New Zealand’s Monica Spencer and her Thoroughbred gelding Artist showed grit, speed and poise as they hung on to the top spot at the Defender Kentucky Three-Day Event presented by MARS Equestrian (K3DE) to sit in first in the CCI5*-L on a score of 22.3 after a double clear cross-country run. “‘Max’ was a champion today,” Spencer said of the 15-year-old. “He ran and jumped the whole way to the end, and gave me a great ride.” Will Coleman jumped up to second aboard Diabolo (27.3) after adding no additional penalties to his score, and Caroline Pamukcu and HSH Blake (28.6) slid into third after adding just two time penalties.