{"id":312776,"date":"2025-08-02T20:21:18","date_gmt":"2025-08-02T20:21:18","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/www.europesays.com\/uk\/312776\/"},"modified":"2025-08-02T20:21:18","modified_gmt":"2025-08-02T20:21:18","slug":"stable-notes-august-2-2025","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/www.europesays.com\/uk\/312776\/","title":{"rendered":"Stable Notes August 2, 2025"},"content":{"rendered":"

\"Umberto<\/strong><\/p>\n

<\/p>\n

Umberto Rispoli \u00a9 Benoit Photo<\/p>\n

<\/p>\n

UMBERTO RISPOLI ON THE RIDE OF A LIFETIME<\/strong><\/p>\n

<\/p>\n

Jockey Umberto Rispoli is no stranger to success. He won 15 graded stakes in 2024, has collected numerous riding championships and records back in his home country of Italy and is one of the most respected grass riders in this country.<\/p>\n

<\/p>\n

But nothing has compared to the ride he\u2019s been on the past couple of months. Rispoli is the regular jockey for Journalism, runner-up to Sovereignty in the Kentucky Derby and Belmont Stakes and winner of the Preakness and G1 Haskell Invitational at Monmouth Park.\u00a0<\/p>\n

<\/p>\n

\u201cWinning a classic race is the goal of every jockey every year,\u201d Rispoli contends, \u201cand trying to find a horse like Journalism is the key. Every year you wish to get a horse like him.\u201d\u00a0<\/p>\n

<\/p>\n

He calls the victory in the Preakness the biggest achievement of his career, which has taken him all around the world. From Italy he moved to France. He\u2019s also ridden in England, Australia, Japan and Hong Kong before coming to the United States in 2020.\u00a0<\/p>\n

<\/p>\n

Through it all, he\u2019s ridden some quality racehorses, but now there\u2019s a new name at the top of the Rispoli Top Ten list.<\/p>\n

<\/p>\n

\u201cI have to put him on the top,\u201d he says of Journalism. \u201cIt was a big achievement for me to be a favorite in the Kentucky Derby and then the favorite in the Belmont against Sovereignty. The whole journey of the Triple Crown campaign was amazing. Plus you put the Haskell in there. So far it\u2019s been a wonderful season.\u201d<\/p>\n

<\/p>\n

What makes the Rispoli \/ Journalism union different from his other successful partnerships is that most of that success has come on the turf.<\/p>\n

<\/p>\n

\u201cIt\u2019s the first time I have found a real good dirt horse,\u201d Rispoli claims. \u201cI worked him at Del Mar last summer and then after his first start we saw something different in him. We knew he was a two-turn horse, no doubt about it.\u201d\u00a0<\/p>\n

<\/p>\n

Rispoli has three winners so far at Del Mar, a noticeable drop-off from past year\u2019s production but with good reason. He missed the first Saturday of the meet when he traveled back east to ride Journalism at Monmouth Park and he\u2019s gone again this weekend.<\/p>\n

<\/p>\n

\u201cSo far it\u2019s been a slow Del Mar for me, which I would say is unusual,\u201d Rispoli admits. \u201cWhen you\u2019re not here, it costs you some rides. But if that affords you the chance to ride horses like Journalism or Johannes, you do it.\u201d<\/p>\n

<\/p>\n

Rispoli is in New York today to ride Johannes in the G1 Fourstardave at Saratoga. With all the traveling he\u2019s been doing lately, he\u2019s definitely piling-up the frequent flyer miles.<\/p>\n

<\/p>\n

\u201cI like that,\u201d Rispoli insists. \u201cWhen I was in Europe I used to travel in a car for five hours just to ride one horse and then come back. When you have a day to fly around and ride good horses it gives you motivation.\u201d\u00a0<\/p>\n

<\/p>\n

Even with all this recent success, Umberto says he\u2019s not one to rest on his laurels.<\/p>\n

<\/p>\n

\u201cOnce you win a big race you just forget about it and move on,\u201d Rispoli states. \u201cEnjoy the day, enjoy the moment but there are other big races out there to win. If I had a bad day yesterday, I\u2019m more hungry than ever.\u201d<\/p>\n

