Santa Anita Opens New Turf Course
Santa Anita unveiled its new turf course Sept.15. The autumn meet runs 23 days from Sept. 30 to Nov. 5, and includes the Breeders' Cup World Championships.
Mike Smith
News, Articles, Videos and other content about Mike Smith
Bendable Upsets Enola Gray at Los Alamitos
Claiborne Farm's Bendable, off the first loss of her career, handed Enola Gray her first defeat Sept. 11 in the $75,000 Beverly J. Lewis Stakes at Los Alamitos Race Course.
NYRA Reports Steady Saratoga Meet Numbers
The New York Racing Association concluded its 2016 season at Saratoga Race Course with all-sources handle of $647,322,503, virtually even with last year's record wagering that had shattered the previous high water mark by more than 10%.
Jim Rome Remembers Shared Belief
Jim Rome thought he would eventually start to get over losing Shared Belief. The horse owner and syndicated sports talk radio star thought time would help.
Songbird a Perfect 10 After Easy Alabama Win
Stretching out to 1 1/4 miles for the first time proved no problem for unbeaten filly Songbird as the 3-year-old daughter of Medaglia d'Oro waltzed to a clear lead in the far turn and was never challenged late in the $600,000 Alabama Stakes (gr. I).
The Pizza Man Back for Another Million
Midwest Thoroughbreds' homebred The Pizza Man will look to become the first horse to win the Arlington Million (gr. IT) back-to-back Aug. 13, but will have to pick up his recent form to do so.
'Chrome' Edges Dortmund in Del Mar Battle
The Del Mar crowd roared as California Chrome put a head in front of Dortmund in the final turn of the $200,000 San Diego Handicap (gr. II) July 23, but little did they know the battle they were in store for in the stretch.
Songbird Adds Star Power to Sunday's CCA Oaks
Champion Songbird will put her perfect record on the line July 23 in the Coaching Club American Oaks (gr. I) at Saratoga Race Course, which features a purse pumped up from $300,000 to $500,000 to attract the daughter of Medaglia d'Oro.
Pretty N Cool Back to Del Mar Winner's Circle
Pretty N Cool, who began her career last summer at Del Mar, rallied powerfully in the stretch to win the $75,000 C.E.R.F. Stakes July 20 at the seaside racetrack.
Nyquist, Songbird Drill at Del Mar
Kentucky Derby Presented by Yum! Brands (gr. I) winner Nyquist and undefeated 3-year-old filly Songbird both were put through workouts July 17 at Del Mar in preparation for top-level East Coast starts this summer.
Dressed in Hermes Gets Oceanside Class Relief
The 3-year-old son of Hat Trick returns to the seaside track July 15 on opening day with a drop in class to the $100,000 Oceanside Stakes, but will face a loaded field as he seeks a return to the winner's circle.
Effinex Repeats in Suburban Handicap
Tri-Bone Stables' Effinex defended his title in the $500,000 Suburban Handicap (gr. II) July 9 at Belmnont Park, but he had to grind all the way to the wire to do so.
Masochistic Blazes in 2016 Debut
A more than eight month layoff didn't change much—Masochistic is still one fast animal.
Songbird Logs Drill at Santa Anita Park
Songbird worked five furlongs on Santa Anita Park's main track in 1:01 July 2 in preparation for her East Coast summer campaign.
Cheekaboo Edges Favorites in Honeymoon
With an expert ride from Hall of Fame jockey Mike Smith, Cheekaboo broke through for her first graded stakes win in her first start against open company June 19 in the $200,000 Honeymoon Stakes (gr. IIT) at Santa Anita Park.
Songbird Maintains Dominance in Summertime
Songbird didn't have the early lead for the first time in her career, but the result remained the same in the $200,000 Summertime Oaks (gr. II) June 18 at Santa Anita Park.
Effinex, Unified Set for Stakes Engagements
Jimmy Jerkens might not have a Belmont Stakes (gr. I) contender this year, but he's holding a hot hand with June 18 Stephen Foster (gr. I) contender Effinex and June 19 Pegasus (gr. III) runner Unified, who will go favored in their respective races.
