February, 2021 | Horse Racing Free Tips

Beloved Midwest Jockey J.J. Sunseri Succumbs To Injuries From Automobile Accident

He may have weighed 110 pounds – but most of that was his heart.

James “J.J.” Sunseri, 70, of Erlanger, Ky., born as Tito Libero Cavanti in Ascoli Piceno, Italy on May 4, 1950, passed away on Jan. 2, 2021, from injuries sustained in an automobile accident on Dec. 13, 2020.

Sunseri was adopted in the United States when he was thirteen by Joseph and Dorie (Osinski) Sunseri of Erie, Penn., who preceded him in death. He was a graduate of Erie Cathedral Prep High School in 1968. After high school, he spent a year at Penn State Behrend Campus where he found his passion for horses.

Sunseri spent his adult life as a professional jockey with nearly ten thousand Thoroughbred mounts over 45 years. He rode races in Kentucky, Ohio, Pennsylvania, West Virginia, Illinois, Indiana, and Florida, entering the winner's circle 545 times. Sunseri also appeared in the movie “Dreamer” as the stunt jockey.

Sunseri received numerous awards over the course of his career including a Kentucky State Senate citation for his professional dedication. He was also a member of the Florence Elk Lodge #314 for 17 years serving in several capacities, including chaplain.

He was a great storyteller and dancer. He never forgot a birthday or special occasion for anyone in his huge extended family. He was always sending cards with underlines on the meanings he wished to emphasize. His love for his cousins and their children went beyond happiness. Mr. Santa is what he was! He gave love and smiles to all who knew him.

He is survived by his “Lady” Judith Costigan of Cincinnati OH, an uncle, and many aunts and cousins.

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Travel Column and Clairiere Meet Again in Rachel Alexandra

The expensive Travel Column (Frosted) and regally bred Clairiere (Curlin), who finished one-two in the GII Golden Rod S., face off again Saturday at Fair Grounds in the GII Rachel Alexandra S., presented by Fasig-Tipton, which offers 50 points towards the GI Kentucky Oaks. Tabbed a 'TDN Rising Star' after an impressive score in her career bow sprinting at Churchill Sept. 4, the $850,000 FTSAUG purchase was third when trying two turns for the first time in Keeneland's GI Darley Alcibiades S. Oct. 2. The gray was last seen rallying to victory in the Nov. 28 Golden Rod and has been working in company with champion juvenile colt Essential Quality (Tapit) leading up to this, most recently covering five furlongs in 1:00 3/5 (4/51) in NOLA Feb. 7.

“I loved her going into the race, I was concerned during the race, and I loved her even more after the race,” trainer Brad Cox said. “It was a little bit of a worry. We saw it in the Alcibiades too, she breaks a little slow and had to make a premature move. But once she gets going, she's a really, really nice filly and she's shown it time and again.”

The first foal out of MGISW Cavorting (Bernardini), Stonestreet homebred Clairiere made a powerful late run to win at first asking in a 1 1/16-mile test at Churchill Oct. 25 and came up just a length short in the Golden Rod.

“She's a very good, lightly-raced filly with a huge pedigree,” conditioner Steve Asmussen said. “It's the right spot to start her back and we're really looking forward to it. But obviously we have our eye down the road [towards the Kentucky Oaks] with her too.”

Another of interest in this field is Cosmic Racing's Zoom Up (Upstart), who is two-for-two over this track. Hitting the board in her first two tries in Kentucky last fall, the dark bay broke through in a local sprint Dec. 19 and followed suit with an optional claimer score Jan. 18.

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Umberto Rispoli ‘So Excited’ To Pick Up Saudi Cup Mount on Max Player

Italian jockey Umberto Rispoli is living the American dream as he prepares for some choice rides at The Saudi Cup meeting.

The 32-year-old switched to California 14 months ago having enjoyed a fruitful spell in Hong Kong and success has followed him all the way to the West Coast of America. His first year in the states yielded more than $7 million in prize money and he currently lies second in Santa Anita's jockey standings after a sparkling start to 2021.

The only thing missing is a Grade 1 win to add to his top-level prizes collected in Italy, France, Japan and Hong Kong. He will attempt to add The Saudi Cup to his international haul of racing trophies when he rides Max Player in the world's most valuable race.

