Boyd Martin Sits in Top Three at Stable View Spring International H.T.

Boyd Martin and Luke 140 were the overnight leaders following dressage and show jumping at the Stable View Spring International Horse Trials. He landed in second with Commando 3 and third aboard Federman B.

Home » Competitions » Boyd Martin Sits in Top Three at Stable View Spring International H.T.

April 4, 2025—Following the CCI4*-S dressage and show jumping competition at the Stable View Spring International Horse Trials in Aiken, South Carolina, Boyd Martin and Luke 140, owned by the Luke 140 Syndicate LLC, were the overnight leaders. Sitting only .8 penalties behind himself, Martin finished in second place aboard Yankee Creek Ranch’s Commando 3. And with a 30.8, Martin and Federman B, or “Bruno” as he is known in the barn, sit in third.

“I had a good day. I brought three of my top horses who are headed to the Kentucky five star,” Martin said. “All of them put in really good dressage tests and jumped around the show jumping really well.”

All eyes will be on Martin and his three horses, as well as the other 2025 Defender Kentucky Three-Day Event contenders, during Saturday’s cross-country competition.

Boyd Martin and Luke 140 topped the overnight leaderboard at the Stable View Spring International Horse Trials in Aiken, South Carolina. ©Dave Shapiro

Lucienne Bellissimo and Horse Scout Eventing LLC’s Dyri sit in fourth place on a 31.9 going into cross country. “My sole purpose of bringing Dyri here was to try and give him a nice run and keep his brain happy before he steps up to his first five star at Kentucky later this month,” she said. “I’m so happy with his consistent marks in the dressage now, 25-27 in the last couple four stars. He’s been fantastic and has so much more to give. He jumped well, although we had an unlucky pole early on. Then he tried hard through the rest of the course, which rode a touch more technical and square than perhaps historically. This all helps prep these horses for the direction the sport is heading. Fingers crossed for Saturday.”

Aiken-based rider Emily Hamel and Black Flag Option’s Corvett are sitting in overnight fifth on a 37.4 only adding one second of time to their dressage score. “Overall I was very pleased with our performance in the four star today. There’s always room for improvement in dressage but he’s getting more rideable with age which is helpful,” Hamel said. “I am grateful every time I get to jump ‘Barry.’ He is truly amazing and makes a big, technical show-jumping track feel easy. I’m looking forward to having a confidence boosting cross-country run tomorrow and carry that into the Kentucky five star later this month.”

Following dressage, Martin and Commando 3 topped the leaderboard on a 26. Bellissimo followed close behind, both figuratively and literally. She and Dyri followed Martin in the dressage order of go and slotted into second place with a 27.9. Martin and Luke 140 were third on a 29.2.

Martin and Commando 3 sailed into overnight second place. ©Dave Shapiro

After a quick break, the horse-and-rider combinations headed to the Mark Phillips Arena to jump the track designed by Chris Barnard. Martin and Commando 3 were the first pair on course and unfortunately had a rail down at 11B, the out of a one-stride before the final oxer. Rails fell for the first four combinations before Julia Wolfert and SSH Playboy were the first to produce a double clear round. Second-placed Bellissimo and Dyri joined the four-fault group with the top rail tipping on 4A. At the conclusion of show jumping, Martin topped the podium with all three of his horses after two double clear rounds on Luke 140 and Federman B.

Saturday’s Cross-Country Track

There are currently 24 CCI4*-S combinations set to jump Helen West’s cross-country track on Saturday. West explained that there are four distinct differences between the four star and the Advanced.

“The four star is very much designed as a pre-Kentucky prep run. That said, it always has to be true to the level and fair for the combinations coming here and potentially doing their first four star. I hope I got the balance right,” she said. “I think there is enough out there to test the combinations but I think the track has a really nice flow and the ground is really good. I think that will allow these horses to have their pre-Kentucky run and come out of it feeling good and ready for the test that lies ahead of them.”

Lucienne Bellissimo and Horse Scout Eventing LLC’s Dyri sit in fourth place on a 31.9 going into cross country. ©Dave Shapiro

To hear West’s complete commentary on several key questions check out the course on the Cross Country App.

Martin noted that he was also impressed with the ground. “They’ve been madly irrigating and watering, and the footing is fantastic. And Helen West has built an incredible track. It’s a great sort of preparation event for Kentucky,” he said. “It’s got everything you’d dream of—skinnies, corners, coffins. It’s a nice inviting course, but it’s pretty challenging as well. Tomorrow is an important day for me, as it’s my horses’ final runs before they go to the Kentucky five star. I’m hoping they jump around well with confidence and have a fitness run as well.”

CCI3* and CCI2* Results

The top three in the CCI3*-S remained unchanged following show jumping. Sydney Hagaman and her own Charmeur are sitting in first on a 27.5. Leslie Lamb and her own Banjo are sitting in second with just one time penalty separating them on a 27.9. To round out the top three is Chris Talley and Allison Pratt’s FE Marco Polo. The top of the Advanced leaderboard also remained unchanged. Woods Baughman and Manderly LLC’s Hopak de Greenbay Z are sitting in first on a 32.9. Skyeler Voss and her own Argyle are sitting in second on a 34.1 while Mia Farley and Karen O’Connor’s Invictus are sitting in third on a 35.4.

The Intermediate saw a slight shuffle of placings. Katherine Coleman dropped from first to third place on her own ESI Baltic Breeze to sit on a 27 going into cross country. However, Coleman still holds first place with her own Sirius SB who rose from third after their double clear show jump to sit on a 25. Gabby Dickerson is sitting in second place with Peter Dean’s Assagart Earl sitting on a 26. The CCI2*-S Division only did dressage today and will show jump and run cross country tomorrow. Following dressage, Isabelle Bosley and Karen Martin’s Conner sits in first on a 24.4. Not far behind on a 24.7 is Mia Farley and Cecile Zovighian’s Nikita. Rounding out the day one podium is Mya Poulos and her own DHI Rock Dancer.

The CCI3*-S kicks off cross country Saturday morning at 9:30 a.m. and the CCI-4*-S will begin at roughly 12:45 p.m.

For more of our coverage of the 2025 Defender Kentucky Three-Day Event, click here.

Thanks to Kent Nutrition Group and Blue Seal for our coverage of the 2025 Defender Kentucky Three-Day Event, including lead-up events, rider interviews, competition reports, horse spotlights, photos, videos and more!