Half the 22-horse field strutted before the ground jury on Thursday at the 2025 MARS Maryland 5* to start off the dressage and it’s Boyd Martin in the lead after day one.

Equiratings Prediction Centre put him at the top of the podium on both his rides. As last week’s inaugural US Open of Eventing Final Champion, Martin has momentum and established partnerships on his side in proven five-star mounts Luke 140 and Commando 3.  

“I was pretty happy with Luke,” he remarked on his ride of the 14-year-old Holsteiner, Luke 140. “He’s a very talented horse, and he’s got an amazing ability. The biggest challenge I’ve got is to keep him settled under a lot of atmosphere, trying to keep him cool. He went around and did a very, very nice test.”

Sitting in second place is Caroline Pamukcu on a horse that bettered its previous Kentucky score by four points—from a 35.9 to a 31.4. She’s The One, a ten-year-old Anglo European mare, impressed the judges in her second five-star attempt. Pamukcu credited the efforts of the US Eventing High Perfomance Program with investing in the education of herself and “Gemma.”

“We’ve been having a lot of training camps, actually, at Boyd’s place…a lot of dressage clinics, which has been tremendously helpful,” she said. “Last year, [US Equestrian Federation] sent us over to compete at Millstreet, which was great experience for her and me. Then this year, they sent us over to Arville. I’m really thankful [to them for] putting a little bit [of] energy and time into her and giving me the opportunity so that this sort of atmosphere, she’s getting quite used to it.”

Pamukcu also sits in fifth on her second five-star debutante, HSH Tolan King, with a 35.9. Both horses are over 80% Thoroughbred. 

Sitting in third is Jennie Brannigan and FE Lifestyle who has been investing in her own and “Foxy’s” education on the flat with Bettina Hoy. 

“I’m super happy with his work. He got a little tense at the end and did a little change at that half pass, a couple things I could have cleaned up. I hope his score stays competitive, but I was just so pleased with him. At the end of the day, I think that’s the best five-star test he’s done. [Two weeks ago, Bettina said], I’m going to ride Foxy every day, you focus on Morven [CCI4*-L]. It was pretty amazing. The first day I rode him, I jumped him, and it was just amazing how adjustable he was. It took me a second for my eye to adjust.”

A quick 20 minute tele-warm up with Hoy proved to be the ticket to a 32.8 for Brannigan who is riding with a sprained ankle.

“At the end of the day, I’ll never do anything to hurt Foxy. I respect the sport way too much,” she said about riding sore. “I’ve pulled up horses before, and I will pull up horses again.”

Canada’s Lindsay Traisnel rounds out the top four with long time partner Bacyrouge. She has been with the now 14-year-old Selle Française in FEI competitions since 2017 and he has only grown stronger and more confident. 

“He was awesome!” she exclaimed. “He’s always so good. I just know I have to ride him well, and he’s a good boy. He definitely gets a little anxiety in there so I work with him to make things easier. But he’s always trying! This is not his phase, we’re jumpers.”

The 2023 Pan American Games individual bronze medalists have a 46% chance of a top 10 finish, according to Equiratings. Last year’s jumping penalties from the 2024 edition of the MARS Maryland CCI5* are theie only cross country penalties since 2022. 

Heavy hitters, however, come to tomorrow’s sand box, so shake ups are expected. Olympians Jonelle Price (NZL) and Felix Vogg (SUI) will make their attempt at the lead, and Pamukcu brings her Olympic partner, HSH Blake, forward for her third shot at the lead.

Five-star competition resumes at 2pm EST.