Hall of Famer Smith expects busy Pennsylvania Derby day

Jockey Mike Smith answered his cellphone on Friday morning and was a little bit out of breath.

“Caught me at my workout, man,” said Smith, who arrived in the Philadelphia area Thursday.

The 53-year-old Hall of Fame rider is a workout-aholic and he found a gym as soon as his flight landed from California. Smith has a heavy workload in front of him Saturday as he will ride three major players in three of the major races on the 13-race card on the biggest day of the season  at Parx Racing.

Smith is the pilot for McKinzie, the 5-2 morning line favorite in the Grade I, $1 million Pennsylvania Derby for 3-year-old colts. He also rides Midnight Bisou, the 5-1 morning line second choice in the Grade I, $1 million Cotillion for 3-year-old fillies.  He will be on board as well for Collected, the 6-5 morning line choice in the $150,000 Pa Derby Champion Stakes.

Midnight Bisou has been chasing the top 3-year-old fillies in the land this year, starting with Monomoy Girl, the 3-5 morning line favorite in the Cotillion.  In two of her seven starts this year, Midnight Bisou has finished second behind her in the Grade I Coaching Club American Oaks at Saratoga on July 22 and third in the Grade I Kentucky Oaks at Churchill Downs on May 4.

In her last start, also at Saratoga, Smith and Midnight Bisou could not take advantage of Monomoy Girl skipping the Grade I Alabama. She could only manage a third in that race as the 6-5 favorite. Smith said that in both Saratoga starts, his filly did not seem to handle the surface.

“She bobbled a lot over it,” Smith said. “It just showed how classy she is that she was able to finish both races the way she did. She bobbled a lot worse in the Alabama. And I’m not so sure the mile and the quarter (Alabama distance) is her thing.”

Smith has been on horses that have shown a dislike for one track and then excelled on others. The latest was Arrogate, the 2016 3-year-old champion. He showed an affinity for tracks like Saratoga and Gulfstream Park and Santa Anita but didn’t like the surface at Del Mar at all.

The Cotillion will be run at 1 1/16 miles, a distance Midnight Bisou is three-for-three at in her career.

Smith has won the Cotillion twice in his career: with Close Hatches in 2013 and Songbird in 2016 who eventually was named 2016 Champion Three-Year-Old Filly. He knows if he is to get a third, Midnight Bisou will have to show up.

“Monomoy Girl is going to be tough to beat whether (Midnight Bisou) likes the track or not.” Smith said.

When the gates at Parx open for the Pennsylvania Derby, most eyes will be on McKinzie, who was once considered to be the best 3-year-old in the land before a left hind injury knocked him off the Triple Crown trail.

“Without a doubt,” Smith said with a laugh. “He was the favorite going in until the big red horse (Justify) showed up. Sometimes, things happen for a reason. I have seen (McKinzie) train and he has looked incredible. We are excited. It’s tough going 1 1/8 miles (Pennsylvania Derby distance) first out, but Bob (trainer Baffert) will have him ready.”

Smith has won the Pennsylvania Derby once, last year aboard West Coast, who is also trained by Baffert.

Smith has ridden McKinzie in all four of his career starts.

“I’m not sure we have seen the best of him yet,” Smith said.

He says the same thing about Collected, who has not been seen since finishing seventh in the Pagasus World Cup in January.  Collected has won eight of 14 career starts but is 0-3 in his last three. He was second in the Breeders’ Cup Classic last year behind Gun Runner and then began tailing off, capped by the seventh place finish in the Pegasus.

Smith rode Collected in his last two starts.

“I am looking forward to riding him, I am looking forward to riding all of them,” Smith said. “I have been very blessed when I have come to ride (at Parx). I like it here.”