Jockey Umberto Rispoli has confirmed via Twitter that he will be riding in Kentucky this spring instead of New York.
Rispoli originally planned to ride in New York but said after discussing the situation with his new agent Mike Sellitto, he decided to change the language.
According to a tweet by David Grening of Daily Racing Form, Rispoli will start riding at Keeneland meet April 13 and then move on Churchill Downs followed by a period in Racecourse Saratoga.
When and if he rides in New York, Rispoli will face an uphill struggle for mounts amid a herd of racehorses expected to include Irad Ortiz Jr., Jose Ortiz , Luis Saez, Flavien Prat, John Velazquez, Javier Castellano and year-round top drivers like Dylan Davis, Trevor McCarthy, Kendrick Carmouche and Manny Franco.
While based in Santa Anita this year, Rispoli has 22 wins from 149 starting with a 15% win rate.
He’s moving to the US in 2020 and, according to Equibase, has 1,514 rides with 278 wins (18%) with $19.1 million in earnings and three North American #1 wins.
Born in Italy, Rispoli has traveled extensively and has also ridden in Italy, France, Great Britain, Germany, Czech Republic, Hong Kong, Japan, South Africa and Mauritius.
