Blingo is Gryder's Big 'Cap Mount
If Blingo wins the Santa Anita Handicap, Aaron Gryder would be the first to admit he owes Mike Smith a debt of gratitude.
Gryder rides Blingo, a 5-year-old gelded son of Artie Schiller, whom he piloted to an upset at almost 16-1 in the Grade II San Antonio Stakes on Feb. 8.
A month later—on March 8—the 43-year-old jockey hopes to pull a bigger stunner when he rides Blingo in the 77th edition of Santa Anita’s marquee race against the likes of Mucho Macho Man and Will Take Charge, who finished a dramatic nose apart in last year’s Breeders’ Cup Classic at Santa Anita.
“I was working a couple horses for John at Hollywood Park, even after the track closed,” Gryder said, speaking of John Shirreffs, who trains Blingo for owners Jerry and Ann Moss. “I give credit to my friend Mike Smith as far as making the introduction and kind of opening the doors with John for working his horses.
“Blingo was one of the first ones I worked, but I was always impressed with him. John told me the key to the horse is keeping him happy. In the race before the San Antonio, (the Jan. 11 San Pasqual Stakes in which Blingo ran an eventful sixth), he lost it in the paddock and ran his race before it even started.
“But he was pretty good before the San Antonio, and the whole race I was just letting him settle. I didn’t ride him worrying about where Game On Dude was or anybody else. Obviously I was liking the pace, but it was about my horse being comfortable.
“He ran super that day and his work Sunday (Feb. 23, six furlongs at Santa Anita in 1:12.20) was just awesome.”
With three wins through 40 days, victories have been slow in coming for Gryder, a native of West Covina who began his career in earnest in 1987. But successes like those in the $300,000 San Antonio and the $500,000 Breeders’ Cup Marathon in 2012 are worth more than gold and glory.
“It’s obvious you want to win as many as you can, but those are the races that really make people recognize you, and they bring you more opportunities,” Gryder said. “It was great to ride for John Shirreffs, and the owners have been fabulous in keeping me on the horse. I’m very happy for the opportunity and hope it leads to more.”