Talamo to make donation if he wins Derby

Children's Hospital in New Orleans will have a special interest in who wins

the Kentucky Derby (G1) on May 2. New Orleans native Joe Talamo, who will ride

Derby candidate I WANT REVENGE (Stephen Got Even), will donate $25,000 of his

purse if he wins America's most famous race.

Talamo, 19, said he made his pledge after learning that the hospital cares

for all children regardless of their family's ability to pay for their

treatment.

"Since Hurricane Katrina the health care system in New Orleans has struggled

to rebound, and I wanted to do something to help my hometown get back on its

feet. Children's Hospital is a wonderful institution that we can all be proud

of," Talamo said. "Several of my friends have been treated there, and I'm

thankful they're here, caring for all the children of New Orleans and the Gulf

Coast."

Talamo began going to Fair Grounds Race Course in New Orleans at age seven

with his father, Joseph Jr., who worked as an assistant to trainer Connie

Tassistro. He started his riding career at age 16 in 2006 at Louisiana Downs. He

rode at Fair Grounds for the 2006-07 meet, where he won 119 races (25 more than

local legend Robby Albarado) and became the first ever apprentice jockey to

claim a Fair Grounds riding title.

"I've only been riding for 2 1/2 years," Talamo said. "It's amazing that it's

happening so fast, but I'm enjoying every minute of it."

I Want Revenge has a career record of three wins from eight starts with

earnings of $816,000. In his last two starts, he won the Gotham S. (G3) and Wood

Memorial S. (G1), both at Aqueduct.

"This is a great horse with a bright future," Talamo said. "I don't want to

jinx myself, but I feel very grateful to be on such a wonderful animal. I Want

Revenge is the type of horse that every jockey dreams of riding. This horse is

in a super position to do great things throughout the Triple Crown. I feel so

grateful, so lucky, to be sitting on top of this horse's back."