Jockey Antonio Fresu will ride in his first Kentucky Derby Presented by Woodford Reserve this year when he gets a leg up from trainer Phil D’Amato – also a first-time participant in the run for the roses – on Stronghold, the winner of the April 6 Santa Anita Derby and Feb. 18 Sunland Park Derby.

Fresu, 32, only began riding in the United States on a full-time basis in April of 2023 and soon after was among the leading riders at Santa Anita Park and Del Mar. Prior to his U.S. arrival, he rode primarily in his native Italy and in Dubai, where he won his first top-level stakes aboard Zenden in the 2021 Group 1 Dubai Golden Shaheen Sponsored by Group News.

Fresu will be riding at Churchill Downs for the first time two days before the May 4 Derby. The rider has three mounts, all on turf, leading up to the big race.

He will be joined at the Derby by his wife, Veronika Aske, a Norwegian TV presenter who also rode races and has trained in Dubai.

Fresu was interviewed April 22, and his answers are edited for clarity and space.

BloodHorse: Was your family involved in racing?

Antonio Fresu: I’m the fourth generation of jockeys. My great-grandfather, grandfather, and my father were jockeys, also my uncle, who is still riding a little bit in [Italy].

BH: Did your family encourage you to become a jockey?

AF: They really didn’t fancy the idea of me becoming a jockey. I was always going to the stables, mucking out the boxes, and walking the horses, but in the beginning my family really didn’t give me a chance [to ride]. They were scared to put me on a horse. It’s a tough game and a hard life. My dad always had a problem with his weight and so he was worried about me being heavy.

But I was stubborn and really wanted to do this. When I was 18, I went to the jockey school in Pisa, Italy, where I started to learn how to ride. I rode my first professional race May 17, 2011. I would say I won over 600 [races] in Italy.

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BH: What were the circumstances that led you to ride in Dubai, a move which then brought you to Southern California?

AF: When I was riding in Italy, I rode for one of the biggest trainers, Alduino Botti. After a couple of years, I was doing really well and he suggested to me – because Italian racing wasn’t going great at that time – to go away because I was still really young and still learning. I decided to go to his son, Marco Botti, who was training in England in Newmarket. I stayed a couple of years there. It was a good learning experience for me because I didn’t speak English before that.

It was really hard for me to get rides in the UK. I took it as an experience; I would suggest that to anybody. But for me, at that point, I wasn’t going anywhere. I’m really ambitious and wanted more. I took a step back, went to Italy again to build up some confidence. 

In 2016, [trainer] Erwan Charpy was looking for a jockey in Dubai. I took that job and spent winters there and then would go back to Italy. A friend of mine, who was my [agent] in Dubai, Michael Adolphson, suggested I go to America because he always believed that one day that I would [get on] the plane and go there. I got my visa late in 2019, but I had a good job at the time and didn’t want to leave it, and then COVID started. Everything was delayed.

Michael had put me in a good spot with [trainer] Doug O’Neill and I rode for him in Dubai. Doug told me I should come to California. I was still not sure. In 2023, Doug came again to Dubai with horses and told me, “Man, you need to come to California. What are you doing? You come and see how you like it, and if you don’t, you go back.” I told Doug if he gave me his support, I would come. I just didn’t want to go there to have an adventure, have no agent, and know nobody in California.

BH: Your agent, Tom Knust, is a respected veteran on the California circuit. How did you two begin working together?

AF: Doug put me together with Tom. He told me he was a good agent and a good person, too. I can confirm that. Tom and Doug were giving me a lot of chances while putting me on nice horses at the beginning, so people started noticing me.

BH: Were you surprised at how quickly you found success in the U.S.?

AF: Yeah, a little bit. In a new place, you always have to start from the bottom – sometimes, even below the bottom. It’s a tough game. Very competitive. Obviously, I came here with ambitions and goals. I wanted to learn more because there is always something to learn, every day.

BH: What’s the biggest difference in the style of racing and riding in the U.S. compared to Italy, Dubai, and the European tracks you’ve ridden at?

AF: In Europe, you don’t look at the clock, because all the tracks are different, a little bit up and down, longer stretches, maybe there is soft ground, so you can’t go by the clock like you do here in America.

