JJ Torano Back On Top in the $50,000 BrainJuice Grand Prix Series Final CSI U-25

By Jumper News USA on March 17, 2026

Wellington, Florida – March 15, 2026 – The BrainJuice Under 25 Grand Prix Series came to a thrilling close Sunday of Week 10 at the Winter Equestrian Festival (WEF). Featuring some of the top young show jumpers in the world, the qualifying pairs all gave everything they could in the grand finale—the $50,000 BrainJuice U25 Grand Prix Series Final. Ultimately, JJ Torano (USA) took the top call in the class.

The U-25 Series creates an on-ramp to higher levels for young show jumpers, featuring various challenges like change in venue, jumping under the lights, jumping the open water, team formats and more.

After a fall that sidelined Torano earlier in the season, keeping him from several weeks of competition during his debut U25 year, Torano, 15, rallied to end on a high note by winning the BrainJuice U25. Torano trains under the direction of John Brennan and Missy Clark at North Run with support from his parents, Jimmy and Danielle.

**Ariana Marnell** (USA) & **Jikke-Cara**

Torano (USA) and Lyon 50, a 12-year-old Hanoverian stallion by Lord Argentinus stopped the clock in an 11-horse jump-off at 33.24 seconds, just under two clicks ahead of runner-up Ariana Marnell (USA) riding Jikke-Cara (35.17 seconds).

“I hadn’t watched Ariana jump, but I asked her in the school area what stride she had done, and kept that in the back of my mind. She has a bigger-strided horse than I do, but I tried to do the same as best as I could,” said Torano, who was mounted on a horse owned by Kadley Farms and North Run. “My horse is quick, he was amazing today, and I was happy with the way I rode.”

Of his comeback to the competition ring, Torano noted, “When I got hurt, I was lying in the hospital bed telling my dad that my WEF season was ruined. To break my collarbone, be back in three and a half weeks, and have the second half of the season I’ve been having is a great feeling. My horses and I are right where we were going before I got injured.

“This is the sport that we do—there’s obviously risk involved with every class,” continued Torano. “The best in the world makes mistakes, horses make mistakes, and what happened to me was a fluke accident. There’s a bit of fearlessness in everybody in order to do this sport. For the most part, when I walk in the ring for a class like this, I’m thinking, ‘let’s go fast and let’s win.’ I try my best not to think about anything else.”

Marnell, 20, and her 12-year-old Dutch-bred mare (Denzel v’t Meulenhof), owned by Allison Firestone, finished in second after a season of balancing competition with studying Psychology and Sports Coaching at Auburn University.

Marnell won the BrainJuice U25 Welcome on the derby field during WEF 6. “This season has been a little bit difficult because I’ve been away at school, so the last time I rode Jikke-Cara was a month ago, and I haven’t been able to do half the series. In a way, I feel behind, but at the same time, my horses are really fresh and really excited to be here, so she came out today flying.

“I love this series,” continued the rider who trains in the program of Kent Farrington. “I think it’s so good for us to develop under higher pressure than what we usually show in. It feels more like a grand prix format, and to practice coming back for the jump-off after is good experience.”

**Alexandra Ryden** (USA) & **Irandole du Flot**

Alexandra Ryden, 21, (USA) rode Irandole du Flot, a 12-year-old Belgian Warmblood mare by Vivaldi du Seigneur, to third in 35.38 seconds for owner Precision Equine.

“This series has been really beneficial to me this season,” said the young rider who trains with Michael Hughes at Shane Sweetnam’s Sweet Oak Farm while studying electrical engineering at North Carolina State University. “I spent the fall focusing on college, so I was a little bit rusty at the start of the series. I was able to grow as it came.

“Two weeks ago in the night class, I made the jump off and was slower than I would have liked, so I wanted to go out there today and take a risk and push myself to go faster.”