<body><div>FAIR HILL, Md.--Tamie Smith on 18-year-old Mai Baum scored 25.3 to lead after the CCI5*-L Dressage competition on Friday, Oct.18 at the Maryland 5 Star.<figure><img src="https://img.particlenews.com/image.php?type=thumbnail_580x000&amp;url=0VF4Zt_0wD4NHyr00" alt="https://img.particlenews.com/image.php?url=0VF4Zt_0wD4NHyr00" width="450" height="300" ></figure>Kiersten Miller on Mama Mia maintained her in the 3 star on 28.4,Smith has been riding Mai Baum for 10 years and now leads in Mai Baum’s final 5 Star competition.Oliver Townend of Great Britain on 17-year-old Ballaghmor Class is second with a score of 26.5 while Bubby Upton, also of Great Britain, on Cola is third, just.2 back on 26.7.It's very close heading into cross country, where time is expected to play a big part over the hilly course, with the top seven separated by a few time faults or less than a rail in stadium jumping.Tim Price of New Zealand on Falco is fourth on 27.4, Boyd Martin on Tsetserleg TSF is fifth on 27.7, Cosby Green, the overnight leader on Highly Suspicious, is sixth on 28 and Martin on Commando 3 is seventh on 28.5.SMITH HAD a mistake free test with beautiful, smooth flying changes and earned the first 10 of the competition, from ground jury president Christina Klingspor at C, for her final centerline.<figure><img src="https://img.particlenews.com/image.php?type=thumbnail_580x000&amp;url=2l2CKE_0wD4NHyr00" alt="https://img.particlenews.com/image.php?url=2l2CKE_0wD4NHyr00" width="400" height="267" ></figure>“That was probably his best test, he’s just getting better with age and so strong,” said Smith, who in his first season with Smith won the CCI3,* now CCI4*-L, at Fair Hill in 2015, and is now competing in the five star as his final event at the top level.“It’ll be his last five-star, so it’s a bit bittersweet but it felt really good to feel that test after all the hard work we’ve been putting in,” said Smith.“He started his 4 Star long career here at Fair Hill, so to be back here for his final 5 Star is very special,” said Smith. “I was super pleased with him; he is feeling like a million bucks and like he is 10 again. I felt like I had my best test. I was really thrilled with every aspect of it, and I couldn’t have asked for him to be better."Smith on Mai Baum won the Kentucky five star last year, the first U.S. rider to win in Kentucky in15 years, and was a team silver medalist at the 2022 World Championships.Mai Baum has won 13 times internationally in his career, once with his owner Alexandra Ahearn before she gave the ride to Smith, who has won 12 times with him.Their 10 years together include being named to three major U.S. teams, winning team gold at the 2019 Pan American Games and team silver at the 2022 World Championships as well as being the traveling reserve for the 2021 Olympics.Kiersten Miller on Mama Mia maintained her lead in the 3 star on 28.4, and Sara Schulman on Cooley Chromatic remains in second place on 28.6.Allison Springe on Castle Howard Romeo is close behind at 28.7, Ariel Grald on Adagio’s Nobility had Friday’s best score to move into fourth place at 28.9, while Kiersten Miller on Rosconnell Alto moved into fifth at 29.0 and Katie Lichten is sixth on her 8-year-old, HTS Jensen R with a 29.1.Going into cross-country, along with the tightly packed seven leaders, others to watch include David Doel of Great Britain on GalileoNieuwmoed, who is about nine points back on 34.5.According to Equiratings, Galileo Nieuwmoed is the fastest horse in the field and the most reliable jumper.He's had one cross country fault in his entire international career over 30 cross country runs and more than 6 years.Other contenders to watch include Jessica Phoenix of Canada with Fluorescent Adolescent, the first out of the start box and known for her speed, offering an early indicator of how challenging the time will be.Meanwhile, Townend’s five-star veteran Ballaghmor Class is aiming for his 20th consecutive international clear, continuing a remarkable streak at the highest levels of competition.With time expected to be a decisive factor, horses like Galileo Nieuwmoed and Fluorescent Adolescent will set the pace for what promises to be an exciting day of cross-country action.The event is being streamed globally via ClipMyHorse.TV and regionally via Maryland Public Television.</div></body>

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Tamie Smith on Mai Baum leads the Maryland five star after dressage

FAIR HILL, Md.--Tamie Smith on 18-year-old Mai Baum scored 25.3 to lead after the CCI5*-L Dressage competition on Friday, Oct.18 at the Maryland 5 Star. Kiersten Miller on Mama Mia maintained her in the 3 star on 28.4,. Smith has been riding Mai Baum for 10 years and now leads...