Mike Smith | Horse Racing Free Tips

Distaffers Ce Ce, As Time Goes By Square Off In Santa Maria Stakes

A two-time Grade 1 stakes winner at age four and fresh off a sensational classified allowance win, Bo Hirsch's homebred Ce Ce and lights-out Grade 2winner As Time Goes By headline Saturday's Grade 2, $200,000 Santa Maria Stakes at Santa Anita. For fillies and mares three and up, the Santa Maria has attracted a field of five at a mile and one sixteenth.

Trained by recent Preakness Stakes-winning conditioner Michael McCarthy, Ce Ce slingshotted off the turn for home en route to an emphatic 3 ¼ lengths score in a seven furlong classified allowance here on April 17 and will be ridden back by Victor Espinoza.

A 3 ¼ length winner of the Grade 1 Beholder Mile here in her sixth career start on March 14, 2020, Ce Ce then took Oaklawn Park's Grade 1 Apple Blossom by a head at the same distance on April 18, 2020, but was a disappointing third as the 3-5 favorite in last year's Santa Maria and was on a four-race losing streak prior to winning her comeback race on April 17.

Ridden to all five of her victories by Victor Espinoza, Ce Ce is a 5-year-old mare by Elusive Quality out of Hirsh's Grade 1 winning Miss Houdini, by Belong to Me. The leading money earner in the field with $904,100, Ce Ce has a win and two thirds from three tries at the Santa Maria distance.

Trained by Bob Baffert, As Time Goes By made an easy lead as the 3-5 favorite in the Grade 2 Santa Margarita Stakes here on April 24 and exploded through the lane to win off by 9 ¼ lengths under Mike Smith, who rides back on Saturday. Owned by Michael Tabor, Mrs. John Magnier and Derrick Smith, As Time Goes By, who was second, beaten 2 ¾ lengths by Eclipse Champion Swiss Skydiver two starts back in the Grade 1 Beholder Mile March 13, is 6-3-2-1 overall with earnings of $260,600.

THE FIELD FOR THE GRADE 2 SANTA MARIA WITH JOCKEYS & WEIGHTS IN POST POSITION ORDER

Race 2 of 9 Approximate post time 1:30 p.m. PT

Last First Kiss—Abel Cedillo—122
This Tea—Kent Desormeaux—122
Miss Stormy D—Juan Hernandez—122
Ce Ce—Victor Espinoza—122
As Time Goes By—Mike Smith—126

First post time for a nine-race card on Saturday is at 1 p.m. For additional information, please visit santaanita.com or call (626) 574-RACE.

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Preakness Notes: Concert Tour Breezes Amidst Storm Over Medina Spirit’s Failed Drug Test: Post Position Draw Delayed Until Tuesday

Gary and Mary West's Concert Tour worked five-eighths of a mile in 1:00.40 Sunday morning at Churchill Downs under jockey Martin Garcia, who frequently works horses for Baffert. Mike Smith is scheduled to be aboard in Saturday's Grade 1 Preakness Stakes at Pimlico in Baltimore, Md.

Zedan Racing Stables' Medina Spirit – the G1 Kentucky Derby winner who Baffert said has tested positive for betamethasone – open galloped at Churchill.

“He worked really well. He's been training really well,” trainer Bob Baffert said. “I'm happy with the way he went, so he'll definitely be going to the Preakness. Medina Spirit, we just gave him a stiff open gallop, sort of. We're happy with how he went. He came out of the race really, really well. So they'll both be going to the Preakness.”

Maryland Jockey Club released the following statement Sunday afternoon concerning the revelations of Medina Spirit's failed drug test.

“Integrity in the sport of Thoroughbred horse racing is the ultimate priority for 1/ST Racing and the Maryland Jockey Club (MJC). 1/ST Racing has been an industry leader instituting processes and protocols that have led to nationwide medication reform and increased accountability. We are committed to achieving the highest level of horse care and safety standards, and we have a proven track record of pushing those standards forward.

