Don Alberto Stable's Unique Bella didn't have everything go her way during her return to racing in the $100,000 LA Woman Stakes (G3) Oct. 8 at Santa Anita Park, but her class was more than enough to make up for some uneasy early moments.
Hall of Fame jockey Mike Smith has made a pledge of 1% of his earnings from Travers Day Aug. 26, to Grayson-Jockey Club Research Foundation.
Working on his own with jockey Martin Garcia in the irons, superstar Arrogate clipped off a solid seven-furlong drill in 1:25 1/5 Aug. 8 at Del Mar as trainer Bob Baffert and regular rider Mike Smith looked on from the track's grandstand.
Mike Smith, the Hall of Fame rider who has handled scores of top horses and won hundreds of major races over a 36-year career, has been named the 2017 recipient of the Laffit Pincay Jr. Award.
A few strides into the $300,000 Bing Crosby Stakes (G1) at Del Mar, champion sprinter Drefong dropped jockey Mike Smith to the main track. Even though he was ineligible to win after that point, the colt had an undisputed impact on who won the race.
A gusty move to the front of the six-horse field on Abel Tasman from jockey Mike Smith after the first quarter-mile earned the Quality Road filly her third consecutive grade 1 victory in the $300,000 Coaching Club American Oaks (G1).
Hronis Racing's Accelerate stunned the world July 22 with a dominant upset in the $300,000 TVG San Diego Handicap (G2). Jockey Victor Espinoza sent the horse to a gate-to-wire victory as Mike Smith was unable to get heavily favored Arrogate going.
All Arrogate has to do is show up and be Arrogate, and the TVG San Diego Handicap (G2) is a foregone conclusion, which is exactly why his connections will have their minds stressed until they see the expected ending.
The jump Abel Tasman has on her foes in terms of divisional supremacy can further grow July 23 when the daughter of Quality Road heads up a field of seven entered for the $300,000 Coaching Club American Oaks (G1).
The champion daughter of Medaglia d'Oro came and conquered July 15 at Delaware Park, where she claimed the $750,000 Delaware Handicap (G1) for Delaware native Rick Porter of Fox Hill Farms and Hall of Fame trainer Jerry Hollendorfer.
When Mike Smith hangs up his tack for the final time, many fans will remember him as racing's "ladies' man."
For owner Rick Porter, a victory in the $750,000 Delaware Handicap (G1) would mean a lot as the big race at his local track. On July 15 he will send out two-time champion Songbird in an effort to land the $750,000 race for fillies and mares.
Off the Triple Crown trail and with a clean trip, Calumet Farm's homebred Hence once again found his winning stride July 7 in the $250,000 Iowa Derby (G3) at Prairie Meadows.
J. Keeler Johnson handicaps the Belmont Derby and Iowa Derby
While Arrogate is fueling the massive earnings of Baffert and Smith, they have teamed to win grade 1 races this year with Abel Tasman and Mor Spirit. Smith also rides champion Songbird; Baffert has multiple graded stakes winner Vale Dori.
Trainer Bob Baffert has a habit of comparing his horses to human athletes, and with a wide grin on his face he went to the well again July 2 at Santa Anita Park.
The margin may have only been a neck over challenger Ransom the Moon, but the context of Danzing Candy's win in the San Carlos Stakes (G2) may put his performance at or near the top of his résumé.
J. Keeler Johnson handicaps the Mother Goose Stakes (G2) at Belmont Park
Trainer Richard Mandella was hopeful Claiborne Farm's homebred Bendable would come back as strong as she was before she fractured a splint bone in October, but he wanted to see her do it on the racetrack.
The one-sided rivalry between Sircat Sally and Beau Recall saw a similar result June 17 in the $200,000 Honeymoon Stakes (G2T) at Santa Anita Park.
American Anthem left his field in arrears as he scored a powerful victory in the seven-furlong Woody Stephens Stakes, giving his trainer Bob Baffert a third win on the Belmont Stakes card
In her 2017 debut June 10 at Belmont Park in the $750,000 Ogden Phipps Stakes (G1), Fox Hill Farm's 4-year-old daughter of Medaglia d'Oro was challenged in the turn by Paid Up Subscriber.
Hall of Famer Bob Baffert brought West Coast to the East Coast ready to rumble, and the son of Flatter impressed like a 9-5 choice should June 10 in the $150,000 Easy Goer Stakes at Belmont Park.
Three-year-olds Conquistador Cielo and Holy Bull defeated older horses in their memorable editions of the Metropolitan Handicap (G1).
Silverton Hill's Bonnie and Tommy Hamilton have an impressive cattle and horse farm, but it's an hour outside the heart of the Bluegrass in Springfield, KY, where Belmont hopeful Meantime laid up late last year.
