Ky. Derby 2023: Which jockeys fit Kingsbarns, Raise Cain?

As of this writing, not every 3-year-old pointing toward Kentucky Derby 2023 at Churchill Downs has a jockey lined up to pilot him. Oddly enough, Kingsbarns still lacks a rider for the May 6 race, although Todd Pletcher said Wednesday that José Ortiz was "the leading candidate" to get the assignment.

Also, the long shot Raise Cain lacks a rider for next week’s race too after Javier Castellano decided to pick up the mount on Mage.

Two interesting names out there make sense as potential riders for these two horses: Mike Smith and Corey Lanerie. Each of those riders brings unique abilities to their mounts that could help in this odd race.

For some reason, Mike Smith gets labeled as a jockey meant only for closers such as Zenyatta, which is not the case when looking at his overall record.

In 1994, this man used to pilot the great Holy Bull. In the Travers Stakes (G1) that year, Holy Bull put on an incredible display of speed while contesting the lead for the first half-mile through a blazing pace scenario before holding off the closer Concern to prevail late in an excellent effort.

Many racing analysts still consider this the greatest Travers of all time.

In more recent times, Smith rode pacesetting-type horses such as Game On Dude, Songbird and Justify, who won the Triple Crown in 2018. Smith knows how to let a speed horse use his best gift and secure an upfront position. If the situation is right, Smith then can relax his mount somewhere on the backside before pressing the accelerator again on the far turn or stretch run.  

Only in rare instances does Smith ever tug back a good speed horse, and maybe those occurrences happen when the trainer gives specific directions.

Kingsbarns runs naturally as a stalker, although he possesses the type of tactical speed that can help him avoid traffic in the run to the first turn.

Given his status as a Derby veteran, Smith could help Kingsbarns break cleanly and navigate him to a position near the front or even on the lead. From there, Kingsbarns would need to fulfill the potential he has shown in his three starts. But he does own the speed to at least sit close to the front.

As for what Corey Lanerie might bring to Raise Cain, Lanerie can give this mid-pack closer the gift of saving ground with the right post position. In fact, Lanerie can help almost any Derby runner with his riding style.

Lanerie brings a unique trait to the table as a jockey who loves to save ground and shoot for the rail opening if the opportunity exists. Every time Lanerie rides a closer, he gives the impression of a modern-day Calvin Borel.

Of course, Borel surprisingly won the Kentucky Derby in 2009 with Mine That Bird after guiding him through an incredible inside move on the far turn. Borel also won the race in 2007 with Street Sense and in 2010 with Super Saver, and both winning efforts were the results of inside trips, but Mine That Bird’s long shot win earned him the most fame.

Lanerie’s list of top horses on Equibase shows one name who earned over $1 million. He regularly rode the talented sprinter Bell’s the One, who won the 2020 Derby City Distaff (G1) among other races in her successful career. Overall, Bell’s the One won 13 times out of 26 starts and earned $1.8 million.

Given Lanerie’s talent, he deserves to ride more horses on the same level. Plus, Lanerie knows how to navigate Churchill Downs as well as anyone, which makes it more logical for him to ride a nice Derby horse.

Raise Cain’s Gotham Stakes (G3) run shows he can handle taking dirt. Maybe if he waits long enough on the rail in the Kentucky Derby, a rail opening will pop up. If given the mount on Raise Cain, Lanerie could guide Raise Cain to the inside and aim for the trip that Raise Cain enjoyed in his impressive Gotham win.