DEVON, Pa.--JJ Torano on Dora du Valon won the $32,000 Devon Speed Derby on Friday evening, May 29, a huge achievement for someone who is only 15 years old.
JJ Torano on Dora du Valon (Photo by Phelps Sports)In the faults converted into seconds Speed Derby,, Torano won in 86.210 to beat Stella Wasserman on Myjoka, who finished in 93,570 after adding four seconds for one rail down, and McKayla Labgneier on Pepita D Rollebeek was third in 95.300 after adding 12 seconds for three down.
"I'm really happy," said Torano. "This was my first four star. I'd ridden a three star and a couple of two stars before."
Torano, who will be 16 later this year, is now old enough to be allowed to ride in all four star FEI classes except the grand prix.
"At the start of the week, I i was happy with it, but obviously I like to win," said Torano who was eighth in his first even FEI four star, riding against such competitors as world number one Kent Farrington and number 10 McLain Ward. "The first two days, Dora had one down each day, I pulled through today.
"It was nice forherto comeout today and jump like she did and win this class. I still have tomorrow night, but I'm pleased to b e leaving here with a win. I was looking forward to this class specifically."
Tomorrow (the $182,000 Idle Dice Stake Saturday evening) is a big step up for me. I'm going to try to notput too much pressure on myself. I might be a little nervous going in, but I'll just try to ride my round," said Torano.
IN THE SPEED Derby, faults were converted to seconds, so for every rail down four seconds ere added to the rider's time, and Torano had the advantage of going last.
The 15 fence course was set in both the Dixon Oval and the Wheeler ring.
"If I'd gone first,I might have tried to go a little faster," said Torano. "Mvkayla went first and tried to go fast and had three down. Then Tanner (Korotkin) had a bobble. Those two had been very fast earlier in the week, so after watching them I changed my plan a little. At the end of the ring, I jumped the smaller option rather than the tall skinny. I still went pretty fast, but I didn't pull out all the stops.
"There couldn'tb ea better place to win your first four star FEI class," said Torano. "The crowd is behind you all the way."
