Corridor of Fame jockey Mike Smith took a minute to recollect his very first horse. He recounted his many adventures with a little bit black pony that his father purchased him. The horse was named Stormy and taught him many classes, as solely an ornery Shetland might. Smith stated, “Stormy had a ‘little man syndrome.’ I’d saddle him up and journey him after college or any probability I bought. I’d learn to submit and keep on and never get bounced off.”
Quick ahead to the 2025 Breeders’ Cup World Championships at Del Mar. Smith is the all-time chief in wins (27) on the Breeders’ Cup. Beginning in 1990, Smith has given affected person {and professional} Breeders’ Cup rides to among the all-time greats in horse racing, together with Lure, Skip Away, Azeri, Zenyatta, Royal Delta, Songbird, and Arrogate.
This 12 months, Smith is worked up about his scheduled rides on a quartet of wonderful rivals.
Tamara is owned by Spendthrift Farm and is the well-known daughter of Corridor of Fame racemare Beholder and sired by Bolt d’Oro. She is skilled by Corridor of Famer Richard Mandella, who saddled Beholder for her three Breeders’ Cup wins. Mandella stated, “Tamara is a really particular filly, clearly gifted and a sweetheart to be round. Makes a superb match with Mike Smith, who’s the excellent gentleman and nice rider.”
Smith will journey Tamara within the PNC Financial institution Filly & Mare Dash. He has been her jockey in 5 earlier begins, together with her win within the 2023 FanDuel Racing Del Mar Debutante Stakes and the latest Grade 3 Chillingworth Stakes. She got here in seventh within the NetJets Breeders Cup Juvenile Fillies in November 2023 and was given a while off. Smith stated after profitable the Chillingworth Stakes, “She has actually stuffed out a complete lot. Mr. Mandella and his complete crew have carried out a superb job of simply giving her time that she wanted to return again. She was very keen to depart there [the gate]. As soon as she hit her left lead, she hit one other gear!”
Bottle of Rouge is sired by Vino Rosso of the Bluegrass Cat mare Blues Nook. She is skilled by Bob Baffert and owned by his spouse, Jill Baffert. Bottle of Rouge will run within the NetJets Juvenile Fillies. They not too long ago received the 75th version of the Grade 1 Del Mar Debutante. It was an emotional win for Jill Baffert, who cried with pleasure within the winner’s circle. It was Smith’s fourth win within the Debutante, and he had nothing however reward about Bottle of Rouge. “First time I’ve even been on her; by no means even labored her. I’ve to thank Jill as she instructed Bob he needed to journey me, she wouldn’t let up. She insisted, so he put me on. Thanks, Jill. Thanks, Bob. She ran effectively at this time.”
Kopion is a 4-year-old filly who has received 4 stakes races. She can also be sired by Omaha Seaside (out of the Victory Gallop mare Galloping Ami). Educated by Mandella and owned by Spendthrift Farm, she goes to race towards the boys for the primary time within the Cygames Breeders’ Cup Dash.
Mandella defined to Michelle Yu on FanDuel TV that he’s getting into Kopion within the Dash quite than towards her stablemate Tamara within the Filly & Mare Dash. Smith took Kopion out to the observe on Sunday morning with directions to “liven her up a little bit bit” for the shorter race. Mandella instructed Yu, “She went 33 and [one-fifth] and it appeared like 36 [seconds]. She was simply galloping. She’s superb proper now. It’s egocentric on my half to run two horses in a single race [Tamara and Kopion] to attempt to assure a win. The 2 fillies are ok that they should have their very own day.”
Smith was equipped after the morning exercise and stated, “She ran lights out!” He instructed FanDuel TV’s Yu, “That was a deal with and a half. The concept was simply to place some velocity on her … I pulled her up on the half and jogged her for a little bit bit. … I simply sat down on her, and he or she took off prefer it was a match race – cruising actually. I imply she was nonetheless very snug. It was a rhythm that she might deal with very effectively. I slowed her manner down after the wire and tried to not exit too rapidly. She nonetheless went out in 46 [seconds] and alter.”
