Daily Racing Form National Digital Edition
Talamo off mounts after testing positive for COVID-19
HOT SPRINGS, Ark. – Jockey Joe Talamo tested positive for COVID-19 on Friday morning, according to his agent, Jake Romans. Talamo was off his mounts for the opening-day card and likely won’t ride until Feb. 5, Romans said.
Romans said that Talamo has no symptoms and is feeling fine.
Talamo rode a number of races at Fair Grounds in New Orleans last Saturday, winning the Grade 3 Lecomte aboard Midnight Bourbon. He tested negative for COVID-19 on Monday, said Romans, but was positive on a rapid test taken at 6 a.m. Friday.
Oaklawn requires jockeys to provide a negative PCR COVID-19 test five days before riding at Oaklawn, while those who recently competed at other tracks must provide two negative tests within five days. The second is a rapid test on race day for the rider.
Romans said Friday that health officials are scheduled to follow up with Talamo within 48 hours.
Talamo was named on six horses for Friday’s opener, including Moonlite Strike in the $150,000 Smarty Jones.
Talamo moved his tack to Oaklawn last year and made an immediate splash, winning nine stakes during the meet. He finished tied for second in the standings in race wins with Martin Garcia.
Edgeway might return
Edgeway, who was arguably the most impressive debut winner of the Oaklawn meet in 2020, could make an appearance at Oaklawn this season, said John Sadler, a Southern California-based trainer who has a division at Oaklawn.
Edgeway popped a Beyer Speed Figure of 94 when she won a maiden special weight sprint for 3-year-old fillies last February at Oaklawn. The daughter of Competitive Edge rolled by five lengths while covering six furlongs in 1:09.
Edgeway ran third to the talented Kamari in last year’s Purple Martin at Oaklawn. She later won an allowance at the track before going on to run second in the Grade 3 Dogwood at Churchill Downs.
“She’s going to be a good filly,” Sadler said. “We’ll be eyeing both places with her, Santa Anita and Oaklawn.”
Edgeway races for California-based Hronis Racing, which finished second in last year’s owner standings at Oaklawn. Hronis again has horses at Oaklawn and will be active in several divisions, Sadler said.
“They’ve got a nice mix again this year – a lot of interesting horses,” Sadler said.
Grade 1 winner Combatant was to run in the Fifth Season on Saturday for Hronis Racing and is a candidate for the Grade 2, $1 million Oaklawn Handicap, Sadler said.
Grade 2 winner Flagstaff, which Hronis Racing owns in partnership with Lane’s End Racing, is being nominated to the King Cotton at Oaklawn.
The barn also has some promising 3-year-olds, some of which could invade from Southern California.
Sadler sent a division to Oaklawn for the first time last year and said he has about 20 horses settled in right now for the meet, which opened Friday. He said the division includes a few Arkansas-breds for owners based in the Midwest.
“Racing is going to thrive where they have sensible regulations and good purses, and Oaklawn checks both of those boxes,” Sadler said.
Up until last year, Sadler had simply shipped into Oaklawn for a handful of stakes races. He has won both of the track’s Grade 1 offerings, the Arkansas Derby with Line of David and the Apple Blossom with Stellar Wind.
Diodoro back to defend title
Trainer Robertino Diodoro, who won his first Oaklawn title in 2020, is settled in for the new meet, which started Friday. He knows it will be a battle to defend his title in Hot Springs.
“It’s not going to be easy,” he said. “If I said it wasn’t on my mind or my team’s mind, I’d be lying. We’re all competitive. Again, it’s not going to be easy, but we’re going to try our best to have a good, solid meet. I think we’re light in a couple of spots, but at the same time we’re solid.”
Diodoro is not light on 3-year-old power, with the barn led by Grade 2 Kentucky Jockey Club Stakes winner Keepmeinmind. He is a candidate for the Grade 3, $750,000 Southwest Stakes at Oaklawn.
Diodoro has a number of top clients for the meet, including M and M Racing, which won the owner title at Oaklawn in 2020.
◗ The Arkansas Racing Commission on Friday morning approved both a wagering format and new staff members for Oaklawn.
◗ Racing resumes Friday at Oaklawn.