<\/p>\n

Coming as close as he did to winning the Kentucky Derby like he did this year only intensifies that hunger in his bid to win the biggest prize in horse racing.<\/p>\n

<\/p>\n

\u201cYou need a good horse and a barn that supports you,\u201d Rispoli believes. \u201cIrad (Ortiz, Jr.) and Flavien (Prat) on the east coast ride for specific trainers. Here, Juan (Hernandez) is riding a lot for Bob (Baffert). You need those stables that support you from the beginning when the 2-year-olds comes around.\u201d\u00a0<\/p>\n

<\/p>\n

Rispoli has gained the confidence of trainer Michael McCarthy and owner Aron Wellman of Eclipse Thoroughbred Partners and he has every intention of rewarding that confidence all the way to the Breeders\u2019 Cup this fall at Del Mar.<\/p>\n


\n <\/p>\n

LA JOLLA HANDICAP SERVES UP PROMISING 3-YEAR-OLDS SUNDAY<\/strong><\/p>\n

<\/p>\n

The La Jolla Handicap is one Del Mar\u2019s oldest races. Not the oldest. That honor goes to the Del Mar Handicap which turns 86 this year. But darn close. The 85th running of the La Jolla takes place Sunday.<\/p>\n

<\/p>\n

Over the years it\u2019s been a race for older horses. It has been a race for 3-year-old fillies. It has been run at a mile and, for a couple of decades, was run on the dirt. But it has always been a jump off point for good 3-year-olds. Smooth Like Strait, River Boyne, Sidney\u2019s Candy, Singletary and Relaunch to name a few. All won the La Jolla before going on to bigger conquests.<\/p>\n

<\/p>\n

This year a six-pack of 3-year-olds will head to the gate in the mile and a sixteenth turf test, considered to be the local prep for the G2 Del Mar Derby run at the end of month.\u00a0<\/p>\n

<\/p>\n

The morning line favorite, Freedom\u2019s Not Free, is back from Kentucky where he ran third in the $250,000 American Derby at Churchill Downs. He led the entire race before getting run down late.<\/p>\n

<\/p>\n

\u201cHe\u2019s a horse that wants a target,\u201d trainer Mark Glatt notes. \u201cThere were some scratches early on in the day and he couldn\u2019t help but be on the lead. That\u2019s a disadvantage for him even with the pedestrian fractions. That particular week at Churchill, no matter how slow they were going early on, the course was playing to closers. Even though he got an easy lead I don\u2019t think the race particularly set up great for him.\u201d<\/p>\n

<\/p>\n

Glatt is also concerned about the set-up in the La Jolla.<\/p>\n

<\/p>\n

\u201cIt\u2019s a similar situation being a short field,\u201d he points out. \u201cMaybe one horse in there has a bit of early speed. But he runs good every time and may very well be the best horse on paper in the race so we\u2019re just going to go and try and win it.\u201d\u00a0<\/p>\n

<\/p>\n

The son of Omaha Beach had won back-to-back stakes, the $100,000 Pasadena and the $100,000 Cinema, before heading out of town for the first time in his career at the end of June.<\/p>\n

<\/p>\n

Three of the entries in Sunday\u2019s La Jolla are exiting the $100,000 Oceanside Stakes including the winner Game Warrior.<\/p>\n

<\/p>\n

The son of Game Winner pulled-off a bit of a shocker, winning the Oceanside at 19-1.\u00a0<\/p>\n

<\/p>\n

\u201cHe got a great ride,\u201d trainer Peter Miller says, \u201cand he showed a lot of heart.\u201d<\/p>\n

<\/p>\n

Jockey Hector I. Berrios was on him in the Oceanside and will reunite with the colt Sunday.\u00a0<\/p>\n

<\/p>\n

Artislas is another one who ran in the Oceanside, finishing a close fourth. He won four of his five races as a 2-year-old, including the Del Mar Juvenile Turf on closing day of last year\u2019s summer meet. He\u2019s gone oh-for-three in 2025, but has been close in all three races.\u00a0<\/p>\n

<\/p>\n

Day and Age is the other entry coming out of the Oceanside. The son of Omaha Beach ran sixth that day.<\/p>\n

