Jockey & Trainer News 2023

[Curtis]

Smith is not a good rider and has not been a good rider for years. A jockey with less name-recognition would have lost these opportunities much earlier. I have nothing against the guy and don't want to sound overly mean, but... it was really only a matter of time until owners and trainers recognized what a liability he is.

Mike’s a baseball fan. You’d think he’d understand the concept of losing a few miles off his fastball. His looks like a changeup.

There is little doubt in my mind that posts like this are a signal to run to the windows and bet Mikey for the next week or so. Cha-ching

I’d still bet him on turf, especially since Rispoli, Fresu, etc. pull most of the money. On dirt, he’s become just a guy. He’ll win with the best horse but he doesn’t move a horse up. Most jocks don’t but he didn’t used to be most jocks.

[stark]

Mike’s a baseball fan. You’d think he’d understand the concept of losing a few miles off his fastball. His looks like a changeup.

There is little doubt in my mind that posts like this are a signal to run to the windows and bet Mikey for the next week or so. Cha-ching

I’d still bet him on turf, especially since Rispoli, Fresu, etc. pull most of the money. On dirt, he’s become just a guy. He’ll win with the best horse but he doesn’t move a horse up. Most jocks don’t but he didn’t used to be most jocks.

Okay, now I'm thinkin your Express Train on dirt in the G2 San Diego on Saturday is a sure thing, lol.

Mikey has two in today, one on Friday, but 6 mounts on Saturday, flat bet profit for sure!

[Curtis]

There is little doubt in my mind that posts like this are a signal to run to the windows and bet Mikey for the next week or so. Cha-ching

I’d still bet him on turf, especially since Rispoli, Fresu, etc. pull most of the money. On dirt, he’s become just a guy. He’ll win with the best horse but he doesn’t move a horse up. Most jocks don’t but he didn’t used to be most jocks.

Okay, now I'm thinkin your Express Train on dirt in the G2 San Diego on Saturday is a sure thing, lol.

Mikey has two in today, one on Friday, but 6 mounts on Saturday, flat bet profit for sure!

I haven’t looked but didn’t Victor ride Express Train back when he was a little Choo-Choo? I’d wonder if something was amiss given the layoff before his last race but that might have been just Shirreffs bein’ Shirreffs.

[stark]

I’d still bet him on turf, especially since Rispoli, Fresu, etc. pull most of the money. On dirt, he’s become just a guy. He’ll win with the best horse but he doesn’t move a horse up. Most jocks don’t but he didn’t used to be most jocks.

Okay, now I'm thinkin your Express Train on dirt in the G2 San Diego on Saturday is a sure thing, lol.

Mikey has two in today, one on Friday, but 6 mounts on Saturday, flat bet profit for sure!

I haven’t looked but didn’t Victor ride Express Train back when he was a little Choo-Choo? I’d wonder if something was amiss given the layoff before his last race but that might have been just Shirreffs bein’ Shirreffs.

Yes, Victor rode him quite a bit.
He's only run once since Oct 22 and that was in the 6F Kona Gold in April of this year, and Mikey was up for that!
Some encouraging news.... he's 3/6 lifetime @ Del Mar.

Every horse in the race is coming off a layoff, guessing it's a prep for the Pacific Classic???

Baffert has the 3/5 favorite with Arabian Knight, last seen in the BC Classic against White Abarrio.

I like your chances at 3-1 on the morning line

[Tessablue]

Smith is not a good rider and has not been a good rider for years. A jockey with less name-recognition would have lost these opportunities much earlier. I have nothing against the guy and don't want to sound overly mean, but... it was really only a matter of time until owners and trainers recognized what a liability he is.

Mike’s a baseball fan. You’d think he’d understand the concept of losing a few miles off his fastball. His looks like a changeup.

You would know better than me- how fast was that fastball? It took me a long time to learn how to evaluate rides, so I generally associate him with his diminished form from the past six years or so. But there's a reason he rode all those big horses, right? Does he have any signature rides that you can think of? Genuinely curious to hear more about his history.

[ForTheThrill]

I’d still bet him on turf, especially since Rispoli, Fresu, etc. pull most of the money. On dirt, he’s become just a guy. He’ll win with the best horse but he doesn’t move a horse up. Most jocks don’t but he didn’t used to be most jocks.

Okay, now I'm thinkin your Express Train on dirt in the G2 San Diego on Saturday is a sure thing, lol.

