ESPY awards 2018 'Best Jockey' finalists named; vote here
Horse racing won't get nearly the platform at this year's Excellence in Sports Performance Yearly (ESPY) awards show as the last time we saw a Triple Crown winner.
To be fair, Justify's sweep of the Kentucky Derby, Preakness and Belmont Stakes would have had some stiff competition for "Best Championship Performance" if nominated as American Pharoah was three years ago. Pharoah lost out on that award to LeBron James, who didn't actually win a championship that year...but we digress.
The category for "Best Jockey" remains for this year's show, which air at 8 p.m. July 18 with recently retired NASCAR/IndyCar driver Danica Patrick the host.
Racing fans can vote here. And the "Best Jockey" nominees are...
Mike Smith: Rode Justify throughout his Triple Crown, plus owns the mount on other Grade 1-winning stars such as Unique Bella.
Jose Oritz: The Eclipse Award winner led all riders last year in earnings from his mounts.
Florent Geroux: Had the mount on Horse of the Year Gun Runner, and now rides a likely champion in Kentucky Oaks winner Monomoy Girl.
Flavien Prat: He's had enough success on the West Coast that he's starting to dabble in regular riding in New York.