Astute, Life Is Good give Smith much to look forward to

DEL MAR, Calif. – At the midpoint of the year, Midnight Bisou had finished second in the Saudi Cup and then returned to the United States to win the Fleur de Lis. McKinzie had won the Triple Bend and was being pointed to the Met Mile. Honor A. P. had won the Runhappy Santa Anita Derby and was a top contender for the Kentucky Derby.

By Breeders’ Cup Day, all three were retired. It was a particularly huge blow to Mike Smith, who had been riding all three. Although Smith is the winningest rider in Breeders’ Cup history, with 26 victories, he was left with just one potential mount this year, and decided to pass and instead focus on the fall meet at Del Mar.

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The decision came with plenty of soul searching, he said Sunday.

“About a month ago, I was thinking of hanging it up, to be honest,” he said. “But I prayed about it, and God said you’re not ready.”

Smith, 55, has been rejuvenated this meeting. Still choosy with the mount he accepts, an approach he’s had for years, Smith is fourth in the jockey standings with eight wins from a mere 29 mounts, fewer than any rider in the top 12. Two of those wins have been particularly significant in keeping him looking to 2021.

Smith won the Desi Arnaz on Nov. 14 with the unbeaten 2-year-old filly Astute for trainer Richard Mandella, and on Sunday was tabbed by Bob Baffert to ride the highly regarded Life Is Good, who was a runaway winner on debut, earning a Beyer Speed Figure of 90. That gives Smith top early prospects for races like the Kentucky Oaks and Kentucky Derby.

“In the last month Astute comes along, and then Life Is Good,” Smith said. “Life Is Good and life is good.”

Life Is Good, by Into Mischief, won by 9 1/2 lengths. Posted times for the 6 1/2-furlong race included splits of 21.80 seconds for the quarter and 44.84 for the half, and a final time of 1:15.50.

“He went 21, 44, but it felt like 23, 45,” Smith said. “He doesn’t feel like he’s going that fast. He’s so well balanced. You could put a glass of water on his back and not spill a drop. The more he runs the more he’ll learn to relax, but he did this well within himself.”