It will be his first ride for American Hall of Fame trainer Steve Asmussen and he is looking forward to partnering the 4-year-old, fifth in both the Kentucky Derby and Preakness last year, in the meeting's glittering $20 million feature run over 1800m (1 1/8 miles) on Feb. 20.

Rispoli said: “I was so excited when I received the call. When I heard which horse I would be riding and for which trainer, I was like 'oh my goodness'.

“Max Player has run in some tough races, he always comes late. He looks like he needs a little something extra but he's getting more experienced.

“It would be a dream come true to win The Saudi Cup. I would be the happiest person in the world if I could win the race. This will be my first time in Saudi but the track is supposed to be very good. It's very exciting to both be riding over there and to be involved in the biggest race.”

Asmussen has also booked Rispoli to ride Breeders' Cup Juvenile Turf Sprint runner-up Cowan in the $1.5million Saudi Derby, run on the dirt track over 1600m on the same day as The Saudi Cup.

Rispoli revealed: “I saw him at the Breeders' Cup and he ran a huge race. I got the impression you could go longer with him and he switches from the grass to the dirt. He was second on his first start back after the Breeders' Cup and he looks in fantastic order.

“He is the highest rated horse in the race and he might have a better chance than Max Player, but I have 100 per cent confidence in both of them.”

It would be fitting for Rispoli to grab a winner at The Saudi Cup meeting having impressed in some of the world's top races. He was twice champion jockey in Italy before enjoying plenty of success when based in France and then in the ultra-competitive racing scene in Hong Kong.

His move across the Pacific has been a roaring success and he just missed out on the jockeys' title at Del Mar's summer meet to Flavien Prat by a single winner.

Rispoli said: “Since I landed here it feels like home. It's a new challenge and a new chapter for me. If anybody would have told me it would go this way, I wouldn't have believed them.

“I've had great support from nice people and nice owners. The lifestyle is fantastic and since I've been riding here, I've been doing well. The numbers last year were unbelievable, some of the best of my career.

“Del Mar helps me a lot so I'm glad the Breeders' Cup is here this year. I love the place and I couldn't feel happier. I'm really excited about my second season, excited like a kid.

“I learned a lot in Hong Kong, you need a strong personality to succeed, but my time there was done. I am ambitious and one day I want to win an Eclipse Award. To do that I may have to move to the East Coast one day.”

Rispoli is clearly loving life in California but he does admit that racing in the state is going through a tricky period with a crackdown affecting trainers and jockeys.

He added: “In California things are very difficult at the moment. The trainers have a lot of restrictions for Lasix and the jockeys have whip restrictions. It's tough and I hope this isn't going to push the riders away. The fines are very high and you get banned quite easily so you end up missing a week.”

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Maxfield Headlines Mineshaft

Looking at the morning-line and past performances, the GIII Mineshaft S. looks like a one-horse race and that horse is the undefeated Maxfield (Street Sense), who towers over the rest of the field. A debut winner at Churchill in September 2019, the Godolphin homebred romped in the GI Claiborne Breeders' Futurity S. a month later. The early favorite heading into that year's GI Breeders' Cup Juvenile, he was forced to withdraw from contention just days before the race due to an ankle chip. Returning to action with a late-rallying score in Churchill's GIII Matt Winn S. May 23, Maxfield was knocked off the GI Kentucky Derby trail after suffering a condylar fracture in his right front leg during a breeze at Keeneland in June. Dr. Larry Bramlage performed surgery and the Brendan Walsh trainee made another successful comeback at Fair Grounds, capturing the Dec. 19 Tenacious S. Runner-up Sonneman (Curlin) and third-place finisher Dinar (Union Rags) also return here.

Last term's GII Louisiana Derby victor Wells Bayou (Lookin at Lucky) makes his second start of 2021 here. Fifth in Nadal (Blame)'s division of the GI Arkansas Derby in May, he was also forced off the Derby trail last summer due to bone bruising. The bay returned in NOLA Jan. 16, finishing third in the GIII Louisiana S.

The regally bred Enforceable (Tapit), winner of the GIII Lecomte S. in 2020, romped by eight lengths in a track-and-trip optional claimer Jan. 17, earning a 103 Beyer Speed Figure.

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