VideoIn arguably the biggest test of her career thus far, Lillet 3 delivered for Tamie Smith (USA) in the Cosequin Lexington CCI4*-S. There was a packed house for Sunday’s stadium jumping phase, but the crowds didn’t phase the mare.
“She was super. I couldn’t have asked her to do better,” Smith said of Lillet 3. “She came up just enough to rise to the occasion and didn’t get too tense or tight, and just jumped amazing. She just keeps going from strength to strength. She just was so rideable and just tried her heart out, and I don’t even think she touched a rail she jumped so well.”
In front of a hushed crowd, Smith and the 10-year-old Holsteiner mare laid down the only double-clear round over Guilherme Jorge’s solid course. The time was extremely hard to make, but Smith kept up the pace with Lillet 3 to put forth a textbook round and win the division with a final score of 31.3.
“The time obviously was very influential in the show jumping. I was watching, and I didn’t think there was any way it was going to be achievable. Good riding was happening, and they were still not making the time,” Smith said. “I just went in there and rode to the plan of me and my coach, Scott Keach, and it worked out. It was really rewarding to be the only double clear today.”
Smith achieved an impressive feat with her CCI4*-S win. She became the first rider to have won the both the CCI5*-L (with her 2023 win with Mai Baum) and the CCI4*-S with Sunday’s win. Smith also received her CCI4*-S awards from a surprise guest, Olympian and friend Liz Halliday, who suffered a traumatic brain injury in a riding accident in August 2024. Halliday has been recovering over the past year and a half, and she was onsite during the event to watch Boyd Martin ride her Cooley Nutcracker in the CCI5*-L.
Smith and Halliday competed at the international level together, and Smith said the pair hoped to win medals together on U.S. teams. They shared a special moment during the prizegiving, and Lillet 3 rose to the occasion in another way.
“I know [Liz] is going to continue to be better, and if anybody’s going to be doing amazing things again, it’s her,” Smith said. “I think what was so emotional for me is my mare just stood there like she knew. It was so crazy because she’s hot, and when she’s been standing, she paws. It was just really cool that she soaked in the moment, and it’s good to see Liz out here again.”
Smith isn’t sure what is next for Lillet 3. The mare has already done well at two four-long events, so a five star may be on the horizon. But in the meantime, Smith and her team will assess the next steps.
“We get through our season leading up to this kind of particular weekend, and then we reevaluate where the horse is even though it is a short format,” Smith said. “Do they need to back down? Can they keep going?”
Will Coleman and Very Dignified Secure Second
Will Coleman (USA) and Very Dignified had a round similar to several combinations in the division—jumping cleanly but not quite making the time. Nonetheless, they had a lovely round, only adding 1.6 time penalties to their score. Coleman and the 11-year-old Irish Sport Horse mare maintained their placing to finish second on a score of 37.4.
“(Very Dignified’s) awesome, I love this mare,” Coleman said. “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.”
Following closely behind Smith, he became the second rider to have won the both the CCI5*-L (with this year’s win with Diabolo) and the CCI4*-S (in 2024 with Diabolo and in 2025 with Off The Record).
Mia Farley and Invictus Finish Third
Mia Farley (USA) and Invictus held on to their overnight placing to finish third on a score of 38.3. They nearly had a double-clear round but were one second over the time to add 0.4 time penalties to their score.
“It felt good. I’m very thankful for ‘Sammy,’” Farley said of their round. “We made a plan and stuck to it. I felt so happy with how it rode and happy with how Sammy felt.”
With her more experienced mount, Phelps, Farley has had some disappointments on stadium jumping day. The pair has knocked rails and dropped down in the placings, but Invictus has a strong track record in the final phase. Farley was pleased with her mindset on Sunday and being able to deliver on the day with the 10-year-old Holsteiner-Thoroughbred gelding.
“It was weird because I felt normal today. I just decided that I wanted to ride the best I could—Sammy and I together—and he answered everything. He jumped really well and high. I was impressed with him, and it was nice to feel myself also answer those questions.”
Looking ahead to the future with Invictus, Farley hopes to complete a four-long with him. She said they are entered at Tryon, but they are still deciding if they will compete there or wait until later in the season.
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Thanks to Dechra for our coverage of the 2026 Defender Kentucky Three-Day Event. It includes lead-up events, rider interviews, competition reports, horse spotlights, photos, videos and more.