Smith to Ride Great Hot in Las Flores

Hall of Fame jockey Mike Smith, who needs seven wins to reach 5,000 in his career, will ride Great Hot in Sunday’s Grade III Las Flores Stakes for older fillies and mares at 6 ½ furlongs. He takes over for Chantal Sutherland, who had ridden the daughter of 2002 Breeders’ Cup Sprint champion Orientate in her last nine races, including a victory in the Grade II Raven Run at Keeneland last Oct. 22.

“The person paying the bills wanted to make a change,” trainer A.C. Avila said, referring to owner Jessica Coudelaria. “I don’t think Chantal did anything wrong.”

Great Hot is coming off a sixth-place finish in the Grade II Santa Maria Stakes at 1 1/16 miles.

“She had back luck in that race,” Avila said. “The day after the race she popped a big abscess, but she’s recovered and it’s healed.”

The field for the Las Flores: She’s Cheeky, Joe Talamo; Izzy Rules, Edwin Maldonado; Veloce Canzone, Frederic Lenclud; Home Sweet Aspen, Joel Rosario; Great Hot, Mike Smith; and Spectacular Sky, Rafael Bejarano.