THE SANTA ANITA DERBY CONTINUES TO TALK ITALIAN THANKS TO UMBERTO RISPOLI

Last year Antonio Fresu was the jockey capable of dominating the Santa Anita Derby, this time in the 2025 edition it was the turn of another ‘Italian American’ who made his mark in the Californian classic with Journalism, a son of Curlin, trained by Michael McCarthy, who crossed the finish line at Santa Anita Park ahead of Baeza and Westwood, but above all he lined up Citizen Bull and Barnes, trained by that living legend of American turf racing, Bob Baffert. And it wasn't an isolated victory, as the 36-year-old jockey, born in San Severino Marche but raised in Naples, won two other fine victories that day.

It may be a coincidence that both Umberto Rispoli and Antonio Fresu were chosen by the producers of ‘Race For The Crown’ to talk about their experiences in the run-up to the Kentucky Derby, but in the meantime they have confirmed their status as leading jockeys in the USA. Now with this victory, Journalism has put himself forward as a serious candidate for the first trial of the American Triple Crown of horse racing, which will take place on Saturday 3rd May at Churchill Downs.