Two-time champion filly Songbird is the 1-2 morning-line favorite for her 2017 debut in the $750,000 Ogden Phipps Stakes (G1) June 10 at Belmont Park.
Fox Hill Farm's Songbird logged her final workout June 6 for her 2017 debut in the $750,000 Ogden Phipps Stakes (G1) June 10, and is set to depart for Belmont Park.
Rounding the turn for home in the $400,000 Shoemaker Mile (G1T) June 3 at Santa Anita Park, Bal a Bali again validated owner Calumet Farm's decision to keep the striking bay off their stallion roster for another year.
Danzing Candy was sent off as the 1-5 favorite in the five-horse field of the $200,000 Lone Star Handicap (G3), leading at every call in the 1 1/16-mile test and crossing the wire 4 3/4 lengths in front.
American Anthem let a trio of frontrunners gun for the lead in the $100,000 Lazaro Barrera Stakes (G3) and closed to win the seven-furlong test.
Exactly one year after running off the board in the Kentucky Derby Presented by Yum! Brands (G1), Michael Lund Peterson's grade 1 winner Mor Spirit notched the first graded score of his 4-year-old season.
WinStar Farm and Don Alberto Stable's Battle of Midway put in his final timed workout April 28 at Santa Anita Park in preparation for the Kentucky Derby Presented by Yum! Brands (G1). He covered six furlongs in 1:13 2/5.
Janis Whitham's McCraken arrived at trainer Ian Wilkes' Barn 26 at Churchill Downs the morning of April 10 following a third-place finish in Saturday's Toyota Blue Grass Stakes (G2) at Keeneland.
Joe Turner's hombred Sircat Sally extended her undefeated streak to five when she easily coasted to a win in the $150,000 Providencia Stakes (G3T) April 8 at Santa Anita Park.
Comments from trainer Bob Baffert and jockey Mike Smith after Arrogate's victory in the Dubai World Cup. Courtesy Dubai Racing Club
Juddmonte Farms' Arrogate broke last, but rallied easily to win the $10 million Dubai World Cup Sponsored by Emirates Airline.
Mike Smith talks about Arrogate and the Dubai World Cup Courtesy Dubai Racing Club
For all the words Baffert has said to all those who inquire about what makes Juddmonte Farms' champion Arrogate the most fearsome horse in training, it is the trainer's presence in Dubai this week makes the most emphatic statement.
More than 13 months after his last victory, Michael Lund Petersen's Mor Spirit returned to the winner's circle with style March 18 in the $250,000 Essex Handicap at Oaklawn Park.
Mor Spirit looks to regain winning form in his third start off the layup March 18, when he carries highweight assignment of 121 pounds in the $250,000 Essex Handicap at Oaklawn Park.
Sham Stakes (G3) runner-up American Anthem has arrived for the purpose of making sure the Rebel Stakes (G2) remains trainer Bob Baffert's out-of-town playground.
Don Alberto Stable's Unique Bella finally got a challenge March 4 in the $100,000 Santa Ysabel Stakes (G3), but shrugged it off in the final furlong to reestablish her standing as the current favorite for the Longines Kentucky Oaks (G1).
In his first race since July, Bolo was 2 1/2 lengths off leaders What a View and Conquest Enforcer with a furlong to run, but closed rapidly on the outside and just got a head in front at the wire.
Vale Dori continued her dominance of the older female division in Southern California with another her third straight grade 2 score Feb. 11 in the $200,000 Santa Maria Stakes at Santa Anita Park.
The 3-year-old Tapit filly owned by Don Alberto Stable and trained by Jerry Hollendorfer appeared as if she was just out for a breezy spin in her two-turn debut under jockey Mike Smith.
For a 1 1/8-mile race, trainers Art Sherman and Bob Baffert will be paying an added level of attention to the start of the $12 million Pegasus World Cup Invitational Stakes (G1) Jan. 28 at Gulfstream Park.
Jockey Mike Smith can't wait to get back aboard Juddmonte Farm's Arrogate to take on two-time Horse of the Year California Chrome in the $12 million Pegasus World Cup Invitational (G1) Jan. 28 at Gulfstream Park.
Highlights from Arrogate's 2016 season, including comments from trainer Bob Baffert, Garrett O'Rourke, and Mike Smith. Video Courtesy Longines
Seltzer Thoroughbreds' Finest City showed no signs of rust in her first start since her Breeders' Cup Filly & Mare Sprint (G1) victory, the $200,000 Santa Monica Stakes (G2) Jan. 21 at Santa Anita Park.
With a late burst of speed, D P Racing's Prize Exhibit swept her competition to win the $100,000 Megahertz Stakes (G3T) at Santa Anita Park Jan. 16 by 1 1/4 lengths.
