Joe Talamo was one of the leading riders in California when he relocated this winter to embark on a Midwest composed of Arkansas’ Oaklawn Park for the winter and Kentucky the rest of the year. Riding at Ellis Park for the first time, the 30-year-old Talamo won 20 races for a two-win edge as meet leader over Rafael Bejarano and 2019 riding champ James Graham.
Bejarano missed the last nine racing days after undergoing a surgical procedure. He won two riding titles early in his career at Ellis Park, returning to Kentucky this spring after 15 years riding in California.
“It feels really good,” said Talamo, who won a race both Saturday and Sunday to pull out of a tie with Bejarano. “Obviously Bejarano didn’t ride the last couple of weeks, so that definitely helped quite a bit, in all honestly. But more than anything, I was just really happy that we got into some nice barns and outfits and won on some really nice 2-year-olds this meet that I’m really excited about in the coming months. I think quite a few of them have a bright future.”
Talamo’s victories included the $50,000 Ellis Park Turf on Mitchell Road for Hall of Fame trainer Bill Mott and the $100,000 Kentucky Downs Preview Ladies Sprint aboard Into Mystic for Brendan Walsh.
“I really have to thank all the owners and trainers who supported me this meet, gave me good opportunities,” he said, adding of his agent, Jake Romans, “Obviously Jake did a great job. Hopefully we can keep the momentum going.
“I love it there. We had a great time. It was really competitive, some really good jockeys there, some really good trainers running horses there. I know with COVID, the purse structure got cut down. But still, the last couple of weeks the money was pretty good, and I see that only getting better the next few years. I’m looking forward to being there next summer as well.”
Press Release/ Coady Phtography