Smith is recreation to race Kopion towards the boys. “I’m loving it. Zenyatta beat the boys within the Traditional. It will be superb to beat the boys within the Dash. She’s bought the power. All of it will depend on the draw and the journey. She’s doing extraordinarily effectively and he or she’s comfortable.”
Nevada Seaside, an Omaha Seaside colt owned by Mike Pegram, Paul Weitman, and Karl Watson, is entered within the Longines Breeders’ Cup Traditional. Smith might be driving him for Corridor of Famer Bob Baffert. They not too long ago teamed to win the Grade 1 Goodwood Stakes. After the race, Smith stated, “Nevada Seaside traveled superbly. There have been completely different methods going into this race and Bob instructed me that he would go each little bit of the mile and eighth so to do what I wanted to do. I used to be courageous sufficient to go forward and push on the finish and the horse responded nice!”
Baffert was happy. After the race he stated, “We have now at all times been actually excessive on this horse. … As we speak he confirmed what he’s manufactured from. They had been operating exhausting. Turning for dwelling, I assumed, ‘Effectively, that is if you discover out what you might be actually manufactured from.’ He dug in and Mike Smith rode an attractive race. Mike rode [his sire] Omaha Seaside, and I actually like Omaha Seaside. I believe he’s going to be a extremely good sire.”
Smith guided Omaha Seaside to Grade 1wins within the Arkansas Derby, Santa Anita Dash Championship Stakes, and Malibu Stakes in 2019 in addition to a second within the Breeders’ Cup Grime Mile. He stated Nevada Seaside loves the observe at Del Mar and works effectively there. “The mile and quarter ought to be proper up his alley!”
When Smith mounts a horse for the primary time, he has an inner guidelines. “As quickly as you heat up, you may really feel in the event that they’re heavy or in the event that they’re mild on their mouth. It’s about you adjusting to them and never them adjusting to you.”
He defined additional: “It’s not as tough as individuals assume. You’ll be able to be taught from their connections about their little quirks and the little issues that they like and dislike. Generally you’ve bought to seek out out issues by yourself throughout the race. Have they got hassle with the kickback? Not liking to be on the within or crowded? Claustrophobic? Then once they’re getting snug, you’re feeling them simply loosen up and get right into a rhythm. That’s the important thing! Getting the horse into a pleasant, stunning rhythm early on. In the event you try this, they’re going to breathe effectively and provide you with what they’ve. You’ll be able to really feel once they’re comfortable. Once I’ve bought them into that comfortable place with a superb rhythm, I’m like ‘it’s going to occur at this time!’ ”
Mike Smith is a non secular man, and he loves horses. After each win, he pauses on the bottom to supply his prayers and thanks for “blessing me and for this horse coming again protected. For everybody coming again. The horses are all protected and sound. That’s form of what I’m praying about; the chance and to journey a superb race.”
As for his life-long love of horses, Smith stated, “They’re simply superb to take a look at to begin. Simply so cool and so they talk with you. The little issues flip into one thing so large; it simply amazes me on a regular basis how nice and exquisite and highly effective they’re. They’re extraordinarily sturdy. It’s a must to listen. But have the ability to loosen up and get them to do issues. You get a horse to do extra by finesse and persistence than you do with brute power. Good fingers on a horse means so much.
“The whole lot I’ve in my life is due to horses. I’m not saying I wouldn’t be dwelling if I didn’t have a horse, however I actually wouldn’t be dwelling like this. With the chance to journey these stunning horses and the sensation that you simply get from them, there actually are not any phrases to explain that feeling. It’s a tremendous feeling if you cross the wire first. It’s about getting the horse to do what you need to do. In the event you journey effectively, and you bought them to offer you their all. It’s a superb feeling.”
From an ornery Shetland pony named Stormy to the sector of world-class racing, Smith has achieved extraordinary heights from the again of a horse. He’s blessed with many nice recollections. He merely says, “I wouldn’t commerce it for nothing.”