“1/ST Racing and MJC intend to review the relevant facts and information relating to the reported medication positive as a result of the post-race blood sample testing completed by Churchill Downs following the 147^th Kentucky Derby involving Medina Spirit trained by Bob Baffert. We are consulting with the Maryland Racing Commission and any decision regarding the entry of Medina Spirit in the 146^thPreakness Stakes will be made after review of the facts.”

The post-position draw for the Preakness, originally scheduled Monday, will now be held Tuesday at approximately 4 p.m. at Pimlico Race Course. It can be viewed at Facebook.com/Preakness.

Baffert has denied that Medina Spirit was ever treated with betamethasone, a corticosteroid typically injected into joints to relieve inflammation.

Medina Spirit and Concert Tour are scheduled to leave Churchill Downs Monday afternoon to van to Baltimore, arriving at Pimlico about 3 or 4 Tuesday morning.

Crowded Trade, Risk Taking Due at Pimlico Tuesday
Trainer Chad Brown reported Sunday that Klaravich Stables Inc.'s Crowded Trade and Risk Taking emerged well from their five-furlong breezes Saturday and are headed to the 146th Preakness Stakes (G1) at Pimlico Race Course May 15.

The Brown trainees worked in company at Belmont Park in 1:01.76, the third-fastest clockings of 18 recorded at the distance. Brown's horses will ship from Belmont Park to Pimlico Race Course on Tuesday.

Brown, who won the 2017 Preakness with Klaravich Stables and William Lawrence's Cloud Computing, had announced Friday that Risk Taking would join stablemate Crowded Trade in the Preakness. Crowded Trade was third in the Wood Memorial (G2) in his third career start. Risk Taking finished seventh as the 2-1 favorite in the Wood Memorial after winning the Withers (G3) by 3¾ lengths. He was the morning line-favorite for Saturday's Peter Pan (G3) at Belmont Park, but owner Seth Klarman opted to scratch from the race and try the $1 million Preakness, which is run around two turns.

Hall of Famer Javier Castellano has the mount on Crowded Trade, while Jose Ortiz has the assignment on Risk Taking.

Rombauer Exits Preakness Breeze in Good Order
Trainer Michael McCarthy reported Sunday morning that his Preakness Stakes (G1) candidate Rombauer came out of his workout Saturday morning at Santa Anita in good shape. The Twirling Candy colt is scheduled to ship from McCarthy's stable at Santa Anita Park in Arcadia, Calif. to Pimlico Race Course on Tuesday.

Rombauer, bred and owned by Diane and John Fradkin, earned a guaranteed berth in the Preakness with his victory in the El Camino Real Derby at Golden Gate Fields on Feb. 13. In his most recent start, the Kentucky-bred was third in the April 3 Blue Grass Stakes (G2) at Keeneland, 5 3/4 lengths behind Essential Quality. His five-furlong work in 59.80 seconds Saturday was his fourth since the Blue Grass.

Jockey Flavien Prat was up for the work Saturday and will ride Rombauer for the first time in the Preakness.

McCarthy, 50, a longtime assistant to recently elected Hall of Fame trainer Todd Pletcher, will make his Triple Crown series debut in the Preakness with Rombauer. He saddled his first starter for his public stable in January 2014.

Unbridled Honor Ready to Go following Preakness Tune-up
Whisper Hill Farm's homebred Unbridled Honor will ship to Pimlico Race Course from Belmont Park in New York Tuesday for a scheduled start in Saturday's Preakness Stakes (G1), trainer Todd Pletcher said Sunday.

Pletcher confirmed that Unbridled Honor looked good the morning after his timed half-mile work in 49.75 seconds Saturday. Unbridled Honor broke his maiden at Tampa Bay Downs on Feb. 6 in his third career start and has since finished fourth in the Tampa Bay Derby (G2) and second in the Lexington (G3) at Keeneland on April 10.

The son of Honor Code will be Pletcher's 10th Preakness starter. The 1 3/16th-mile classic is the only Triple Crown race missing from the resume of the newly elected member of racing's Hall of Fame.

Jockey Luis Saez will ride Unbridled Honor for the first time in the Preakness. Saez is taking over from Julien Leparoux, who was up for the gray colt's last two starts.

