Rispoli Returns To Santa Anita And Guides Jungle Peace To Victory In Sunday’s Grade III Senorita Stakes For 3-Year-Old Fillies Sprinting About 6 ½ Furlongs On The Hillside Turf Course

RISPOLI RETURNS TO SANTA ANITA AND GUIDES JUNGLE PEACE TO VICTORY IN SUNDAY’S GRADE III SENORITA STAKES FOR 3-YEAR-OLD FILLIES SPRINTING ABOUT 6 ½ FURLONGS ON THE HILLSIDE TURF COURSE

ARCADIA, CA (April 27, 2025)—On Sunday morning, jockey Umberto Rispoli was in Kentucky where he worked Kentucky Derby favorite Journalism at Churchill Downs. On Sunday afternoon, the 34-year-old Italian was back at Santa Anita where he promptly scored with Jungle Peace in the Grade III, $100,000 Senorita Stakes with Jungle Peace.

Trained by Phil D’Amato, Jungle Peace (7-2) was making her stakes debut in the Senorita, which is for 3-year-old fillies sprinting about 6 ½ furlongs on the hillside turf course. She would lead at every point of call to remain unbeaten in three U.S. starts.

Bred in Ireland, where she was winless in two starts as a 2-year-old, Jungle Peace outfooted 4-5 favorite Cloe for the lead and set fractions of 21.83, 44.26 and 1:07.33 for six furlongs. Cloe had by then started to weaken, but a new threat emerged in a rallying Amorita (9-2). Ridden by Juan Hernandez, Amorita had been last of seven when descending the hill. She steadily cut into Jungle Peace’s lead in the stretch, but the late charge would end up being a head short on the wire. Cloe would finish another 1 ¼ lengths back in third with Velocity (7-1) rounding out the superfecta.

Jungle Peace’s winning time was 1:13.83.

“This filly was working well,” Rispoli said. “I was really pleased with her works and, her first time down the hill, she acted like a professional. Thankful we got it.”

By Bungle Inthejungle, Jungle Peace broke her maiden in her U.S. debut sprinting 6 ½ furlongs on Santa Anita’s flat turf course Feb. 15. She then came right back to clear her first-level allowance condition going six furlongs on turf March 9 at Santa Anita.

Jungle Peace is campaigned domestically by CYBT, McLean Racing Stables, Jerry McLanahan, Michael Nentwig and Jeremy Peskoff. D’Amato was not available for comment immediately after the race.

“She doesn’t have the best pedigree in the world, but she tries hard,” Nentwig said. “We will take a good mare that tries hard over one with a good (pedigree) page any day. We are going to try to stretch her out to a mile before the end of the meet. We are going to try that and hopefully a little later 3-year-old races at Del Mar.”

As for Rispoli, Jungle Peace’s victory punctuated a whirlwind weekend. As Journalism was originally scheduled to work on Saturday morning, Rispoli in the early morning hours flew in to Kentucky to ride the colt with the plan he would return to ride Saturday’s card at Santa Anita. That’s when things went sideways.

Due to a wet racetrack at Churchill Downs Saturday, trainer Michael McCarrthy decided to postpone Journalism’s work to Sunday. Rispoli then immediately went back to the Louisville airport and flew to Atlanta where he was scheduled to catch a connecting flight. His first flight to Los Angeles was canceled, then his second flight was delayed. Knowing he wouldn’t make it back in time for Santa Anita’s races, he then flew back to Louisville where he stayed overnight and then worked Journalism Sunday morning.

“I wish I was here yesterday, I apologize to all the trainers and owners,” Rispoli said from the winner’s circle. “I was stuck five hours in Atlanta. It wasn’t fun at all. I’m glad I made it back and we can enjoy this winner.”

Jungle Peace paid $9.60, $4.40 and $2.80. Amorita, trained by Richard Mandella, returned $4.80 and $3.80. Cloe, who shipped in from Florida for trainer Jose D’Angelo and was ridden by Luis Saez, paid $2.40.

Live racing resumes Friday at Santa Anita with first post at 1 p.m. PT for a nine-race card. Admission gates open at 11 a.m.