Songbird Breezes Bullet at Santa Anita
Songbird's fractional times were :36 2/5, :48 2/5, and 1:00 4/5, with a gallop out to six furlongs in 1:28.
Si Sage Speeds to Whittingham Victory
After winning the 2015 Last Tycoon (gr. IIIT) at the distance by 3 1/4 lengths at odds of 42-1, the 6-year-old son of Sageburg wowed again at 10 furlongs May 29 in the $200,000 Charles Whittingham Stakes (gr. IIT).
Effinex Returns to Winning Ways in Oaklawn 'Cap
Effinex, who may have been the top handicap horse in the country at the end of last season, secured another big win April 16 with a one-length score in the $750,000 Oaklawn Handicap (gr. II) at Oaklawn Park.
Songbird Easy Winner of Santa Anita Oaks
Fox Hill Farms' Songbird grabbed the early lead and easily captured her seventh win in seven starts to take the grade I Santa Anita Oaks at Santa Anita Park April 9 and remain the dominant favorite for the Kentucky Oaks.
Final Test for Songbird in Santa Anita Oaks
With six perfect starts to her credit, Fox Hill Farms' Songbird has one more hurdle to clear -- the April 9 Santa Anita Oaks (gr. I) -- before heading to Kentucky as the favorite for the May 6 Longines Kentucky Oaks (gr. I).
Making the Grade: Danzing Candy
This week we take a closer look at Danzing Candy, winner of the $400,000 San Felipe Stakes on March 12 at Santa Anita Park.
Danzing Candy Blazes Through Workout
Danzing Candy, in the first timed workout since his breakout score in the March 12 San Felipe Stakes (gr. II), went five furlongs in :58 3/5 March 26 at Santa Anita Park.
Ziconic Sluggish in Second Start
Seemingly nothing went right for Jerry and Ann Moss' Ziconic in the second start of his career March 25 at Santa Anita Park.
Racing Regulators Discuss Daily Fantasy
The takeaway from a session on daily fantasy gaming at the Association of Racing Commissioners International conference March 23 in New Orleans? Racing regulators need to be prepared for a changing gaming landscape.
Indiana Suspends Trainer Haffner 45 Days
In a settlement with the Indiana Horse Racing Commission, trainer Randy Haffner will serve at least a 45-day suspension for 2015 violations in Thoroughbred and Quarter Horse races at Indiana Grand Racing and Casino.
Danzing Candy Speeds to San Felipe Victory
Unraced until November of last year, Danzing Candy emphatically announced his arrival on the Triple Crown trail with a gate-to-wire, two-length score over favored Mor Spirit in the $400,000 San Felipe Stakes (gr. II).
What a View Upsets Kilroe Mile
California-bred What a View made quite a jump from winning against state-bred company in his last start to take the $400,000 Frank E. Kilroe Mile (gr. IT) March 12 at Santa Anita Park in his first graded stakes attempt.
Bolo's SA Turf Record on the Line in Kilroe
Bolo will put his undefeated record over the Santa Anita Park lawn on the line March 12 in the $400,000 Frank E. Kilroe Mile (gr. IT), with grade II winners Om and Midnight Storm in to challenge.
Derby Hopefuls Top Full Santa Anita Work Tab
A week ahead of Southern California's next Triple Crown prep race, the $400,000 San Felipe Stakes (gr. II), three of the top contenders were on the track at the same time March 5 at Santa Anita Park.
Songbird Logs Breeze at Santa Anita
Hall of Fame jockey Mike Smith is generally a pretty cheerful guy, but when he brings Songbird back to the Jerry Hollendorfer barn after her workouts, his mood hits another level.
'Smokey' and 'Candy' Hook Up in Morning Work
Smokey Image and Danzing Candy put on an unintentional preview of the March 12 San Felipe (gr. II) during their morning workouts Feb. 27 at Santa Anita Park.
Ziconic More Than Memorable in Debut
Ziconic brought back good and bad memories for John Shirreffs all in one shot during his debut Feb. 20 at Santa Anita Park.