<\/p>\n

\u201cI don\u2019t think he got the trip that he needed to have to have a better outcome,\u201d trainer Sean Williams notes. \u201cI don\u2019t know if he has to be on the lead but I think he wants to be more forwardly placed.\u201d<\/p>\n

<\/p>\n

Day and Age was running fourth in the early and middle stages of the Oceanside whereas in his two victories prior to his race at Del Mar he was out in front, setting the pace.\u00a0<\/p>\n

<\/p>\n

The other two entries in the La Jolla are The Padre, who won his debut in Ireland and then finished a fast-closing second to Day and Age in an entry level allowance in his U.S. debut at Santa Anita in June.<\/p>\n

<\/p>\n

Maaz is a French-bred who won his debut in England, but finished fifth in the same entry-level allowance race with Day and Age and The Padre in his U.S. debut.<\/p>\n

<\/p>\n

The 85th running of the La Jolla Handicap goes as Race 7 on Sunday\u2019s card. Probable post is 5 p.m.<\/p>\n

<\/p>\n

Here\u2019s the field from the rail with the jockeys and the morning line odds: Game Warrior (7\/2); Maaz (Kazushi Kimura, 15-1); Freedom\u2019s Not Free (Antonio Fresu, 9\/5); Artislas (Juan Hernandez, 4-1); Day and Age (Mike Smith, 6-1), and The Padre (Umberto Rispoli, 3-1)<\/p>\n


\n <\/p>\n

C.T.B.A KICKS OFF 2-YEAR-OLD STAKES SEASON AT DEL MAR SUNDAY<\/strong><\/p>\n

<\/p>\n

It\u2019s time to begin the 2-year-old stakes parade at Del Mar. For the next five weeks trainers will put their best juveniles on display in 10 stakes races restricted to 2-year olds, starting with Sunday\u2019s California Thoroughbred Breeders\u2019 Association Stakes, a 5-furlong test for 2-year-old Cal-bred fillies.<\/p>\n

<\/p>\n

It\u2019s a battle-tested group in the C.T.B.A., at least by 2-year-old standards. Of the eight entries, seven are coming into the race off of a maiden victory.\u00a0<\/p>\n

<\/p>\n

What\u2019s a Good Name actually lost her debut at Churchill Downs in June, but shipped out to Del Mar and won wire-to-wire.<\/p>\n

<\/p>\n

\u201cShe\u2019s a very nice filly,\u201d trainer Peter Miller says. \u201cVery quick. I don\u2019t think she needs the lead. She just out-quicked them the other day.\u201d<\/p>\n

<\/p>\n

It was the daughter of Grazen\u2019s first race for Miller.<\/p>\n

<\/p>\n

\u201cShe came in in very good shape from Steve Asmussen,\u201d Miller points out. \u201cWe just put blinkers on her.\u201d<\/p>\n

<\/p>\n

Tapatia Mia is one of two entries for trainer Steve Knapp. She won back at the beginning of May.<\/p>\n

<\/p>\n

\u201cShe won first time out and then we just didn\u2019t have anywhere to run until now,\u201d Knapp says explaining the three-month gap between races. \u201cBut she\u2019s training well coming into the race.\u201d<\/p>\n

<\/p>\n

His other entry is Mustang Knicky, a daughter of Knicks Go.\u00a0<\/p>\n

<\/p>\n

Lino\u2019s Angel won her second time out, scoring in a maiden race on opening day at Del Mar.\u00a0<\/p>\n

<\/p>\n

\u201cWhen I ran her at Los Alamitos she wasn\u2019t ready,\u201d trainer Edwin Alvarez recalls. \u201cShe needed the race. I thought she\u2019d run better at Del Mar and she did. She likes this track and she\u2019s working well here.\u201d<\/p>\n

<\/p>\n

Alvarez bred the daughter of Uncle Lino, who is a son of Uncle Mo.<\/p>\n

<\/p>\n

My Love Caroline also won her second time out, at Santa Anita in June.<\/p>\n

<\/p>\n

\u201cThe first time she ran, she broke bad,\u201d trainer Jorge Periban contends. \u201cShe stayed in the gate. The second time she broke a lot better and won the race easy. She\u2019s got a lot of talent.\u201d<\/p>\n

