Smith Hopes to Add to Breeders' Cup Record

Mike Smith has 20 Breeders’ Cup victories, more than any jockey. Retired Hall of Fame riding great Jerry Bailey has 15, and John Velazquez 12, second to Smith among active riders.

Smith, inducted into racing’s Hall of Fame in 2003, attributes his success to more than skill, luck and longevity. How about favorable circumstances?

“It’s getting the opportunity to ride great horses, that’s the key,” the 49-year-old New Mexico native said, just hours before losing Distaff favorite Beholder, who was declared Sunday from the $2 million race on Oct. 31 after developing a fever.

Santa Anita hosts the 31st Breeders’ Cup World Championships for an unprecedented third straight year on Oct. 31 and Nov. 1, but as soon as the big event is over, Smith and his agent of 10 years Brad Pegram will have their eyes peeled for next year’s Breeders’ Cup prospects.

“As soon as this one’s over, you start looking for horses you think belong next year,”

Smith said. “Brad’s been doing a great job in that respect. It’s not a coincidence when you wind up on live horses every year. The Breeders’ Cup takes planning. You work for it and you go after it, and he’s been doing a pretty good job.”

Smith, willow-trim and oak-strong, rarely deviates from his personal training regimen, which accounts for his UFC-like condition as he nears the mid-century mark, which he will reach on Aug. 10 of next year.

“Good Lord willing, I’m healthy and staying strong and fit,” he said. “Hopefully that will continue for future Breeders’ Cups.”

There’s more to just staying physically strong, of course. It’s important to have your head in the game and do your homework, watching film and perusing past performances.

“At this point, you pretty much know who’s running and what their style is,” Smith said. “There are no secrets other than when it comes to a younger horse. We kind of know who the older horses are and what they can do.

“We’ve been watching them all year, but you don’t really begin strategizing and handicapping until the races are drawn. That’s a big part of it, seeing where the horses draw and what you think they might do or might not do.”

Smith’s former stakes winners read like a Who’s Who of racing, and he does his best to stay in contact.

“I try to see Zenyatta as often as I can when I ride at Keeneland,” said the regular rider of the great mare. “I didn’t get to see her last year, but hopefully this year when we head down to Kentucky, at some point I’ll get a chance to stop by and see her. Holy Bull, Lure, and now Game On Dude and Amazombie. That’s pretty neat.

“I saw a picture of Game On Dude playing in the paddock the other day. He had a ball in his mouth and was throwing it in the air.”

The old gelding was just living up to his name.

In other Breeders’ Cup news:

Gary Stevens, asked whether he’d ride in Breeders’ Cup races, had an ambivalent response: “I can’t confirm or deny it,” said the 51-year-old Hall of Fame rider, who has not ridden in a race since undergoing replacement surgery on his right knee July 25.

Trainer George Papaprodromou termed Imperative’s six furlong bullet work Thursday in 1:12.20 “great” and said he has engaged Lanfranco Dettori to ride the Charles Town Classic winner in the Classic, replacing Kent Desormeaux. Imperative worked in company with Mr. Sexy, who was timed in 1:12.40.

Goldencents (Dirt Mile) and Moreno (Classic) are scheduled to work Friday, while Private Zone (Sprint) likely will work Monday under regular rider Martin Pedroza.

“This will be the last tune up and he’ll be ready,” trainer Leandro Mora said of Goldencents, who won the Dirt Mile last year after taking the Grade I Santa Anita Derby in April.

Richard Baltas said Big Macher (Sprint) came out of Sunday’s five furlong bullet breeze in 58.60 in great shape.

Tuesday at Golden Gate Fields, undefeated male 2-year-old champion of 2013 and Classic favorite Shared Belief worked six furlongs in 1:14 2/5, handily. Russell Baze was aboard for Jerry Hollendorfer, going in splits of 25 2/5, 37 1/5, 49 3/5 and 1:02 3/5.

“It was a great work,” Hollendorfer said. “We had him come up the rail and we’re very pleased with how everything went.”

The Hall of Fame trainer said Shared Belief would have his final work (four furlongs) for the Classic next Tuesday at Golden Gate and then ship to Santa Anita.

Sean McCarthy reported Gold Cup at Santa Anita winner Majestic Harbor (Classic) doing well after his six furlong workout Monday in 1:11.60. “He worked super and came out of it in great shape,” the trainer said.

Cavorting has been declared out of the Juvenile Fillies by Kiaran McLaughlin. “She’s fine,” the trainer said, “but she’s just not 100 percent and needs some time off. We’re hoping for a big year in 2015.”

Source: Santa Anita Park