Tara's Tango Gets Up in Santa Maria
A tough-luck finisher in two graded stakes runs in the past year, Stonestreet Stable's homebred Tara's Tango broke through Feb. 13 in the $200,000 Santa Maria Stakes (gr. II) at Santa Anita Park.
Ziconic Set for Debut at Santa Anita
After a four-furlong breeze from the gate in :49 3/5 at Santa Anita Park Feb. 13, trainer John Shirreffs said Jerry and Ann Moss' homebred Ziconic will likely make his debut at Santa Anita Park Feb. 20.
Whitmore Gets Green Light for Southwest
- By Blood-Horse Staff
- Thoroughbred Racing, Triple Crown, Midwest Region, Southeast Region, Southwest Region
Oaklawn Park allowance winner Whitmore will start in the $500,000 Southwest Stakes (gr. III) Feb. 15 after a good workout in company the morning of Feb. 8 at the Arkansas racetrack.
Mor Spirit Secures Robert B. Lewis Score
Hall of Fame jockey Gary Stevens delivered an icy ride and grade I winner Mor Spirit responded full of run in the $150,000 Robert B. Lewis Stakes (gr. III) at Santa Anita Park.
Danzing Candy Headed to Derby Trail
Two days ahead of Santa Anita Park's second official Kentucky Derby Presented by Yum! Brands (gr. I) prep, another 3-year-old colt made waves with what could end up being his first step on the Triple Crown trail Feb. 4.
Songbird Ready for 2016 Debut in Las Virgenes
Fox Hill Farms' undefeated Songbird will make her 2016 debut in the $300,000 Las Virgenes Stakes (gr. II) Feb. 6 and will again be a commanding favorite when the gates open at Santa Anita Park.
The Pizza Man Logs First 2016 Workout
Midwest Thoroughbreds' The Pizza Man had his first work of 2016 Jan. 23 at Fair Grounds Race Course & Slots.
Songbird Works Toward 3-Year-Old Debut
Undefeated Songbird worked five furlongs in a bullet :58 1/5 Jan. 8 at Santa Anita Park under regular rider Mike Smith.
Birdatthewire Prevails in La Brea
With a determined rally near the center of the track, Birdatthewire caught Hot City Girl in deep stretch to earn the first grade I victory of her career in the $300,000 La Brea Stakes (gr. I) Dec. 26 at Santa Anita Park.
Street Fancy Bursts to Starlet Score
Agave Racing Stable's Street Fancy went from maiden winner to grade I winner Dec. 12, taking the $300,000 Starlet Stakes (gr. I) at Los Alamitos Race Course with a strong late burst of speed.
Shared Memories
- By Steve Haskin
The death of Shared Belief shocked the racing world and reminded everyone just how gut wrenching this sport can be and how fragile these magnificent horses are. read blog
Shared Belief Dies After Colic Surgery
Champion Shared Belief died Dec. 3 after a colic episode. He was rushed to UC-Davis but surgery could not fix a rupture.
Dressed in Hermes Up Late for DeMille Win
Dressed in Hermes rallied down the center of the Del Mar turf course and overtook front-runner Collected to win the $100,000 Cecil B. DeMille Stakes (gr. IIIT) for 2-year-olds Nov. 29.
Effinex Lands Grade I in Clark Handicap
Tri-Bone Stables' Effinex capped his big season in a big way Nov. 27, holding off defending winner Hoppertunity in the $500,000 Clark Handicap Presented by Norton Heathcare (gr. I) at Churchill Downs.
The Pizza Man Heads West for Turf Cup
Well-travelled The Pizza Man will make his way back to the West Coast for the $250,000 Hollywood Turf Cup (gr. IIT) Nov. 26 at Del Mar.
Songbird Scores in BC Juvenile Fillies
Songbird delivered a beautiful performance Oct. 31 in the $2 million 14 Hands Winery Breeders' Cup Juvenile Fillies (gr. I), controlling the pace throughout and winning by 5 3/4 lengths over Rachel's Valentina.
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