Breeders' Cup joy for Talamo after Derby agony

ARCADIA, California, Nov 7 (Reuters) - Teenage jockey Joe Talamo eased some of the pain he experienced at this year's Kentucky Derby by celebrating his first Breeders' Cup victory at Santa Anita Park on Saturday.

On board five-year-old California Flag, Talamo sped into an early lead before surging away from the field in the final stretch to win the $1 million Turf Sprint by 1-3/4 lengths.

"It was great," the 19-year-old Talamo told reporters. "He had an ideal trip today and broke pretty well.

"He made the lead pretty easily and going right until about the three-eighths pole, I was pretty confident. He had so much in reserve coming down the stretch and really kicked it in the last part."

Talamo has experienced a whirlwind of publicity this year, most of it highly favourable with the notable exception of his late scratching from the Kentucky Derby in May.

His mount I Want Revenge was the morning-line favorite for the Derby but had to be scratched on the day of the race because of a minor ankle injury.

BITTER BLOW

"That was a huge disappointment," he recalled of his bitter blow on May 2. "But on days like today it definitely makes it feel a lot better."

Making his victory at Santa Anita even sweeter was the fact that he triumphed on his home track on board a highly popular California-bred gelding.

"It's awesome," said Talamo, who became the youngest jockey to compete at the Breeders' Cup in 2007 aged 17. "I'm humbled by the experience. I really am."

Meanwhile, Talamo has become something of a television celebrity this year.

He is one of eight riders who have appeared in the reality documentary 'Jockeys' on the Discovery Channel.

"It's been really unbelievable," he said. "I can't even put it into words. My whole career I've been so very blessed and so fortunate and to end up here on a day like this and win, it just makes it even sweeter."

(Editing by Dave Thompson; To query or comment on this story email sportsfeedback@thomsonreuters.com)