September 24, 2016 
Last year, Jimmy Torano (USA) watched the Central Park Horse Show from the broadcast box as the color commentator for NBC Sports. This year, he planned to watch it from home.
Then a Day Dream came along. And so began the unlikely success story of the $216,000 U.S. Open FEI Grand Prix CSI 3*.
Day Dream, an eight-year-old Dutch Warmblood ridden by Torano, made his 1.60m debut at the Hampton Classic CSI4* earlier this month. Their solid showing at the American Gold Cup CSI4* last week prompted the Florida-based rider to make an eleventh hour call to try to get into the Central Park Show. The show was only two days away.
“I really waited until the last second,” admitted Torano.
With no guarantee that they’d get to compete, he shipped the gelding to New York City. Come the horse inspection, they were on the grounds but still not on the start list.
“Michael [Stone] said to go ahead and do [the jog], and then somebody dropped out at the last second and I was able to come in. It all worked out, and I guess it was one of those things that was just meant to be,” said Torano.
Under the lights of the Big Apple, Day Dream and Torano posted one of only two double clear rounds of the night to win the biggest class of the week. In doing so, the unproven gelding bested a field of 34 that included heavyweights McLain Ward and HH Carlos Z, Todd Minikus and Quality Girl, Kent Farrington and Creedance.
“I was not worried about the lights. I was not worried about the venue or the atmosphere here. He is careful, but he is brave. Obviously I did not think I was going to come in and win the class. You have a top group of combinations here,” said Torano.
Purchased from Willem Greve in Holland, Torano imported the gelding two years ago and has been bringing him along. They did their first FEI rated 1.50m class earlier this year in Wellington.
“From day one I believed in him. I always said he was going to do big things. He jumped some grand prixs at the end of his seven-year-old year, and he won a couple times this summer,” said Torano.
“The horse has a lot of quality, and he is very careful. When I go to the jumps I never think he is going to knock one down. His rideability needs to get better, but he really knows where the poles are, so I have a lot of trust in him.”
Naturally, he’s thrilled with the result.
“I really can’t say enough about the event,” Torano stated. “What gets better than riding in New York City with the skyline like this? The crowd was unbelievable. I can’t thank Mark, Michael, and the management group in its entirety enough. The footing was spectacular. It is a great event. It is as good as it gets anywhere.”
Sharn Wordley (NZL) and Barnetta finished in the number two position for the second year in a row. Conor Swail (IRL) had the fastest four-fault round to place third riding Cita.
Arguably the highlight of the night though: when Torano brought his two kids up on the podium to share the spotlight. #DadWin
