Joe Talamo finished fourth after setting the pace in his only ride on
Champagne d’Oro. That was in the Grade II El Encino Stakes last Jan.
16. The 21-year-old rider, fresh from a strong second-place finish in
the Del Mar jockey standings, is hoping for a better showing in
Saturday’s Grade I Lady’s Secret Stakes on the 4-year-old daughter of
Medaglia d’Oro.
“They told me to send and she got in a speed duel with Always a
Princess (in the El Encino), but it looks like she can sit right off
(the pace) in the Lady’s Secret, though Ask the Moon looks like a pretty
nice mare,” Talamo said.
Talamo and his agent Scott McClellan had an exemplary Del Mar
campaign, giving Joel Rosario a run for the money before finishing in
the runner-up spot, 49-42.
“I was happy with Del Mar,” Talamo said. “That was the best meet
we’ve had so far. It was real good. We had a lot of business there and
we’re looking to continue at Santa Anita.”
The field for the Lady’s Secret: Blind Luck, Garrett Gomez, 124,
6-5; Champagne d’Oro, Joe Talamo, 119, 15-1; Ask the Moon, Martin
Garcia, 124, 3-1; Love Theway Youare, Christian Santiago Reyes, 116,
20-1; Great Hot, Chantal Sutherland, 116, 12-1; Ultra Blend, David
Flores, 124, 4-1; and Zazu, Joel Rosario, 118, 4-1.