Midnight Bourbon Seeking Rebound in Preakness with Good Start
Winchell Thoroughbreds LLC's Midnight Bourbon will try to become the sixth horse in 12 years to win the Preakness (G1) after being beaten in the Kentucky Derby (G1). The colt raced on or near the lead in his prior starts, including taking the Fair Grounds' Lecomte (G3) and finishing second in the Louisiana Derby (G2). But in the Kentucky Derby, he didn't get out of the gate cleanly and found himself in 12th and well off the pace. Forced to race wide on both turns, Midnight Bourbon closed to finish sixth.

“We weren't where we wanted to be, that's for sure,” Scott Blasi, who runs Steve Asmussen's Churchill Downs division, said of Midnight Bourbon's Derby. “But just circumstances: the horse slipped behind and didn't get away well. At the end of the day, he might actually benefit from taking dirt. There's plenty of speed in this Preakness. Hopefully he gets away cleaner. It probably adds a new dimension to him, the fact that he made up ground in all that traffic. He didn't do a lot of running early. I think he's pretty fresh coming out of it. But I think he fits well with those horses.”

The son of Tiznow galloped Sunday morning at Churchill Downs and is scheduled to have an easy half-mile workout Monday morning before shipping to Pimlico Tuesday.

Cypress Creek Equine, Arnold Bennewith and Spendthrift Farm LLC's Keepmeinmind (seventh in the Derby) and Christina Baker and William Mack's Ram, an allowance winner last time out, also had routine gallops Sunday morning at Churchill Downs.

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As Time Goes By Romps Over Santa Margarita Opponents

She looked a winner every step of the way. The Bob Baffert-trained As Time Goes By, second to Eclipse Champion Swiss Skydiver in her most recent start, was thoroughly dominant from start to finish in Saturday's Grade 2, $200,000 Santa Margarita Stakes at Santa Anita in Arcadia, Calif., winning by 9 ¼ lengths. Ridden by Mike Smith, the 4-year-old daughter of 2015 Triple Crown winner American Pharoah got a mile and one eighth in 1:49.95.

A solid second, beaten 2 ¾ lengths by Swiss Skydiver in the Grade 1 Beholder Mile at Santa Anita on March 13, As Time Goes By was quick out of the gate and had well fancied Harvest Moon in pursuit up the backside. Three furlongs out, Smith stepped on the gas with a one-length advantage and when she hit the furlong pole, As Time Goes By was eight lengths in front and well on her way to a rollicking victory.

“I was shocked (to be on the lead), I actually thought the one horse (Pharoah's Heart) and Harvest Moon would show a little more speed,” said Smith, who won last year's Santa Margarita with Paradise Woods and who has won the prestigious fixture for fillies and mares a total of five times. “But today, she actually jumped really quick out of there, and she fell right into stride so nice and I just stayed out of her way.

“…She warmed up really brilliant, acted really good in the gate, stood really well. That was really impressive today, she did that well, well in-hand and galloped out nice. Now Bob can point her just about anywhere he wants to.”

A six-furlong maiden winner three starts back at Los Alamitos Dec. 13, As Time Goes By took a one mile allowance two starts back at Santa Anita by nine lengths on Jan. 17. The heavy favorite today among a field of five older fillies and mares at 3-5, As Time Goes By paid $3.20, $2.40 and $2.10.

“She's by my all-time favorite horse, American Pharoah, and I've taken my time,” said Baffert, who collected his second Santa Margarita win. “The owners have been really patient. She's beautifully bred, and I knew the older she gets, the better she's gonna get. Mike is so great with these good mares and he just gets the most out of (them).

“I was debating on running her next week in Kentucky or here, but because I want to develop her slowly and the Breeders' Cup (at Del Mar) is the main goal, we chose to stay (home)…She's so sweet like her sire. She's the sweetest thing in the barn. I have a soft spot for her, because I think of American Pharoah every time I walk by her stall.”

