Four-time U.S. Olympic veteran Boyd Martin (USA) and Luke 140 took an early lead following the first day of dressage competition in the 2025 MARS Maryland 5 Star at Fair Hill presented by Brown Advisory. The pair produced a polished test to earn a score of 31.0, putting them at the top of the leaderboard at the close of day one. Caroline Pamukcu (USA) and She’s the One are close behind with a 31.4, while Jennie Brannigan (USA) and FE Lifestyle hold third on 32.8. (Two Canadians are in this division; Lindsay Traisnel and Bacyrouge currently sit 4th with 34.2pp and Jessica Phoenix is 8th riding Wabbit with 40.2.)
Martin won the inaugural Maryland 5 Star in 2021 and is among the favorites in this year’s fifth annual event.
“I was pretty happy with Luke,” said Martin. “He is a very talented horse and he’s got an amazing ability. The biggest challenge I’ve got is to keep him settled under a lot of atmosphere, and he went around and did a very nice test today. I was pleased.”
Pamukcu, Martin’s 2024 Paris Olympics teammate rode her 10 year-old mare to its best CCI5* dressage test ever.
“I am really proud of her,” said Pamukcu. “She’s 10 this year but she has quite a bit of experience and I am really thankful for the Federation to keep putting energy and time into her, and giving me an opportunity, so that she is getting quite used to this type of atmosphere.”
“I’m super happy with his work,” said Brannigan of her 15-year-old gelding. “He got a little tense at the end and then did a little change at that half pass, a couple things I could have cleaned up. I hope his score stays competitive, but I was just so pleased with him. I think that’s the best 5 star test he’s done.”
Earlier in the day, the CCI3-L* division kicked off dressage competition in the Main Arena, with Olivia Dutton (USA) currently leading the field after producing a score of 28.1 aboard the Irish Sport Horse Jewelent, a 13-year-old gelding owned by J.W. Rosbotham and Jewelent Group.
Tommy Greengard (USA) and Balladeer Kilbrickens Lad currently sit in second place with a 28.2, while Laine Ashker (USA) and Lovedance follow on 30.0. The second day of dressage for the CCI3-L* division continues tomorrow, with the first combinations scheduled to ride down the centerline at 9:00 a.m. ET. (Top Canadian in the 3* is Jessica Phoenix with Cosmo GS, 8th with 31.6.)
Fresh off her first international victory at last weekend’s Morven Park International & Fall Horse Trials, where she topped the leaderboard aboard Sea of Clouds with a score of 57.1, Dutton carried that winning energy into Fair Hill.
“It was great to have a good weekend last week and it is nice to have that extra confidence boost coming into this week,” said Dutton. “I am on a new horse and we are still getting to know each other so I am just going to ride the best that I can.”
Heading into day two of the event and the second portion of Dressage for 3* and 5*, Friday’s five to follow based on their 6RA (Six Run Average – the average of the horse’s last six international dressage tests), according to Equiratings are Monica Spencer (NZL) on Artist with a 6RA of 28.8, Feliz Vogg (SUI) on Cartania with a 6RA of 30.8, Mia Farley (USA) on Phelps with a 6RA of 32.0, Boyd Martin (USA) on Commando 3 with a 6RA of 27.3, and Caroline Pamukcu (USA) on HSH Blake with a 6RA of 29.5
The event is being streamed globally via ClipMyHorse.TV and regionally via Maryland Public Television.
Schedule & Results HERE.
For more information, please visit www.maryland5star.us.
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