(Photo by Shannon Brinkman Photo)
Kiersten Miller and Mama Mia Sit Atop Leaderboard in CCI3*-L After First Day of Competition
Fair Hill, Maryland – October 17, 2024 – First-time Maryland 5 Star competitor, Cosby Green (USA) and Highly Suspicious took a commanding lead following the first day of dressage competition in the 2024 MARS Maryland 5 Star at Fair Hill presented by Brown Advisory. The pair produced a lovely test to earn a 28.0 from the judging panel, putting them strongly in front of the field at the end of the day. Boyd Martin (USA) and Commando 3 are in contention with a 28.5, good for second, with Lindsay Traisnel (CAN) and Bacyrouge in third on 30.7.
Making her Maryland 5* debut, Cosby Green matched her personal best in the international arena during the first phase of competition. Her horse, Highly Suspicious, also achieved a career-best international score, marking a standout performance for the pair.
“Overall, I thought it was some of his best work in the ring so far,” said Cosby Green (USA) CC5*-L. “It’s hard not to be frustrated with the walk and we know that’s his weakness, but he went in there and I just thought he did a great demonstration of all the work we have been putting in and that doesn’t always happen in such a big atmosphere, so I really am thrilled with him.”
The Main Arena opened Thursday morning with dressage tests for the CCI3*-L field with Kiersten Miller (USA) currently leading the field after producing a score of 28.4 aboard Mama Mia, a 12-year-old AWB mare owned by Miller and bred by Heather Crespo.
Sara Schulman (USA) and Cooley Chromatic, an 8-year-old Oldenburg gelding, owned by Schulman, currently sit in second place, just behind the leader at 28.6, while Allison Springer (USA) and Castle Howard Romeo, a gelding owned by Susan Fitzpatrick and Frances Robinson, are slotted just behind them with a 28.7. The second day of dressage in the CCI3*-L division will continue tomorrow with the first combinations scheduled to ride down the centerline at 9:05 a.m. ET.
“She has always been pretty 0 to 100, that’s my best way of describing her so you never really know what’s going to upset her on any given day,” said Kiersten Miller (USA). “I think the key to riding her is letting her think that she is doing things on her terms and she’s making all the decisions — so I always finesse with her. I figure out places where I can give and where I can take again and put the pressure on and take it off so I can get through the tests successfully without any blowups, but it seems like we are sort of in the clear now.”
Heading into day two of the event and the second portion of Dressage for 3* and 5*, Friday’s five to follow according to Equiratings are Bubby Upton (GBR) on Cola. Cola’s best five-star test was a 27.3 at Badminton 2024.Tamie Smith (USA) on Mai Baum, who at 18-years old is competing in his last five-star event. In 2023, this pair ended the USA’s 15-year wait for a Kentucky five-star win. Oliver Townend (GBR) atop Ballaghmor Class, as Ballaghmor had his best run of 20.8 at Badminton in 2018 and has been other-worldly, completing all 11 of his five-star competitions, winning 3 and placing top 5 in all but one. Tim Price (NZL) on Falco, who’s best five-star test was a 22.1 at Pau in 2021, which Falco won and finally Maryland 5 Star 2021 winner, Boyd Martin (USA) on Tsetserleg TSF, who had his best five-star test of 25.4 at Kentucky in 2021.