Umberto Rispoli had a very good day Saturday at Santa Anita with three stakes wins including a graded stakes. Those victories earned Rispoli Jockey of the Week for Oct. 24 through Oct. 30. The award, which is voted on by a panel of racing experts, honors jockeys who are members of the Jockeys' Guild, the organization which represents more than 1050 active, retired and permanently disabled jockeys in the United States.
Riding for trainer Phil D'Amato in the Grade 2 Goldikova Stakes, Rispoli was aboard Going Global in her career finale. Off as the overwhelming favorite in the field of six, Going Global saved ground in third while 2 1/2 lengths off her stablemate Burgoo Alley. Going Global got on even terms at the top of the lane and burst clear to post a 1 1/2-length win in 1:33.85 for one mile on the turf.
“I was on the right horse,” said Rispoli. “She is very easy to ride. Once I hit the turn to go home, I just pressed the button and she did the rest. I feel so privileged and grateful to have been on her for her final race.”
Northern California trainer Steve Specht gave a leg up to Rispoli on Passarando in the Golden State Juvenile. Passarando bobbled slightly out of the gate, taking position behind three dueling leaders. Riding Passarando for the first time, Rispoli angled three wide into the lane for racing room and overtook heavily favored Giver Not a Taker in deep stretch to post a length victory in 1:24.18 for seven furlongs.
“Going to the three-eighths pole, I saw an opening between the horses ahead of me, said Rispoli. “I'm sure my horse was probably tired, but once I took him off the rail, brought him into the middle of the track, and switched leads, he did the rest.”
Rispoli and D'Amato then registered a stakes double on Amy C in the Senator Ken Maddy Stakes. Off as the second choice in the field of 10, Amy C wore down race favorite and stablemate, Connie Swingle to win by 1 1/2 lengths in 1:12.36 for 6 1/2 furlongs on the turf.
“It was pretty easy,” said Rispoli. “Around the far turn I felt I had a nice horse underneath, and I was just waiting until I crossed the chute to send her and I knew with that pace it was a 'come to me', so the filly did the rest.”
Rispoli will have the chance to display his riding skills on the turf Friday at Keeneland in the Breeders' Cup Juvenile Turf Sprint and the Breeders' Cup Juvenile Fillies Turf and on Saturday in the Breeders' Cup Turf Sprint and the Breeders' Cup Filly and Mare Turf.
Rispoli's statistics for the week included six wins and $430,544 in total purses.
Other contenders for Jockey of the Week were Tyler Gaffalione with a graded stakes win at Keeneland, Deshawn Parker with three stakes wins at Horseshoe Indianapolis, Joel Rosario with three stakes wins, and Luis Saez who won his second leading rider title at Keeneland.
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