Umberto Rispoli has been riding in the U.S. for fewer 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 on GI Kentucky Derby favorite and GI Santa Anita Derby winner Journalism (Curlin). It will be Rispoli’s third Derby mount. Rispoli joined this week’s TDN Writers’ Room Podcast presented by Keeneland to talk about the Derby and how he has established himself as one of the best jockeys in the country in such a short period of time, Rispoli was this week’s Gainesway Guest of the Week.