Mikey has two in today, one on Friday, but 6 mounts on Saturday, flat bet profit for sure!

I haven’t looked but didn’t Victor ride Express Train back when he was a little Choo-Choo? I’d wonder if something was amiss given the layoff before his last race but that might have been just Shirreffs bein’ Shirreffs.

This made me chortle. I needed that! He was the little engine that could!

[Curtis]

Smith is not a good rider and has not been a good rider for years. A jockey with less name-recognition would have lost these opportunities much earlier. I have nothing against the guy and don't want to sound overly mean, but... it was really only a matter of time until owners and trainers recognized what a liability he is.

Mike’s a baseball fan. You’d think he’d understand the concept of losing a few miles off his fastball. His looks like a changeup.

You would know better than me- how fast was that fastball? It took me a long time to learn how to evaluate rides, so I generally associate him with his diminished form from the past six years or so. But there's a reason he rode all those big horses, right? Does he have any signature rides that you can think of? Genuinely curious to hear more about his history.

There are probably 3 entities that could have maybe ridden Drosselmeyer to win the Belmont and the BC Classic. The Eveready Bunny, one of those little Kenyan Marathoners or Mike Smith. Of the three, Mikey has the best balance and the best left handed stick unless the Bunny could trade in one of his drumsticks for a dressage crop. Other than that, I do think he outrode Victor in the 2016 BC Classic but he also was most likely on the best horse. Smith has always been in impeccable shape and horses just run for him. He’s in the HoF more for sustained excellence. As they say though Father Time is undefeated. I’ve seen many a jock stay at the party long after the pizza is cold, the beer is flat and the smart conversationalists have left.

[Flanders]

Noticed Mike Smith is 92nd in jockey earnings standings. How the mighty have fallen. Wonder what happened between him and Bob -used to ride first call now almost never rides for him.

My guess is, he either chose to not be able to make the light weights for health reasons or he just can't anymore. I looked at a bunch of his recent rides and none were under 120 lbs. The one was supposed to be 118 but was 120.

So if he can't make weight to ride the Maidens, a trainer is probably going to stick with the jockey that knows the horse. And most trainers aren't going to take a 2lb disadvantage cause the jockey can't make the weight, they'll pick someone who can.

[Missbeholder]

Mike’s a baseball fan. You’d think he’d understand the concept of losing a few miles off his fastball. His looks like a changeup.

You would know better than me- how fast was that fastball? It took me a long time to learn how to evaluate rides, so I generally associate him with his diminished form from the past six years or so. But there's a reason he rode all those big horses, right? Does he have any signature rides that you can think of? Genuinely curious to hear more about his history.

There are probably 3 entities that could have maybe ridden Drosselmeyer to win the Belmont and the BC Classic. The Eveready Bunny, one of those little Kenyan Marathoners or Mike Smith. Of the three, Mikey has the best balance and the best left handed stick unless the Bunny could trade in one of his drumsticks for a dressage crop. Other than that, I do think he outrode Victor in the 2016 BC Classic but he also was most likely on the best horse. Smith has always been in impeccable shape and horses just run for him. He’s in the HoF more for sustained excellence. As they say though Father Time is undefeated. I’ve seen many a jock stay at the party long after the pizza is cold, the beer is flat and the smart conversationalists have left.

Ah......Drosselmeyer and The Dude......Mikey and Chantal. There was something so unfair about that! I know there really wasn't, but it just seemed so "flying fickle finger of fate"!

It was also a strange race for me personally when I actually won a nice payout (for me), and still felt like an absolute moron when thinking about it about a minute after Drosselmeyer crossed under the wire with Game On Dude a length behind him in second! Both those horses were around 14/1, and I thought they both had reason to have an impact, so I bet them both with $5 across wagers. I collected a payout of nearly $200 on my $30 investment. I was real happy about that until it occurred to me that I could have invested another $10 bucks to box them in a $5 exacta! That $5 exacta would have paid me about $1,100 bucks!

I bet two horses at double-digits in the BC Classic with $5 across and didn't box them in an exacta! There's never been another race where I actually won money but when my betting made me feel like such an idiot!

