Rispoli Crosses the Country, Guides Jungle Peace to Win

After working Kentucky Derby (G1) favorite Journalism at Churchill Downs in the morning, jockey Umberto Rispoli then returned to California, where he has been riding during the current meet at Santa Anita Park. That return was worth it—including a five-hour layover in Atlanta—as Rispoli guided Jungle Peace (IRE) to victory in the 6 1/2-furlong, $100,000 Senorita Stakes (G3T) over Santa Anita's downhill turf April 27. "I'm glad I made it back today; we can enjoy this winner," he said. "The filly was working really well, I was really pleased with the works." Breaking from the second gate a healthy 7-2 second choice, the Phil D'Amato trainee didn't have the heavy odds placed upon her as favored Cloe at 4-5 and taking off from Jungle Peace's inside along the rail. Cloe went straight to the front but not without Jungle Peace masquerading as her shadow halfway down the hill. The Irish import then effortlessly took the lead, forcing her rivals to fall in line behind her approaching the stretch. Swung outside as the field of seven crossed the dirt track, Cloe tried to overtake her rival, but instead found herself the one taken over. Amorita put together a furious rally after running last almost half a mile in. Jockey Juan Hernandez brought her inside crossing the dirt only to swing four wide once back on the turf. With Jungle Peace posting fractions of :21.83, :44.26, and 1:07.33, she opened up a two-length edge as she hit the eighth pole. Slicing through the middle of the field, Amorita passed Schilflied, then Cloe before closing in on Jungle Peace and the wire. With no more room to run, Jungle Peace won by a neck and picked up her third victory in as many tries since coming to the United States. She stopped the clock in 1:13.83. Jungle Peace is 3-0-1 from five career starts with $138,906 in earnings. She paid $9.60 for the win. Amorita was second and Cloe third. The filly is owned by CYBT, McLean Racing Stables, Jerry McClanahan, Michael Nentwig, and Jeremy Peskoff. She was bred by M Brigid B Ltd. Nentwig said that the plan is to stretch Jungle Peace to a mile before the end of the Santa Anita meet and later at Del Mar. "We wanted to try to get a mile out of her," he said. "We knew that might be stretching with the pedigree. We really liked the way she dug in the first time—she can definitely sprint. She doesn't have the best pedigree in the world but she tries hard. We'll take a mare who tries hard over one with a good page any day."