<\/p>\n

Liberation is the morning line favorite off her debut win at Santa Anita over the Memorial Day weekend and Jasmina won her second time out by five lengths at Los Alamitos in June.<\/p>\n

<\/p>\n

The C.T.B.A. is Race 10 of 11 races on Sunday. Probable post is 6:30 p.m.<\/p>\n

<\/p>\n

Here\u2019s the field from the rail with the jockeys and the morning line odds: Lady Victoria (Edwin Maldonado, 20-1); What\u2019s a Good Name (Juan Hernandez, 5-1); Tapatia Mia (Ruben Silvera, 4-1); Lino\u2019s Angel (Tyler Baze, 12-1); My Love Caroline (Armando Ayuso, 10-1); Libertion (Hector I. Berrios, 8\/5); Jasmina (Kyle Frey, 7\/2), and Mustang Knicky (Antonio Fresu, 12-1).<\/p>\n


\n <\/p>\n

COOLING OUT:<\/strong> Trainer Philip D\u2019Amato reports all is well with Speedy Wilson after his impressive win in the $150,000 Real Good Deal Stakes Friday. He hopes to get his talented 3-year-old in one more race before the end of the meet. The $125,000 Shared Belief on August 31 could be a possibility\u2026Jockey Kent Desormeaux notched his second win of the meet when he guided Vodka Vodka to victory in Race 7 Friday. He\u2019s ridden in two races this summer at Del Mar and won them both. This is the Hall of Fame rider\u2019s 40th year in the saddle\u2026Tenma, last year\u2019s Del Mar Debutante winner and this year\u2019s Santa Anita Oaks champion, fired a bullet work at Del Mar this morning. She went five furlongs and stopped the clock at :59.00 (1\/86). Trainer Bob Baffert has yet to indicate where and when he plans to next run his talented filly\u2026Hope Road was nominated for today\u2019s Clement Hirsch but Baffert decided to skip the race and instead worked the filly 6-furlongs in 1:11.20 (1\/2).Last year\u2019s G3 Torrey Pines and G3 Bayakoa winner, (both at Del Mar), last raced in the Winning Colors (3rd) at Churchill Downs on May 26\u2026Other notable works on Saturday: Goal Oriented (4f, :47.80); Privman (4f, :47.80); Alpha Bella (5f, 1:00.20), and Sugar Fish (5f, 1:02.00). 221 horses put in official works Saturday morning at the seaside oval.<\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":" Umberto Rispoli \u00a9 Benoit Photo UMBERTO RISPOLI ON THE RIDE OF A LIFETIME Jockey Umberto…\n","protected":false},"author":2,"featured_media":312777,"comment_status":"","ping_status":"","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"footnotes":""},"categories":[4107],"tags":[42254,12,4041,1071,79,114117,16,15],"class_list":{"0":"post-312776","1":"post","2":"type-post","3":"status-publish","4":"format-standard","5":"has-post-thumbnail","7":"category-racing","8":"tag-del-mar","9":"tag-news","10":"tag-press-releases","11":"tag-racing","12":"tag-sports","13":"tag-stable-notes","14":"tag-uk","15":"tag-united-kingdom"},"share_on_mastodon":{"url":"https:\/\/pubeurope.com\/@uk\/114961035137934237","error":""},"_links":{"self":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.europesays.com\/uk\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/312776","targetHints":{"allow":["GET"]}}],"collection":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.europesays.com\/uk\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts"}],"about":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.europesays.com\/uk\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/types\/post"}],"author":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.europesays.com\/uk\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/users\/2"}],"replies":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.europesays.com\/uk\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/comments?post=312776"}],"version-history":[{"count":0,"href":"https:\/\/www.europesays.com\/uk\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/312776\/revisions"}],"wp:featuredmedia":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.europesays.com\/uk\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media\/312777"}],"wp:attachment":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.europesays.com\/uk\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media?parent=312776"}],"wp:term":[{"taxonomy":"category","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.europesays.com\/uk\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/categories?post=312776"},{"taxonomy":"post_tag","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.europesays.com\/uk\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/tags?post=312776"}],"curies":[{"name":"wp","href":"https:\/\/api.w.org\/{rel}","templated":true}]}}