[Tessablue]

There are probably 3 entities that could have maybe ridden Drosselmeyer to win the Belmont and the BC Classic. The Eveready Bunny, one of those little Kenyan Marathoners or Mike Smith. Of the three, Mikey has the best balance and the best left handed stick unless the Bunny could trade in one of his drumsticks for a dressage crop. Other than that, I do think he outrode Victor in the 2016 BC Classic but he also was most likely on the best horse. Smith has always been in impeccable shape and horses just run for him. He’s in the HoF more for sustained excellence. As they say though Father Time is undefeated. I’ve seen many a jock stay at the party long after the pizza is cold, the beer is flat and the smart conversationalists have left.

You've done the impossible, and inspired me to actually rewatch Drosselmeyer's Belmont and Classic... both were sort of his hallmark "park 'em wide and let 'em run" style, but that's probably the only way that horse wanted to run, and I think he was good at getting those less-speedy horses to just sort of relax and get into a rhythm no matter how far off they were from the pace. Arrogate's Classic is one of those rides you never forgive if the horse loses, but I think it was the right call. Got the horse in a rhythm and timed it right; no horse but Arrogate wins it, but knowing your horse is kind of the point. Thanks for the examples, fun to rewatch these races!

Although they aren't enough to burn the 2021 Hollywood Gold Cup from my memory, sadly

[Curtis]

There are probably 3 entities that could have maybe ridden Drosselmeyer to win the Belmont and the BC Classic. The Eveready Bunny, one of those little Kenyan Marathoners or Mike Smith. Of the three, Mikey has the best balance and the best left handed stick unless the Bunny could trade in one of his drumsticks for a dressage crop. Other than that, I do think he outrode Victor in the 2016 BC Classic but he also was most likely on the best horse. Smith has always been in impeccable shape and horses just run for him. He’s in the HoF more for sustained excellence. As they say though Father Time is undefeated. I’ve seen many a jock stay at the party long after the pizza is cold, the beer is flat and the smart conversationalists have left.

You've done the impossible, and inspired me to actually rewatch Drosselmeyer's Belmont and Classic... both were sort of his hallmark "park 'em wide and let 'em run" style, but that's probably the only way that horse wanted to run, and I think he was good at getting those less-speedy horses to just sort of relax and get into a rhythm no matter how far off they were from the pace. Arrogate's Classic is one of those rides you never forgive if the horse loses, but I think it was the right call. Got the horse in a rhythm and timed it right; no horse but Arrogate wins it, but knowing your horse is kind of the point. Thanks for the examples, fun to rewatch these races!

Although they aren't enough to burn the 2021 Hollywood Gold Cup from my memory, sadly

Also the Met Mile when McKinzie lost to Mitole. It might very well have been the best horse won, but Mike didn’t give his mount the best chance. I’ve been very lucky to have watched many HoF jocks up close. At one point the west coast riding colony was absolutely loaded. Smith belongs but he’s not at the top of my list. Willie Mays and Andre Dawson are both HoF’ers but Mays was the better player every day of the week and twice on Sunday.

[stark]

Race 8 at Del Mar today, Mikey rode a maiden for Uncle Neil, weighing in at 120lbs.

The bettors said no chance and sent him off at 45-1.

Mikey gave his best Zenyatta impression and rallied from last to nab 2nd place.

Paid $34.00 to the believer$.

https://www.equibase.com/premium/chartE ... y=USA&rn=8

[stark]

A few horses to help jog Curtis' memory.....


Arrogate Horse $17,308,000 Grade 1 Winner Pegasus World Cup Invitational S.
Zenyatta Mare $7,160,580 Grade 1 Winner Breeders' Cup Classic
Midnight Bisou Mare $6,996,520 Grade 1 Winner Cotillion S.
Songbird Mare $4,692,000 Grade 1 Winner 14 Hands Winery Breeders' Cup Juvenile Fillies
Justify Horse $3,765,600 Grade 1 Winner Kentucky Derby presented by Woodford Reserve
Charlatan Horse $3,680,000 Grade 1 Winner RUNHAPPY Malibu S.
Azeri Mare $3,401,070 Grade 1 Winner Breeders' Cup Distaff
Drosselmeyer Horse $3,300,000 Grade 1 Winner Breeders' Cup Classic
Royal Delta Mare $3,096,526 Grade 1 Winner Breeders' Cup Ladies' Classic
Game On Dude Gelding $2,844,235 Grade 1 Winner Santa Anita H.
Giacomo Horse $2,537,316 Grade 1 Winner Kentucky Derby
Abel Tasman Mare $2,525,525 Grade 1 Winner Longines Kentucky Oaks
Lure Horse $2,494,949 Grade 1 Winner Breeders' Cup Mile
Holy Bull Horse $2,472,160 Grade 1 Winner Travers S.
Shared Belief Gelding $2,460,000 Grade 1 Winner Santa Anita H.
McKinzie Horse $2,453,360 Grade 1 Winner Pennsylvania Derby
Effinex Horse $2,330,700 Grade 1 Winner Clark H.
Tiago Horse $2,323,950 Grade 1 Winner Santa Anita Derby
Taiba Horse $2,316,000 Grade 1 Winner Pennsylvania Derby
Skip Away Horse $2,288,000 Grade 1 Winner Breeders' Cup Classic

