Talamo Scores 2,000th Career Victory at Los Alamitos

Jockey Joe Talamo landed his 2,000th career victory Dec. 12 at Los Alamitos Racecourse when he guided heavily favored Rizzi's Honors to a four-length score in a 5 1/2-furlong starter allowance race.

The jockey has been inching closer to the milestone, with win No. 1,998 coming aboard Octopus Nov. 10 at Del Mar. Talamo finished runner-up 11 times since and only recently scored win No. 1,999 when Tiz Wonderfully took a Dec. 8 claiming race at Los Al.

Rizzi's Honors, a Florida-bred trained by Mark Glatt, raced wide while pressing the pace, then stalked from fourth. The 6-year-old daughter of With Distinction took over in the stretch and pulled away to complete the distance in 1:04.58 on a fast track.

Talamo, who will turn 30 Jan. 12, was joined in the winner's circle by his wife, Elizabeth, and his two young sons, Dominic and Vincent; longtime agent Scotty McClellan; and several of his fellow riders.

"She's such a neat mare. She always tries hard,'' Talamo said. "I felt pretty confident down the lane she was going to win. Besides (Glatt), there are so many owners and trainers to thank that gave me the opportunities that led to this milestone. I'm so grateful.

"Scotty and I have been together for about 13 years, so it was pretty special to have him here today. It's hard to believe I've been riding this long.''

A native of Louisiana, Talamo began his career in 2006, debuting at Louisiana Downs.

He progressed rapidly and became the first apprentice jockey to win a riding title at Fair Grounds in 2007. He left for California soon afterward. 

On the Southern California circuit that year, he earned more than $10 million as an apprentice and took home an Eclipse Award for outstanding apprentice jockey. He also won his first grade 1 victory that summer at Hollywood Park aboard Nashoba's Key in the 2007 Vanity Invitational Handicap (G1) and had four top-level scores that season. 

Talamo, who is going to ride in California through Jan. 5 before he begins competing at Oaklawn Park, which starts its meet Jan. 24, earned his first victory July 9, 2006, aboard Well Heavens Sake at Louisiana Downs. His 1,000th win came April 5, 2012, at Santa Anita aboard Splendid Fortune for Hall of Fame trainer Bob Baffert.

The jockey has 23 grade 1 wins so far, including the 2018 Zenyatta Stakes (G1) aboard Vale Dori, the 2016 Santa Anita Handicap (G1) and Gold Cup at Santa Anita Stakes (G1) aboard Melatonin, and the 2016 Starlet Stakes (G1) on Abel Tasman. This year, he is ranked 40th in the jockey standings by earnings, and his record of 74-87-63 from 533 starts gives him a 14% win rate.