Umberto Rispoli

BALTIMORE, MD -- In the days leading up to the 150th Preakness, a lot had been made of the one horse that wouldn't make it into Saturday's lineup at Pimlico--Kentucky Derby winner Sovereignty (Into Mischief). However, those that have been entered in the final renewal of the Classic race before Old Hiltop faces the demolition man are certainly no slouches. Leading the fray, Journalism (Curlin) returns off a runner-up finish in the Run for the Roses. Lest some may have forgotten, however unlikely, he went off post-time favorite for the...

Having been committed to the race just 24 hours earlier and in the absence of GI Kentucky Derby hero Sovereignty (Into Mischief), Eclipse Thoroughbred Partners, Bridlewood Farm, Don Alberto Stable, Robert LaPenta, Elayne Stables 5 LLC, Mrs. John Magnier, Michael Tabor and Derrick Smith's Derby runner-up Journalism (Curlin) was made the 8-5 favorite on Dan Illman's morning line for Saturday's 150th running of the $2-million GI Preakness Stakes at Pimlico Race Course in Baltimore. He was assigned post position two during Monday's draw at the Guiness Open Gate Brewery. The...

Jungle Peace (Ire) (Bungle Inthejungle {GB}) hadn't been winning by a lot since arriving stateside, winning each of her last two starts by a mere half length. In Sunday's GIII Senorita, jockey Umberto Rispoli once again timed it just right to get the filly home a head in front of 4-1 shot Amorita (Liam's Map) while giving the Irish-bred filly her first taste of black-type. Breaking alertly from the two-hole, Jungle Peace exchanged blows with the rail-riding favorite Cloe (Tiz the Law), but soon moved ahead of that rival, carving...

Umberto Rispoli, the second-leading rider at the Hollywood Meet at Santa Anita, is off all his Saturday mounts due to his connecting flight from Kentucky being canceled, 1S/T Racing announced Saturday afternoon. Rispoli flew in to Churchill Downs overnight to partner with likely Kentucky Derby favorite GISW Journalism (Curlin) in his final pre-Derby work, but those plans were scrubbed when the work was postponed to Sunday due to the rain. The jockey was named on six rides for the Saturday card, including on 'TDN Rising Star' Eagles Flight (Curlin), the...

A pair of Keeneland-based contenders for the May 2 GI Kentucky Oaks each drilled four furlongs over the Keenelanf main track Wednesday morning. Cypress Creek Equine and Madaket Stable's Bless the Broken (Laoban), last-out winner of the Listed Bourbonette Oaks over the Turfway Poly Mar. 22, covered the distance in :48 flat (6/43) in the company of her thrice-raced Will Walden stablemate Bermuda Triangle (Justify) in splits of :11.60 and :24.80 before galloping out five-eighths of a mile in 1:01 according to Keeneland clockers. "It was good; we weren't trying...

Umberto Rispoli has been riding in the U.S. for less than five years and the Italian-born talent has had to, among other things, convince trainers he could win on not only the turf but the dirt and that he belonged in one of the stronger riding colonies in the sport. It didn't take Rispoli long to establish himself as one of the best riders in California and now top trainers are after his services. Michael McCarthy belongs on the list has he has given the assignment to the 31-year-old jockey...

Jockey Umberto Rispoli will take on his third Kentucky Derby this year, but this time it will be with one of the likely favorites among the contenders in Michael McCarthy trainee Journalism. Rispoli discusses the promising 3-year-old in this week's TDN Writers' Room.

Saturday's Santa Anita Derby day showed large increases over 2024 with the all sources handle totaling $22,388,003 and wagering on just the marquee race up by nearly 24 per cent, according to a press release by the track. Bolstered by a big turnout from the Derby Day 5K, the on-track attendance came in at 34,312, a seven per cent jump from last season. It was the largest turnout since 2018. Both the all sources handle and on track attendance are expected to finish the Classic Meet Sunday up by noteworthy...

Journalism (c, 3, Curlin--Mopotism, by Uncle Mo) lived up to his billing and then some. In possibly the most anticipated Derby prep of this year, Journalism proved he was the real deal Saturday in the GI Santa Anita Derby and will go to Louisville as the GI Kentucky Derby favorite. The Santa Anita Derby rewarded points on a scale of 75-37.5-18.75 on the Road to the Derby (reduced due to a smaller field), giving Journalism 122.50 points total and a guaranteed spot in the starting gate at Churchill Downs. In...

About half an hour removed from a stirring victory in the GII San Felipe Stakes with Journalism (Curlin), jockey Umberto Rispoli and trainer Michael McCarthy were right back into the spotlight when Mr. & Mrs. William Warren's Formidable Man (City of Light) closed good ground hard up against the rail and was along in the final strides to add the GI F. E. Kilroe Mile Stakes. Off at odds of 5-1, the $375,000 Keeneland September yearling--by the sire who gave McCarthy and the Warrens memorable victories in the GI Breeders'...

The overriding question going into Saturday's GII DK Horse San Felipe Stakes at Santa Anita was whether unbeaten GII San Vicente Stakes winner and $3.2-million Fasig-Tipton Saratoga star Barnes (Into Mischief) could win at two turns. He very well may have if it weren't for another horse who also sold at that 2023 Fasig-Tipton Saratoga sale: $825,000 Eclipse Thoroughbred Partners buy and Denali Stud-consigned Journalism (Curlin). The GII Los Alamitos Futurity winner made his 3-year-old debut in the San Felipe with a powerful finish that will likely propel him near...

Trying nine furlongs for just the second time in his career and looking to protect a perfect mark over the Santa Anita turf course, Cuyathy LLC's Johannes (Nyquist) was given a supremely confident steer by Umberto Rispoli and was really only asked to finish up to post a soft victory in Thursday's GII San Gabriel Stakes. Crunched into long odds-on favoritism to improve on his hard-nosed runner-up effort behind More Than Looks (More Than Ready) in the GI Breeders' Cup Mile down at Del Mar on Nov. 2, the homebred...