Aiken, S.C.— Boyd Martin came into cross-country today in the CCI4*-S at Stable View in an enviable position, holding the top three places, and he put in three strong performances with his Defender Kentucky Three-Day Event-bound horses, finishing on top with Commando 3 (38.0), in second with Fedarman B (38.8), and in fourth with Luke 140 (40.4). Julie Wolfert and SSH Playboy kept Martin from sweeping the entire podium, finishing third (39.3).

Commando 3, Yankee Creek Ranch LLC’s 12-year-old Holsteiner gelding (Connor 48 x R-Adulgunde), won the dressage yesterday and dropped a pole in show jumping, but made up for it today over Helen West’s cross-country course, adding 8 time penalties to take the win for the second year in a row. None of the 24 pairs to start made the optimum time of 6 minutes 24 seconds.

“He was sensational on the flat. He put in a great test,” said Martin of “Connor.” “He’s a horse that’s got incredible extravagance, and he’s performing well. He’s just starting to get really seasoned at this level, so we’re very pleased with his dressage test. He had one pole down, but his round was good. Even though we had four penalties, I was very pleased with how he jumped a tough, technical track. Overall, he jumped in great shape and showed great technique.”

Read the rest of this story by Lindsay Berreth here.