Jockey Mike Smith turned 58 on Thursday. Riding for 43 years, he isn't prepared to slow down. Since moving his tack to Southern California in 2001, he has ridden several Hall of Fame horses and was himself inducted in 2003.
“The only thing that feels old on me is my memories of the past,” said Smith.
The Hall of Famer has won four GI Pacific Classics and if Geaux Rocket Ride (Candy Ride {Arg}) makes it to the race this year, Smith will have his eleventh shot at Del Mar's marquee race. He has won 77 stakes races at the track, eleventh best all-time.
“As far as the way I feel,” Smith notes, “I feel like a machine. I feel good, I'm really taking good care of myself and I've been working out hard. I'm still able to do everything I was doing in my thirties.”
Post Time and the Setting Sun
Friday's first post has been moved up a half hour to 3:30 p.m. (PST) in hopes of eliminating the glare from the setting sun. Over the past couple of weeks, the jockeys have voiced their concerns about being unable to see just before they give their mounts their cues.
“Anywhere from the quarter pole to in between the 3/8's pole is a crucial time,” jockey Joe Bravo says. “Everybody is starting to ask their horse to run and it's blinding, you really can't see anything.”
The horses are affected as well and that is what happened to jockey Edwin Maldonado aboard Bus Buzz (Stay Thirsty), who was leading the pack in the Real Good Deal S. last Friday.
Maltese Falcon | Benoit
“If they (the horse) can't see anything they tend to slow down,” Maldonado says. “He jumped sharp out of the gate and then the second or third jump he slowed down a whole lot.”
Powell Points La Jolla Winner
Trainer Leonard Powell says Maltese Falcon (Ire) (Caravaggio), winner of last Sunday's GIII La Jolla H., came out of the race in “very good shape” and he said his charge will next target the Sept. 2 GII Del Mar Derby.
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