Preview the Entry List for the Cosequin Lexington CCI4*-S at Defender Kentucky

Will Coleman and Chin Tonic HS. Photo by Tilly Berendt.

Entries for the Cosequin Lexington CCI4*-S, which runs alongside the Defender Kentucky Three-Day Event’s CCI5* class, have been published after some logistical juggling on the part of the organizing team to accommodate as many entries as possible in 2025. This 4*-S has grown in scope since its inaugural year in 2021, and is now widely known as both a bucket-list event as well as a stiff test of mettle as a horse and/or rider prepares to step up to 5* or a 4*-L later on in the season. Joking referred to as a “5*-Short” by many, this division always promises a competitive field, and that trend remains true for this year’s entries.

A total of 67 pairs are currently entered in the 4*-S, but we do anticipate that number to drop slightly as a few riders have entered on more than the maximum allowed number of two horses. Naturally, there are likely to be a few withdrawals ahead of competition as well, but for now let’s preview the list we have so far.

Notable on the entry list are Will Coleman and Hyperion Stud’s Chin Tonic HS, multi-time winners at the 4* level and 11th in their sole 5* start at Kentucky back in 2022. Chin Tonic HS narrowly missed out on a team spot for the Paris Olympics in 2024 when a relatively minor but ill-timed injury saw the now 13-year-old Holsteiner gelding sidelined just before Kentucky last spring. Now, “Chin” is back in action, taking home the Grand Prix Eventing Showcase win at the start of March and building on that with a handy 3*-S win at TerraNova just last weekend.

Will has been open about his plans to target the next World Championships (happening at Aachen in Germany next year) with this horse, prioritizing 4* competitions on this path instead of pushing to get to another 5*. This combination will be favored to win this competition at Kentucky.

Will Coleman and Off the Record. Photo by Shelby Allen.

But similar to Michael Jung’s presence in the 5*, the entry of Chin Tonic HS is of course no guarantee of a victory in this US Equestrian Open of Eventing qualifier leg. We’ve got several other pairs that will mount a serious threat to Will’s win chances, including one of his own other entries, Off the Record. This stalwart partner of Will’s who carried him to the first-ever U.S. victory at CHIO Aachen in 2022, is another horse who won’t necessarily be aiming at a 5* in the near future, but he should certainly be counted in as winner potential with his consistency in all three phases for Will. There’s also a third entry on the books for Will, who will have to narrow down the selection to two horses when it’s all said and done, in a new ride, the 10-year-old Irish mare Very Dignified. Previously campaigned through the 4* level by Ireland’s Robbie Kearns, this mare was added to Will’s string this year, and they’ve eased into things with an Intermediate run at Bouckaert Equestrian last month. This is an exciting new ride, one who’s won at the 4*-L level before (Mallow – 2024), and while we may not end up seeing this mare in Kentucky, she’s certainly one to keep an eye on as her partnership with her new rider progresses.

Caroline Pamukcu and HSH Blake. Photo by Tilly Berendt.

Also poised to make a serious run at the win are Paris Olympians Caroline Pamukcu and HSH Blake. Blake is another horse that’s very much on a Championship trajectory, and while we could see some changes to Caroline’s entries at Kentucky based on whether or not she is awarded a berth on the USEF European Development Tour that would take her to Europe instead, this pair is another one to watch for a potential win in the 4*. Blake also ran a 3*-S, at Carolina in mid-March, with Caroline for a lower-key pipe opener as both he and his rider get back into the swing of things, Blake after his Paris break and Caroline after returning from maternity leave just a few weeks ago.

Caroline has also entered the towering King’s Especiale, another horse she believes has Championship and real 5* potential who’s coming off of a top-15 finish in the 4*-S at Carolina International last month en route to Kentucky.

Phillip Dutton and Possante. Photo by Shannon Brinkman Photography.

Phillip Dutton has prioritized the 4*-S for his entries this year, though he is planning to head to Luhmühlen in June (we aren’t sure which horses are targeting this 5* just yet). To that end, he’s only got 4* entries this year in two of his current top rides, Denim and Possante. Both of these horses had excellent runs at the Grand Prix Eventing Showcase in Aiken earlier in the season, and they also both finished well at TerraNova’s 4*-S last weekend, at which cross country exerted its fair share of influence.

Alyssa Phillips and Oskar. Photo by Shelby Allen.

Alyssa Phillips is entered again this year with Oskar, who was the inaugural winner of this division back in 2021. Alyssa traveled to Germany to compete at CHIO Aachen last year, where they finished 15th individually. This year, they’ve come out with an Advanced win at Bouckaert Equestrian in March and are poised to make a run at a second title, carrying with them the ability to compete in all three phases.

Allison Springer and No May Moon. Photo by Sally Spickard.

Another pair you should definitely count in for a winner threat is Allison Springer with Bromont 4*-L winner No May Moon, a formidable competitor who is a strong shout for some serious leaderboard climbing in the jumping phases.

Tommy Greengard and That’s Me Z. Photo by Sherry Stewart.

The West coast is sending a strong contingent of consistently competitive 4* horses to Kentucky this year, represented well by Taren Hoffos with two rides in Master Class and Regalla, Tommy Greengard (who spent some time overseas last year training with Tim and Jonelle Price) with That’s Me Z (who finished inside the top 16 at Le Lion d’Angers’ 7-year-old World Championship last fall) and Joshuay MBF, Kentucky 5* winner Tamie Smith and Kynan, James Alliston with a handful of horses that will eventually become two rides: Cora, Paper Jam, Nemesis, and Irish Pop, Sophie Click and Tarantino 54, and Molly Duda with Disco Traveler.

Of course, this preview barely scratches the surface of all of the combinations we’ll see in this very exciting field, so be sure to take a look at the full list below or here on the Kentucky website.

We’ll keep you posted of more developments on both entry lists for Kentucky as it draws ever closer, so keep an eye out right here on EN for the latest news. You can also view our 5* entry preview here.

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Full Cosequin 4*-S entry list: