Rispoli, Maldonado leaving town for rich Kentucky Downs races

DEL MAR, Calif. – Umberto Rispoli and Edwin Maldonado, two of the top six riders at the Del Mar summer meeting, will miss Saturday’s blockbuster program at Del Mar to ride at Kentucky Downs.

The Del Mar program on Saturday is the richest of the meeting, with five stakes, including the Grade 1 Pacific Classic, a $1 million race at 1 1/4 miles that is a key prep for the $7 million Breeders’ Cup Classic at Del Mar on Nov. 2.

Rispoli has six mounts at Kentucky Downs on Saturday, including bookings in two $1.5 million races – on Ag Bullet in the Grade 2 Ladies Turf Sprint at six furlongs, and Spirit and Glory in the Grade 3 Ladies Turf Stakes at a mile.

Maldonado rides Ruby Nell in the Ladies Turf Sprint, his lone scheduled mount of the day.

Through Sunday, Rispoli was second in the standings at Del Mar with 23 wins. Juan Hernandez leads all riders with 32 wins. Edwin Maldonado ranked sixth with 12 wins.

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