JJ Torano topped a field of 75 equitation riders of the nation’s top junior athletes to win the 2025 WEC Premier Equitation Cup Championship  on Saturday at the World Equestrian Center-Ocala (Florida). The prestigious competition featured a three-phase format, with the possibility of a work-off. 

Torano, 14, of Wellington, Florida, secured the championship title—and the keys to a new Ford Explorer XLT SUV from Gary Yeomans Ford, which he’s not yet old enough to drive—aboard last year’s winning mount, Favorite Edition Z, a 13-year-old Belgian Warmblood (Favorit Ask—Sunny Girl) owned by The Northjet Group. His trainers, John Brennan, Missy Clark and Maggie Gampfer, also took home the majority share of the $100,000 trainer bonus.

The WEC Grand Arena set the stage with stunning topiaries, a meticulously designed hedge wall, and the iconic “WEC Eq” fence, in courses designed by 12-time ASPCA Maclay Finals course designer Bobby Murphy.

“To be the best, you have to beat the best and tonight, the nation’s top junior riders rose to the challenge,” Murphy said. “They tackled two rounds, each showcasing some of the most difficult and impressive courses they will face in their junior careers. Once again, World Equestrian Center has set the bar for championship events. We are committed to excellence, and tonight, we witnessed nothing short of the very best.”

The championship began Saturday afternoon with the over fences phase, which featured a challenging track designed to test each rider’s precision and style. After many impressive performances, 20 riders from the 75 starters advanced to the flat phase and the second round of jumping under the lights.

In the flat phase, riders were tested on their ability to counter-canter, extend the trot, and collect the trot—all without stirrups. Afterward, the top 12 riders returned in reverse order of standing for the second round, which presented an even more technical test. From this group, the judges selected four standout athletes for a final work-off to determine the ultimate champion: Violet Tatum, Kaitlyn Linck, Olivia Sweetnam and Torano.

Watch Torano’s second round on Favorite Edition Z, courtesy of ClipMyHorse.TV:

Tatum, ranked 12th after the first round, made a strong impression in the flat phase, moving up to ninth. She then delivered a standout second-round performance aboard Tanzanite De Semilly, an 11-year-old Dutch Warmblood gelding (Diamant De Semilly—Olille Fomia) owned by Wolfstone Stables & Sales Inc., to earn a spot in the work-off.

Linck also advanced, improving from 12th place after the flat phase with her own Don Touch De Tiji Z, 9-year-old Zangersheide gelding (Don’t Touch Tiji Hero—Viva La Vida Hero Z) with a polished second-round performance to secure her work-off berth.

Sweetnam led the first round with a score of 87 aboard the 15-year-old Dutch Warmblood gelding Class Act (Vigaro—Leonalda), owned by Ashland Farms. She continued to impress in the flat phase and entered the work-off ranked second behind Torano, who earned an 86 in the first round and dominated the flat phase to headed into the second round in the top position.

Judges Susie Schoellkopf and Danny Robertshaw challenged the finalists with a horse swap before tackling the second-round course once more. Tatum and Linck exchanged horses, while Sweetnam and Torano did the same.

In the end, Tatum delivered a strong ride to claim third place, while Sweetnam maintained her ranking to secure the red ribbon. Torano, however, sealed his victory with a flawless round aboard Sweetnam’s Class Act.

“I went in looking to have a solid round and be in the top of the group,” Torano said. “My favorite part about the first round was the triple combination, it caused a lot of problems throughout the class, but I know my horse well. He’s not spooky and handled it like a pro.”

The rest of the WEC Cup offered familiar challenges Torano, who last autumn became the youngest Dover/USEF Medal Final winner in history at 14.

 “No stirrups is a big theme indoors, so I’ve had a lot of practice this past year,” he said, adding that he also has been in pole position going into the second jumping round before. “At Medal Finals, I was in the same position—on top going into the second round—so there was a lot of pressure and nerves. But landing after the last jump, knowing I laid it down, was a huge relief.”

Similarly, Torano was not just familiar with swapping horses, but had ridden Sweetnam’s horse in the same situation previously.  

Watch Torano’s work-off round on Sweetnam’s mount Class Act courtesy of ClipMyHorse.TV:

“This past year, Olivia and I swapped each other’s horses at USET Finals, so I knew the horse a little bit,” he said. “This was like our round two. I gave it another go, and it worked out.”

Clark, who trains Torano alongside Brennan and Gampfer at North Run, praised the event. 

“Both of the courses were fabulous,” she said. “They asked a lot of good questions about lengthening and shortening. Our team was very happy with JJ and Violet. They answered everything well, and they know their horses well. Violet has formed a great partnership with ‘Tanzer,’ and JJ’s partnership with Favorite Edition is something really special.”

See complete results here.