DEL MAR, Calif. – Del Mar newcomer jockey Umberto Rispoli continued his torrid riding at the shore oval Monday, capturing three more races including the 8th Race allowance feature on the make-up card. The fact that it was the Italian ace’s 32nd birthday just made it a bit more sweet for the track’s leading rider.
Rispoli saved ground with Little Red Feather and Naify’s Scarto in the mile and one-sixteenth turf race, then fired the gelded son of Paynter through a hole inside and drew clear late for a three-quarter length victory. They covered the mile and one-sixteenth in 1:40.62.
Finishing second was Peter Redekop B.C.’s Ajourneytofreedom and third was Hronis Racing’s Tripoli.
The winner paid $4.40, $2.80 and $2.60 across the board as the favorite in the 3-year-old test.
The race was marred by an incident on the far turn when jockey Brice Blanc and his mount, Great Power, ran up on the heels of a horse in front of them and fell. The rider was taken to Scripps La Jolla Hospital for evaluation, while the horse was given a ride back to his barn where the report was that he was only suffering from minor cuts on his legs.
Rispoli now has 42 winners in 23 days of racing at the track’s 81st summer meet. He is one winner ahead of Del Mar three-time riding champion Flavien Prat with a stirring four-day finish to the meet looming next weekend.
Scarto wins Race 8 at Del Mar with Umberto Rispoli up.
The day’s Pick Six was captured by a single bettor who was paid off with a hefty $686,660 for his/her sweep. The player invested $36,722 in the pool to come up with their winning ticket.
Racing returns to Del Mar Friday with a nine-race card starting at 2 p.m.
Press Release
Photo: Scarto wins with Umberto Rispoli up. Credit: Benoit Photos