[Curtis]

Race 8 at Del Mar today, Mikey rode a maiden for Uncle Neil, weighing in at 120lbs.

The bettors said no chance and sent him off at 45-1.

Mikey gave his best Zenyatta impression and rallied from last to nab 2nd place.

Paid $34.00 to the believer$.

https://www.equibase.com/premium/chartE ... y=USA&rn=8

Mikey riding for Drysdale……..what is it Old Timer’s Day down there? Is Smith getting on horses for McAnally in the mornings?

[Curtis]

A few horses to help jog Curtis' memory.....


Arrogate Horse $17,308,000 Grade 1 Winner Pegasus World Cup Invitational S.
Zenyatta Mare $7,160,580 Grade 1 Winner Breeders' Cup Classic
Midnight Bisou Mare $6,996,520 Grade 1 Winner Cotillion S.
Songbird Mare $4,692,000 Grade 1 Winner 14 Hands Winery Breeders' Cup Juvenile Fillies
Justify Horse $3,765,600 Grade 1 Winner Kentucky Derby presented by Woodford Reserve
Charlatan Horse $3,680,000 Grade 1 Winner RUNHAPPY Malibu S.
Azeri Mare $3,401,070 Grade 1 Winner Breeders' Cup Distaff
Drosselmeyer Horse $3,300,000 Grade 1 Winner Breeders' Cup Classic
Royal Delta Mare $3,096,526 Grade 1 Winner Breeders' Cup Ladies' Classic
Game On Dude Gelding $2,844,235 Grade 1 Winner Santa Anita H.
Giacomo Horse $2,537,316 Grade 1 Winner Kentucky Derby
Abel Tasman Mare $2,525,525 Grade 1 Winner Longines Kentucky Oaks
Lure Horse $2,494,949 Grade 1 Winner Breeders' Cup Mile
Holy Bull Horse $2,472,160 Grade 1 Winner Travers S.
Shared Belief Gelding $2,460,000 Grade 1 Winner Santa Anita H.
McKinzie Horse $2,453,360 Grade 1 Winner Pennsylvania Derby
Effinex Horse $2,330,700 Grade 1 Winner Clark H.
Tiago Horse $2,323,950 Grade 1 Winner Santa Anita Derby
Taiba Horse $2,316,000 Grade 1 Winner Pennsylvania Derby
Skip Away Horse $2,288,000 Grade 1 Winner Breeders' Cup Classic

I have no problem with his past, it’s the present that started this. Maybe send the list to Bob.

[stark]

A few horses to help jog Curtis' memory.....


Arrogate Horse $17,308,000 Grade 1 Winner Pegasus World Cup Invitational S.
Zenyatta Mare $7,160,580 Grade 1 Winner Breeders' Cup Classic
Midnight Bisou Mare $6,996,520 Grade 1 Winner Cotillion S.
Songbird Mare $4,692,000 Grade 1 Winner 14 Hands Winery Breeders' Cup Juvenile Fillies
Justify Horse $3,765,600 Grade 1 Winner Kentucky Derby presented by Woodford Reserve
Charlatan Horse $3,680,000 Grade 1 Winner RUNHAPPY Malibu S.
Azeri Mare $3,401,070 Grade 1 Winner Breeders' Cup Distaff
Drosselmeyer Horse $3,300,000 Grade 1 Winner Breeders' Cup Classic
Royal Delta Mare $3,096,526 Grade 1 Winner Breeders' Cup Ladies' Classic
Game On Dude Gelding $2,844,235 Grade 1 Winner Santa Anita H.
Giacomo Horse $2,537,316 Grade 1 Winner Kentucky Derby
Abel Tasman Mare $2,525,525 Grade 1 Winner Longines Kentucky Oaks
Lure Horse $2,494,949 Grade 1 Winner Breeders' Cup Mile
Holy Bull Horse $2,472,160 Grade 1 Winner Travers S.
Shared Belief Gelding $2,460,000 Grade 1 Winner Santa Anita H.
McKinzie Horse $2,453,360 Grade 1 Winner Pennsylvania Derby
Effinex Horse $2,330,700 Grade 1 Winner Clark H.
Tiago Horse $2,323,950 Grade 1 Winner Santa Anita Derby
Taiba Horse $2,316,000 Grade 1 Winner Pennsylvania Derby
Skip Away Horse $2,288,000 Grade 1 Winner Breeders' Cup Classic

