Louisiana Native Son, Joe Talamo: 'It's Great to be Back' at Santa Anita

"I rode most of my career here since I was 17," said Talamo, now 34.

‘IT’S GREAT TO BE BACK’: TALAMO RETURNS TO SANTA ANITA The return of jockey Joe Talamo to Santa Anita became official Friday when he rode 24-1 longshot Ringtone in the first race. While the result reflected Ringtone’s odds, a no-threat seventh, Talamo had no shortage of well-wishers after dismounting.

“It’s great to be back. I rode most of my career here since I was 17,” said Talamo, now 34 and married with two sons. “I have some great memories of this place.”

Talamo, a native of Louisiana, first arrived at Santa Anita in April 2007. He was fresh off becoming the first apprentice jockey to win a riding title at Fair Grounds in New Orleans. Talamo would finish 2007 with 250 wins from 1,472 mounts and an Eclipse Award as North America’s outstanding apprentice jockey.

Talamo would ride the next 12-plus years Santa Anita before relocating to the Midwest in January 2020. During his first stint at Santa Anita, Talamo won 14 Grade I’s, five times finished in the top five of the jockey’s standings at the Winter-Spring Meet, and four times finished in the top five at the Autumn Meet, which includes a riding title in 2012.

In 2010, Talamo won the GI Santa Anita Derby with Sidney’s Candy. He also won both the GI Santa Anita Handicap and GI Gold Cup at Santa Anita in 2016 with Melatonin. Additionally, Talamo’s only Breeders’ Cup win came at Santa Anita in the 2009 Turf Sprint with California Flag.

When business began to slow towards the end of the last decade, Talamo decided to return to his Midwest roots. He finished 2020 with 134 wins and $8,019,234 in earnings. But then Talamo’s numbers began to dwindle.

“This past winter was really slow for me,” Talamo said. “I decided to ride at Turfway Park to stay close to my family in Louisville. That turned out to be a bad decision. I just didn’t get many opportunities like I thought I would have.”

Talamo said he first considered returning to Southern California last summer but decided against it. He pulled the trigger earlier this month.

“We’re going to be here for some time,” said Talamo, who is represented by agent Rene Amescua. “I was thinking of waiting for Del Mar, but instead of waiting another month I decided to come early and try to build up as much business as I can.”

Talamo gets his first stakes opportunities this weekend. Trainer Phil D’Amato named Talamo on Adaay in Asia (6-1) in Saturday’s $100,000 Mizdirection Stakes and Sorrento Sky (6-1) in Sunday’s Desert Code Stakes. Both are at about 6 ½ furlongs on the hillside turf course.

“My plan is to ride here as much as I can and to win,” Talamo said.

Entering Saturday, Talamo has 2,334 career victories and $130,906,099 in earnings.