Here it’s more about following the pace and being tactical because you always need to be in the right spot. You need to use your head a lot.

I was lucky enough to ride in Dubai on the dirt, so I had some background when I came here. That helped me a lot.

BH: What do you consider to be your biggest strength as a rider?

Fresu and Santa Anita Derby winner Stronghold. (Eclipse Sportswire)

AF: I don’t know; I let other people judge me. Sometimes I’m really hard on myself because I always try to improve. When I make a little mistake, I get mad at myself. One thing I can say is that my wife, who rode races, is very tough on me. I love her because we never fight, but she is very tough on me. She watches all the races. When I win, she doesn’t say much, but when I give a good ride, she will say, ‘Good ride.’ Some days, when I give bad rides, because that happens, she will notice even the littlest mistake and says, ‘Why did you do that?’ I don’t get mad at her because I’m already mad at myself. My wife keeps me mentally strong.

BH: You and Frankie Dettori both come from Italy. Did you consider him an idol before you began riding and do you seek advice from him now that you’re both in Southern California?

AF: He was and still is my idol. I think he is the best jockey in the world and also a very nice person. Riding together now, it’s an honor for me. He helps me a lot with advice or putting in a good word for me. We’re good friends.

BH: How long do you plan on remaining in the U.S.?

AF: Oh, I’m going to stay here. I want to build up my life here.

BH: How are you feeling about riding your first Kentucky Derby aboard Stronghold?

AF: Amazing. Not even one year in this country and already one goal has become a reality. Everyone dreams about this and I’m fortunate to be in it.

BH: Do you think you will feel pre-race nervousness?

AF: For me, riding a Grade 1 or a claiming race, I just want to win. That’s my mentality; it’s not about thinking about anything else. I feel really comfortable riding in big races. Actually, it gives me a good buzz.

BH: Have you sought any advice from your fellow jockeys about riding in the Derby?

AF: Yes, I’ve been talking with [Kent] Desormeaux and Mike Smith. Obviously, I asked them because they are Hall of Fame jockeys and Desormeaux won three Derbys and Mike has won two. They told me you need to get your horse comfortable. The horse needs to like the track. Mike told me that it is very important and a good thing that [Stronghold] broke his maiden last year at Churchill [with Joe Talamo aboard]. It showed he handled the track. They told me you have to be careful with the pace because they go really fast and, on the backside, you need to get your best position.

Receiving props from Frankie Dettori after the SA Derby. (Eclipse Sportswire)

BH: You’ve ridden Stronghold in four of his six races, including his wins in the Sunland Park Derby and Santa Anita Derby. What type of horse is he to ride? Have you noticed a difference in him from 2 to 3?

AF: He’s a cool horse to ride. He has some tactical speed; likes to target something. The first time I breezed him at 2, he was showing a lot, but in his races he was still a little bit immature. I noticed a big difference in him this year. When he was alone in front in the Sunland Derby, he pricked his ears and was looking around, still a bit green. Going to Sunland Park was a good move because that gave him a boost to his confidence in the Santa Anita Derby. When he came back from Sunland, the horse was acting more mature and confident. In his breeze before the Santa Anita Derby, he gave me the confidence that he was going to be a big contender. There, he broke really sharp and relaxed so well behind the pace. From there, I could have done whatever I wanted. As soon as we had the racing room and he saw the daylight, he went in there [easily]. In two jumps, he was already in front. The other horse [Imagination, with Dettori aboard] was coming back at me, I think I hit my horse once or twice, and then put down the stick. I was just going hands and heels because I could feel he was always responding to the attack of the other horse.

BH: From watching the Derby preps, who do you feel are the horses to beat?

AF: Sierra Leone is a monster. The way Fierceness won his last race [Curlin Florida Derby Presented by Hill ‘n’ Dale Farms at Xalapa] was really impressive. Those are the top two contenders, but I also like the Japanese horse, Forever Young. He’s unbeaten. I also like [Resilience]. I liked his [April 22] breeze. Hard to say, though – a 50-1 shot can win the Derby.