead

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