Venezuelan coach Jose D’Angelo has loved a meteoric rise to success since first establishing his steady within the U.S. in 2019. In solely 5 years, the 33-year-old has competed in among the world’s greatest races on the best phases—the Preakness Stakes (G1), the Breeders’ Cup World Championships, the Dubai World Cup (G1), and now his newest journey—Royal Ascot. This yr, D’Angelo turned the one U.S.-based coach to hit the board on the prestigious Royal assembly when his $9,000 colt Gabaldon completed a gallant second within the Windsor Fortress Stakes. Owned by Soldi Stables, the 2-year-old had certified for a begin within the Ascot beginning gate following a pointy debut rating within the $100,000 Royal Palm Juvenile Stakes at Gulfstream Park.
D’Angelo spoke with BloodHorse about his time over at Royal Ascot and his gut-wrenching defeat with Gabaldon, adapting to the gross sales and racing in North America, and reflecting on the horse who first put his identify on the nationwide radar 4 years in the past: Jesus’ Group .
BloodHorse: Are you able to discuss your expertise at Royal Ascot? Was it such as you anticipated?
Jose D’Angelo: It was wonderful. When (Gabaldon) received the Royal Palm Juvenile Stakes I assumed it was the right time to go over there. As quickly as we certified to go over from Gulfstream I known as George Weaver (who had run 2023 Royal Palm Juvenile Stakes winner No Nay Mets  at Royal Ascot). I’ve to thank him—he defined to me the method and occasions concerned (with going to Ascot) and in addition Fergus Galvin. He helped me select the precise race for Gabaldon. At Ascot, you’ve got so many races run which can be very related versus over right here, in order that was new. He was a giant assist. Each (Weaver and Galvin) pointed me in the precise course.
BH: What are among the variations in coaching and racing at Royal Ascot versus the U.S.?
JD: You might have so many various locations to coach the horse over there whereas over right here we simply have the one monitor. In England, you’ve got fields, artificial tracks, and gallop lanes. You need to be assured in your horse’s health as a coach.
One of the vital vital issues I discovered over there was that it’s a must to know and perceive the monitor. The course could be very hilly. It begins off downhill however the (second from final furlong) goes uphill after which the final furlong goes down once more. It is arduous for the riders to guage.
Everybody stated to me I needed to stroll the monitor with (jockey Emisael) Jaramillo. We ended up strolling the monitor with (jockey) Oisin Murphy and he defined to us what to do and to note the place the dips are within the course.
Gabaldon coaching within the UK earlier than the Windsor Fortress Stakes
BH: You’ve got already received graded stakes races right here within the U.S. however what it imply for you and your group to take a horse over to Royal Ascot and carry out the way in which he did?
JD: It was vital to us. To go abroad with a horse, particularly a 2-year-old is troublesome. Me and my group have gone to Dubai earlier than however we left with an older horse from Florida. However in Gabaldon’s case, we needed to go to Churchill Downs, practice at some point there, after which depart the subsequent day from Indiana, after which to England. The horse has a whole lot of class and he dealt with the journey.
Prior to now few days since coming house, I’ve watched the races on TV and also you see everybody there all dressed up and it is loopy to suppose we nearly received there. We’ll win subsequent time.
BH: Had been you anticipating that kind of efficiency from Gabaldon?
JD: I used to be very assured in him. I instructed the house owners the morning of the race ‘Hey don’t be concerned about us at present they’ll see us in entrance the entire means. The will not contact us.’
You realize he is so quick. In coaching for this race I knew I used to be going to lose one breeze so I centered on coaching him to interrupt very quick from the gate. I introduced him to the gate so many instances right here (in Florida). And his exercises had been at all times designed to provide him extra pace. It labored for him and he ran big.
BH: What’s subsequent for Gabaldon going ahead?
JD: In all probability pointing towards the Breeders’ Cup (Juvenile Turf Dash, G1T). However the journey was a giant stress on the horse. He was there lower than per week between arriving, coaching, racing, after which he left the day after the race. He will a farm to relaxation and he’ll inform us when he is prepared to come back again.
Gabaldon (grey horse) finishes second to Ain’t No person within the Windsor Fortress Stakes at Ascot Racecourse
BH: Are you able to discuss your relationship together with his proprietor, Soldi Stables?