I have no problem with his past, it’s the present that started this. Maybe send the list to Bob.

Similar to Country Legend Toby Keith who said....not as good as I once was but I'm as good once as I ever was!
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ldQrapQ4d0Y

[Curtis]

A few horses to help jog Curtis' memory.....


Arrogate Horse $17,308,000 Grade 1 Winner Pegasus World Cup Invitational S.
Zenyatta Mare $7,160,580 Grade 1 Winner Breeders' Cup Classic
Midnight Bisou Mare $6,996,520 Grade 1 Winner Cotillion S.
Songbird Mare $4,692,000 Grade 1 Winner 14 Hands Winery Breeders' Cup Juvenile Fillies
Justify Horse $3,765,600 Grade 1 Winner Kentucky Derby presented by Woodford Reserve
Charlatan Horse $3,680,000 Grade 1 Winner RUNHAPPY Malibu S.
Azeri Mare $3,401,070 Grade 1 Winner Breeders' Cup Distaff
Drosselmeyer Horse $3,300,000 Grade 1 Winner Breeders' Cup Classic
Royal Delta Mare $3,096,526 Grade 1 Winner Breeders' Cup Ladies' Classic
Game On Dude Gelding $2,844,235 Grade 1 Winner Santa Anita H.
Giacomo Horse $2,537,316 Grade 1 Winner Kentucky Derby
Abel Tasman Mare $2,525,525 Grade 1 Winner Longines Kentucky Oaks
Lure Horse $2,494,949 Grade 1 Winner Breeders' Cup Mile
Holy Bull Horse $2,472,160 Grade 1 Winner Travers S.
Shared Belief Gelding $2,460,000 Grade 1 Winner Santa Anita H.
McKinzie Horse $2,453,360 Grade 1 Winner Pennsylvania Derby
Effinex Horse $2,330,700 Grade 1 Winner Clark H.
Tiago Horse $2,323,950 Grade 1 Winner Santa Anita Derby
Taiba Horse $2,316,000 Grade 1 Winner Pennsylvania Derby
Skip Away Horse $2,288,000 Grade 1 Winner Breeders' Cup Classic

I have no problem with his past, it’s the present that started this. Maybe send the list to Bob.

Similar to Country Legend Toby Keith who said....not as good as I once was but I'm as good once as I ever was!
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ldQrapQ4d0Y

It’s figuring out when that “once” is that’s the trick. Danny Velasquez always said it doesn’t matter who the jock is, it’s 95% the horse. But then Affirmed was a great horse with Steve Cauthen, he was an all-time legend with Laffit. It’s why it’s called gambling.

[Diver52]

Not really an expert here, but a lot of trainers on the west coast (HELLO Bob) want speed from the gate and that doesn't seem to be Mike's strength these days. But he also won a listed stakes on. . . Sunday. But I remember people talking about Mike taking the "married man's route" twenty years ago. AFAIK he's still single.

[Cigarillo]

Spoke to a couple of trainers at Santa Anita earlier this year. They both said that he's more selective with mounts and is in general, limiting them compared to when he was younger.

Sounds like a full time to part time job transition into retirement.

[genuinerizk]

Not really an expert here, but a lot of trainers on the west coast (HELLO Bob) want speed from the gate and that doesn't seem to be Mike's strength these days. But he also won a listed stakes on. . . Sunday. But I remember people talking about Mike taking the "married man's route" twenty years ago. AFAIK he's still single.

He was married for the 2nd time in 2019. I remember seeing her on TV with him at a lot of the big races.