BRIDGEHAMPTON, N.Y.--JJ Torano of Mohrsville, Pa. on Vitus K won the $30,000 Junior/Amateur Jumper Classic on Sunday, Aug. 30 at the Hampton Classic.
JJ Torano on Vitus K (Photo by KindMedia)From a starting field of 45, 10 were clean to make the jump-off over the course set by Nick Granat.
Following their win in Friday’s $10,000 Junior/Amateur Welcome Stake, Torano and Vitus K won once more on Sunday, while Torano also had won a National Grand Prix earlier in the week.
Torano finished clean in 32.430 seconds to win over Violet Tatum of Los Angeles, Calif., on BP Swifty, second in 32.660 seconds, and Isabel Coxe of West Lake Hills, Texas on ZG Bella was third in 35.126 seconds.
“I’d watched Violet from the screen, and she didn’t leave much on the table,” Torano said. “I thought, ‘Ooh, this is going to be a fast jump-off.’ But Vitus is a quick horse, and I know him super well. We have amazing trust in each other. It’s almost not a thought in my mind that I can’t catch somebody when I’m on him. I’m quite confident and really feel at ease with him, and I know we can really take a challenge together."
“WE'VE DONE a lot of these Show Jumping Hall of Fame Classics all year, but this one was special to have,” he said. “We’re at the Hampton Classic. We aim for this show every year. It’s almost like a championship show for us; it’s always a stop on our summer tour.”
Torano and Vitus K won the 1.40m Junior Jumper Championship and Torano also won the Show Jumping Hall of Fame Style of Riding Award as the Best Junior Jumper Rider as determined by the judges.
There was a three way for for the Grand Hunter Championship, with each horse-earning a total of 46 points in their respective divisions.
Dr. Betsee Parker’s Rosewood, ridden by Scott Stewart of Flemington, N.J., in the Green Conformation 3’9” Hunter, John & Stephanie Ingram LLC’s Odette, ridden by Victoria Colvin of Loxahatchee, Fla., in the Performance 3’6” Hunter and Tufton Avenue, owned and ridden by Stephanie Danhakl of Haverford, Pa.,, in the Amateur-Owner 3’3” Hunter 36+ were the three tied.
Scott Stewart was the Best Hunter Rider (as determined by the judges.