JD: We now have relationship. Alfonso Soued and Eli Soldi. They’ve supported me for quite a lot of years. They took a threat going over there with a 2-year-old. If you happen to lose over there and run no good you’ll be able to lose some higher alternatives over right here price higher cash. However I thank them each for supporting me and believing in me. We went over there with a horse we paid $9,000 for with no huge pedigree and by no means misplaced confidence in us.Â
BH: You’ve got been excellent at profitable stakes races with low-priced horses. Jesus’ Group ran for a $25,000 claiming tag if you first bought him, No Extra Time received Sam F. Davis Stakes (G3) and he price $40,000, and now Gabaldon.
JD: After they run they run, they do not know how a lot you paid for them. You simply should attempt to perceive them and they’ll attempt to give the very best that they’ve.
BH: What do you usually search for when buying horses on the gross sales?
JD: I arrived within the U.S. at 2019. It is so much completely different shopping for horses right here than in Venezuela. In Venezuela, it’s a must to attempt to purchase a much bigger, stronger kind of horse. There’s so, so many horses on the gross sales right here and once I first bought right here I felt very misplaced. In 2020 I met Kenny McPeek. I instructed him ‘Hey Kenny I want to be taught from you, you at all times have good horses’. He let me shadow him at two gross sales and provides me some recommendation after which the subsequent yr I did the identical with Donato Lanni and Bob Baffert. I discovered so much with them.
Once I go to a sale, I attempt to apply that data that I discovered and I really feel prefer it’s been working up to now.
BH: Did you develop up with horses in Venezuela?
JD: I grew up in a barn. My father was a coach in Venezuela. He got here to the USA in 2015. In 2012 I bought my license and began coaching myself in Venezuela. I did very properly. I received the Eclipse over there for main apprentice coach. I received the large race meet over there.
I moved to the U.S. in 2019 simply searching for higher alternatives. Our second yr we went to the Preakness, our third yr we went to Dubai and now we have gone to Royal Ascot. I am so pleased with my resolution to come back right here.
BH: What targets did you’ve got for your self if you got here to the U.S. to start out coaching?
JD: It was robust at first. In Venezuela, I used to coach 150 horses and once I got here right here I needed to begin out from the underside. No person knew me right here and there weren’t many Venezuelan house owners right here both. I simply awoke day by day glad to go to the barn. I needed to begin with a whole lot of claiming horses. I respect claiming horses although, they educate you numerous. My objective was at all times to go to the highest stage and the large races. I grew up dreaming of competing in races just like the Kentucky Derby and Breeders’ Cup and now it is beginning to occur for me.
I’ve round 90 horses now between Monmouth Park and South Florida (Palm Meadows Coaching Heart and Gulfstream)
And subsequent week New York. We’re sending a string to Saratoga for the meet. Saratoga has at all times been good to me yearly I’ve gone there I’ve received. This yr I will have extra horses there.
BH: What do you want about coaching and racing horses in South Florida?
JD: My father was coaching horses right here and as quickly as I arrived I got here to his barn and now we work collectively. We’re group. That is allowed me to journey to New Jersey and New York as a result of I’ve him. He was a champion coach in Venezuela, I discovered every little thing from him.
Jose D’Angeo with Jesus’ Group earlier than the 2020 Preakness Stakes at Pimlico Race Course
BH: You took Jesus’ Group from a $25,000 claimer to a a number of grade 1-placed earner of $1.3 million. What are you able to say reflecting in your expertise with that horse?
JD: That horse put me on the map. His proprietor (Grupo 7C Stabe) too. I began working the horse at Palm Meadows and I bear in mind seeing Tiz the Regulation  practice down there. I used to be profitable races-though largely claiming races. I am aggressive with myself and it’s a must to be there (on the huge races). (Jesus’ Group) was working nice with huge gallop outs and I instructed my father ‘We’ll the Derby with this horse’. So we made a plan. With COVID-19 all of the dates for the Triple Crown races had been completely different. We ran within the Haskell and Pegasus at Monmouth and the horse certified into the Derby. We ended up simply going to the Preakness and I believe that was the precise resolution. The horse confirmed up—he ran third within the Preakness and second within the Pegasus.
