Kentucky Derby Jockey Profile: Umberto Rispoli

Of all the jockeys riding in the 2025 Kentucky Derby (G1), few can boast more international experience than Umberto Rispoli. The 36-year-old Italian has traveled the world, enjoying top-level success in France, Hong Kong, Italy, Japan, and—lately—the United States.

Rispoli started riding in 2005 and quickly proved to be a sensation in his home nation. In 2009, he ranked as Italy’s leading jockey after riding a record 245 winners, a title he retained in 2010. Thereafter, elite victories started coming in bunches. A quartet of Group 1 wins in Italy between 2010 and 2015… a few trips to Japan, where he nabbed the Takamatsunomiya Kinen (G1), Kyoto Kinen (G2), and Nikkei Shinshun Hai (G2) in 2011… a jaunt to Hong Kong, where he picked up the 2012 Queen Elizabeth II Cup (G1)… and an extended stay in France, where he caught the 2012 Prix du Cadran (G1) and 2014 Criterium Intenational (G1).

During the second half of the 2010s, Rispoli focused his attention on Hong Kong, where he compiled a lifetime record of 122 wins. However, opportunities can be difficult to come by on the ultra-competitive Hong Kong circuit, and in late 2019, Rispoli elected to try his hand riding in California.

Suffice it to say, the results have been impressive. Rispoli wasted no time announcing his presence as a major player on the California circuit. Since 2020, he’s won 63 graded stakes (the vast majority in California), a dozen Grade 1 races, and over $46 million in purse money. He won the 2021 Santa Anita Derby (G1) aboard Rock Your World and repeated the feat in 2025 aboard Journalism, the Kentucky Derby favorite whom Rispoli will guide on the first Saturday in May.

With all his success riding internationally on turf, it’s hardly surprising that Rispoli has won with an impressive 20% of his grass rides in North America. But how does Rispoli fare riding on other surfaces, like dirt, the surface of which the Kentucky Derby is contested? To answer this question, let’s check out Rispoli’s record since 2020 riding on dirt and synthetic at prominent tracks where multiple Road to the Kentucky Derby qualifiers are contested:

All stats from Jan. 1, 2020 through May 2, 2025. Generated by STATSMASTER, Powered by TrackMaster, an Equibase Company

Umberto Rispoli's lifetime record in the Kentucky Derby

Rispoli at Churchill Downs

Over the past few years, Rispoli has ridden in 23 races over the Churchill Downs main track, winning three (13%). In 2021, he guided Kind Ways to a gate-to-wire, 9 1/2-length triumph in a 1 1/8-mile maiden special weight. This year, he’s won the seven-furlong Eight Belles (G2) aboard Look Forward and a one-mile $50,000 starter allowance on the ground-saving closer Gamblers Tail.

Two of Rispoli’s rides have come aboard longshots in the Kentucky Derby. In 2021, he guided Brooklyn Strong to a 14th-place finish. Last year, he partnered with Endlessly to finish ninth.

Rispoli at Fair Grounds

Rispoli has only ridden once over the Fair Grounds main track, guiding Red Flag to a late-running fifth-place finish in the 2024 Thanksgiving Classic S., sprinting six furlongs.

Rispoli at Gulfstream Park

In 2022, Rispoli rode a trio of horses over the Gulfstream Park main track. While none finished in the top three, Rispoli did guide 85-1 longshot Endorsed to a fourth-place finish in the $3 million Pegasus World Cup (G1), which accounted for $146,250 of Rispoli’s dirt earnings at Gulfstream.

Rispoli at Keeneland

From limited rides at Keeneland in recent years, Rispoli has gone 1-for-13 (8%) on dirt. His win came in 2025 aboard Gamblers Tail in an $80,000 claimer sprinting about seven furlongs.

Rispoli at Oaklawn Park

In February, Rispoli took his game on the road to ride a pair of races over the dirt track at Oaklawn Park. His best finish came aboard Sandy Bottom, who finished a pacesetting third in the six-furlong Carousel S.

Rispoli at Santa Anita

Since Rispoli rides primarily in California, it’s no surprise that he’s ridden in over 500 dirt races at Santa Anita since 2020. His 83-for-529 (16%) tally is solid, though it’s less flashy than his 287-for-1,394 (21%) record over the Santa Anita turf.

Rispoli has won 10 Grade 1 races at Santa Anita—eight on turf and two on dirt. The dirt wins, as mentioned previously, came in the Santa Anita Derby. Although Rispoli is more often found in the winner’s circle following major turf races, his success in Road to the Kentucky Derby qualifiers—including the San Felipe (G2) aboard Journalism—bodes well for his chances in the Kentucky Derby.

Rispoli at Turfway Park

Rispoli has enjoyed strong success riding over the Tapeta track at Turfway Park, perhaps partly because synthetic tracks often play more like turf courses than dirt tracks. Rispoli’s 3-for-15 (20%) record at Turfway includes triumphs in the 1 1/16-mile Rushaway S. and the 1 1/8-mile Jeff Ruby Steaks (G3). He won the latter race by four lengths aboard deep-closing Endlessly.

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