Owned by Michael B. Tabor, Mrs. John Magnier and Derrick Smith, As Time Goes By is out of the multiple stakes winning mare Take Charge Lady. With the Santa Margarita serving as her first stakes win, she's now 6-3-2-1 overall. The winner's share of $120,000 increased her earnings to $260,600.

Trained by George Papaprodromou, This Tea was last early, saved ground around the far turn and rallied well to be second, finishing 2 ¼ lengths in front of Harvest Moon. Ridden by Kent Desormeaux, This Tea was the longest shot in the field at 31-1 and paid $10.40 and $9.40.

Ridden by Flavien Prat, Harvest Moon was the second choice at 2-1 and paid $2.20 to show.

Contested for the 83^rd time, dating back to 1935, today's Santa Margarita splits were 23.17, 46.98, 1:11.36 and 1:36.70.

First post time for a 10-race card on Sunday is at 1 p.m.

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Brazilian-Bred Royal Ship Overtakes Country Grammer In Californian

In what soon developed into a match race, Richard Mandella's Royal Ship out-gamed Bob Baffert's Country Grammer by a neck following a thrilling stretch duel in Saturday's Grade 2, $200,000 Californian Stakes at Santa Anita in Arcadia, Calif. Ridden by Mike Smith, Brazilian-bred Royal Ship got 1 1/8 miles on a fast track in 1:48.47 and will now be pointed to the G1, $400,000 Hollywood Gold Cup at 1 1/4 miles on May 31.

Idle since running fifth in the G1 Travers Stakes Aug. 8 at Saratoga, Country Grammer was sent from his number three post position while Royal Ship, who had been well off the pace in his four stateside starts for Mandella, was hustled out of the gate and sat a close second early while applying considerable pressure to the front-runner.

A half length back at the three furlong pole, Royal Ship got on terms with Country Grammer a quarter mile out and from there, it was “game-on,” as 3-5 favorite Independence Hall, who sat third throughout, was never a factor.

“Yes, we wanted to be closer today,” said Mandella, who had tried Royal Ship in four graded stakes dating back to Aug. 23, with three of them on turf. “He's fast enough, we didn't need him back off the pace and getting into trouble again. He's always trained well on dirt and the only time we ran him on it, he fell on his face leaving the gate (in the G3 Native Diver on Nov. 21). We didn't have a grass race to point for, so this looked like a good spot.

“We'll run in the Gold Cup next.”

Most recently a fast finishing fifth, beaten one length in the G1 Frank E. Kilroe Mile on turf March 6, Royal Ship was off at 5-1 in a field of five 3-year-olds and up and paid $13.40, $5.80 and $2.60.

“He really fought hard today,” said Smith, who has ridden him in all of his races with Mandella. “I've been very unlucky leaving the gate with him on several different occasions. We ran him on the dirt (at Del Mar) and ran fourth. It seems like every time I get something going my way, something pushes me back two steps and today, finally everything went our way.”

A 5-year-old gelding by Midshipman, Royal Ship is owned by Fox Hill Farms, Inc. and Siena Farm, LLC. A Group 1 and Group 3 stakes winner on grass in Brazil, the Californian marks his first win in three career tries on dirt and his first win in five graded stakes assignments for Mandella. The winner's share of $120,000 increases his earnings to $203,305 from an overall mark of 12-6-1-2.

Ridden by Abel Cedillo, Country Grammer, who won the G3 Peter Pan Stakes for trainer Chad Brown two starts back on July 16 at Saratoga, was making his first start for Baffert and ran a huge race in defeat, finishing 9 ½ lengths in front of Independence Hall.

The second choice at 7-2, Country Grammer paid $5.00 and $2.10.

Ridden by Flavien Prat, Independence Hall, who paid $2.10 to show, demonstrated his customary tactical speed, but the top two got away from him around the far turn and he had to settle for third money, finishing 14 lengths ahead of Magic On Tap.

Fractions on the race were 23.23, 46.98, 1:10.67 and 1:35.39.

Hall of Famer Mandella collected his fourth career win in the Californian, while fellow Hall of Famer Smith, who took the prestigious prep to the Hollywood Gold Cup in 1995 aboard eastern-based Concern, notched his second Californian win.

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