Lanerie ‘in shock’ after losing 2019 Kentucky Derby ride

Jockey Corey Lanerie, in a conversation Friday with NBC Sports’ Britney Eurton, said he went to sleep Thursday evening believing he’d have a chance at winning the 2019 Kentucky Derby.

“I was in shock this morning when I got the phone call,” Lanerie said, that being news of Hall of Fame rider Mike Smith replacing him aboard the Todd Pletcher-trained Cutting Humor.

Smith’s services opened up this week when morning line favorite Omaha Beach scratched due to a respiratory issue.

Lanerie will have reason to watch Saturday’s race at Churchill Downs with conflicting emotions. While the 16-time meet-leading jockey under the Twin Spires won’t get a shot at his first Derby win, he is under Kentucky law due equal prize money as Smith because the change came after entries were taken.

“I’m sure it’ll be tough,” Lanerie told Eurton. “I want to be out there. But you wish connections the best, and you never know what can happen in this business. The next time, Mike might have another one, Omaha Beach might be OK, and they might ask me to ride the horse again. You wish for the best, and you go ahead from there.”

Cutting Humor broke a record last time out when winning the Sunland Derby (G3) in a final time of 1:46.94 for 1 1/8 miles, about as fast as you’ll see a 3-year-old run this time of year. The son of First Samurai checked in at 30-1 on the morning line, but likely due to the Smith news — he did just win last year’s Derby on Justify — the colt was down to 25-1 as of Friday afternoon.

Smith told NBC Sports he received a call after the Omaha Beach broke from Starlight Racing's Jack Wolf, who campaigns Cutting Humor. Lanerie and Smith also spoke Friday, with Smith saying “you hate to pick one up in that way.”

“If the situation was reversed,” he added, “you can’t turn it down. When they come to you like this — I certainly didn’t come searching for it. It just kind of came my way, and I’m blessed that it did. We’re going to make the best of the opportunity.”

Lanerie has ridden in the Derby four times with a best finish of second in 2017 aboard another longshot, Lookin At Lee.

“This, I guess, won’t be my year,” Lanerie said. “But I’ve got a few years left in me, I’m sure, so we’ll just keep trying and winning races — looking for that good horse.”