Mike Smith, a two-time Kentucky Derby winner, rode So Happy to victory in the $750,000 Santa Anita Derby on Saturday, finishing 2 3/4 lengths ahead of the competition. This win gives Smith a chance to become the oldest rider to win the Kentucky Derby.
What happened?
So Happy overtook Bob Baffert-trained favorite Potente at the top of the stretch after racing on the pace and kicked clear, running 1 1/8 miles in 1:49.01.
Why it matters for Mike Smith
Smith, at 60 years old, could break Bill Shoemaker's record as the oldest jockey to win the Derby, which has stood since 1986 when Shoemaker rode Ferdinand to victory at 54.
What comes next?
So Happy and Smith will head to the Kentucky Derby, where they will face off against other top contenders, including Further Ado, who won the $1.25 million Blue Grass Stakes, and Albus, who scored a big upset in the $750,000 Wood Memorial.
The Santa Anita Derby has produced eight Kentucky Derby winners since 1991, and Smith is looking forward to going to Kentucky again. So Happy paid $16.60 to win, and the colt will be trainer Mark Glatt's first Kentucky Derby entrant at age 53.
Glatt's wife, Dena, died of heart failure less than two months ago, and he credited her with helping the horse get to this point. Baffert said Potente remains headed to the Derby, despite finishing second.
The top finishers earned qualifying points for the Kentucky Derby leaderboard, with So Happy and Smith earning a spot in the upcoming race. The Kentucky Derby is set to take place next month, and Smith is looking to make history as the oldest jockey to win.
And with this win, Smith is one step closer to achieving his goal. But the competition will be fierce, with other top jockeys and horses vying for the top spot. So Happy's win in the Santa Anita Derby is a significant one, and it will be exciting to see how the horse and Smith perform in the Kentucky Derby.
The Blue Grass Stakes and the Wood Memorial also took place on Saturday, with Further Ado and Albus emerging as winners. These horses will also be heading to the Kentucky Derby, and it will be interesting to see how they stack up against So Happy and Smith.
In the end, Smith's experience and skill will be put to the test as he competes in the Kentucky Derby. But for now, he can celebrate his win in the Santa Anita Derby and look forward to the upcoming race. The stage is set for an exciting Kentucky Derby, and Mike Smith is ready to take on the challenge.
So Happy's trainer, Mark Glatt, is also looking forward to the Kentucky Derby. He has never had a horse compete in the race before, and he is excited to see how So Happy will perform. With Smith on board, Glatt is confident that the horse has a good chance of winning.
The Kentucky Derby is one of the most prestigious horse racing events in the world, and it will be exciting to see how So Happy and Smith perform. The race is set to take place on the first Saturday in May, and it will be broadcast live on television. Fans of horse racing will not want to miss this event, as it promises to be an exciting and competitive race.
But for now, Smith and So Happy can bask in the glory of their win in the Santa Anita Derby. They have proven themselves to be a formidable team, and they will be ones to watch in the Kentucky Derby. With their skills and experience, they have a good chance of making history and winning the coveted race.