04/16/2012 11:15AM

Kentucky Derby: Mike Smith to stay aboard Bodemeister

By DRF staff
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Mike Smith, who rode Bodemeister for the first time in winning the Arkansas Derby on Saturday, will retain the mount for the Kentucky Derby, trainer Bob Baffert said Sunday.

In another Derby riding development, Garrett Gomez will ride Daddy Nose Best, the winner of the Sunland Derby.

The next major decision will be that of Ramon Dominguez, who has been riding both Hansen and Alpha.
 

Deana Holbrook More than 1 year ago
Favorite trainer, favorite jockey!! Excellent!!
Evelyn Willingham More than 1 year ago
Baffert had smith go all out on bode, he had to win the race it was all are nothing. Ive hit 7 of the last 8 derbys, and i will tell you this bode will not hit the board in kentucky.
matthew_melton More than 1 year ago
so it looked like to you that Bode was "all out" ? .. looked like to me he won easily by 10 on a lone lead. I guess I saw a different race.. Thanks for the "bode will not hit the board" comment.. I will write that down in my book.
Junior Jimenez More than 1 year ago
Bodemeister won't hit the board in KY
Rodney Dangerfield More than 1 year ago
I really hope he doesn't hit the board, because then they would need to disqualify him.So Junior please enlighten us with your pick ?
Karen Perrone More than 1 year ago
Lol
Morethanready More than 1 year ago
Anonymous, good observation. I think he reminds me more of War Emblem with his blazing speed from the gate. Come catch me if you can. I do like Daddy with him and I figured Mikey would stay with Bode. Getting Gogo is smart with the closing ability of Daddy. That I believe is Garrets strength
Karen Perrone More than 1 year ago
It's also one of Mike Smiths strengths he is notorious from coming from behind.. He still got off Daddy to ride Bode. Mike has that good ol gut feeling like he did w Giacamo..
Evelyn Willingham More than 1 year ago
Big difference between smith and gogo is gogo not afraid to ride the rail smith is.
Anonymous More than 1 year ago
mikies(MR.MIKEY} desision to ride bodemister, enforces my gut feeling, about what i think im seeing when i see bodemister in full flight.. he reminds me of alysheba at this stage of the game. mr baffert is at the treshold of perfecting to art of peaking a horse on a certain day. so all of you dreamers all need to get on the band wagon,now. with the combination of mr mikey, mr baffert & MISTER BODEMISTER. my old eyes are old, but there is a big chance that bodemister is a beter chance at a triple crown, than anything in years. ive said my piece, now ill go back to being, an ole railbird.
Rodney Dangerfield More than 1 year ago
I agree Mike Smith is the perfect choice for this horse. My concern, if by chance he does win the Derby, I think eventually this is to much to ask of a very nice horse in such a short amount of time.
James Turner More than 1 year ago
I agree with not asking too much of a young horse to soon. Maybe the old Triple Crown should be replaced by a new triple crown. Maybe the KD the Belmont and the Breeders Cup.
Junior Jimenez More than 1 year ago
Bodemeister won't win anything. Beating up on nothings is one thing. Beating up on a very good field is another. See you at the rail with your losing tickets
James Turner More than 1 year ago
The Arkansas Derby was no weaker or stronger than any other Derby prep race. It just had the most impressive winner.
Mark Hoeft More than 1 year ago
Agree with James. Junior who did anybody beat in any prep race this year? This is an evenly matched field, and Bodemeister is the most impressive horse to me visually
Karen Perrone More than 1 year ago
You'll see what this horse can do not only did he win by 9 he coulda kept going too!!! All those horse died down and he just kept on running!!!! My prediction Bode by a length..
Karen Perrone More than 1 year ago
I can't agree with you more. I also think he felt something on the colt an I don't think we saw as fast or as long this horse can go.. For him to get off of Daddy and choose Bodemeister shows me, mike also has that gut feeling just like he had in the Belmost and when we won the Derby. I am going w Mike Smith to win the derby.. He will get to the front and that's all she wrote folks!! Do you realize also Bode has to come from the 11th post and still won by 9? Don't insult the field there were some great horses in that race. You'll see he will stay up there with Hansen letting Hansen lead unless he feels he should do differently, wire to wire watch and see!! Don't jump on the Bode wagon people when he wins the derby, Preakness, and Belmont!!
Evelyn Willingham More than 1 year ago
The field sucked beyer rating to low it well take 111 to win the derby only the cause the daddy and rags can do that.
matthew_melton More than 1 year ago
the field sucked? OK.. which field didn't "suck" then. You know less than nothing about handicapping.
kgerbig More than 1 year ago
This probably means Daddy Knows Best will win the derby
Rodney Dangerfield More than 1 year ago
DRF Staff, which Arkansas Derby were you watching ? LOL....You may want to update your story and mention Daddy Nose Best won the Sunland Derby.