Rispoli to ride Smooth Like Strait in Frank Kilroe Mile

ARCADIA, Calif. - Faced with an intriguing decision, jockey Umberto Rispoli has chosen to ride Smooth Like Strait over Hit the Road in Saturday’s Grade 1 Frank Kilroe Mile on turf at Santa Anita.

Rispoli finalized his decision over the weekend. In response, trainer Dan Blacker said Sunday that Florent Geroux will have the mount on Hit the Road.

Rispoli rode both Smooth Like Strait and Hit the Road to stakes wins in their lone starts at the current winter-spring meeting – Smooth Like Strait in the Grade 2 Mathis Brothers Mile for 3-year-olds on Dec. 26 for trainer Michael McCarthy, and Hit the Road in the Grade 3 Thunder Road Stakes against older horses at a mile on Feb. 6.

Rispoli has been the regular rider of both colts in the last six months.

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Rispoli rode Smooth Like Strait for a win in the Grade 3 La Jolla Handicap at Del Mar last August, a victory in the Grade 2 Twilight Derby here in October, a second in the Grade 1 Hollywood Derby at Del Mar in November and in the Mathis Brothers Mile.

“It’s not an easy decision,” Rispoli said. “I had to choose. I’ve won a Grade 3 on the horse and two Grade 2s.

“I wish the best for Dan and his team.”

Hit the Road has won his last three starts with Rispoli aboard for each victory, a span that includes the restricted Oceanside Stakes at a mile on turf at Del Mar last July in what turned out to be the colt’s final start of 2020.

Blacker said Hit the Road has thrived in recent weeks since the Thunder Road and would have preferred for Rispoli to stay with his team.

“I’m disappointed he’s chosen the other, but that’s his decision,” Blacker said. “I’m tickled to have Florent. He’s a good rider.”

Hit the Road and Smooth Like Strait are two of the best locally based contenders for the $400,000 Kilroe Mile, the track’s richest turf race of the winter-spring meeting. Hit the Road has won three stakes and ran the best race of his career in the Thunder Road.

“He’s been doing awesome since the day after his race,” Blacker said. “He hasn’t missed a beat.

“His weight is perfect and his works are perfect. He’s doing really well.”

The Kilroe Mile is expected to draw an outstanding field, including as many as six runners from Florida – Casa Creed, Flavius, Flying Scotsman, Ride a Comet, Social Paranoia, and Spirit Animal.

Ride a Comet, winner of the Grade 3 Tropical Turf Stakes, will be ridden for the first time by Drayden Van Dyke, a replacement for Tyler Gaffalione.

The other locally based runners are Anothertwistafate, Count Again, and Royal Ship.

Count Again won the Grade 2 Seabiscuit Handicap at 1 1/16 miles on turf at Del Mar on Nov. 28 and was last of seven as the even-money favorite in the Grade 2 San Gabriel Stakes at 1 1/8 miles on turf here Jan. 2.

On Sunday, Count Again worked five furlongs in a rapid 58.20 seconds on the infield dirt training track. Trainer Phil D’Amato said he timed Count Again in 58.60.

“It will be one of the toughest Kilroes in years past,” D’Amato said. “You have to throw out the last race and give him the benefit of the doubt.”

The field will not include the four-time stakes winner United, who finished eighth in the Breeders’ Cup Turf at Keeneland on Nov. 7 in his most recent start. Trainer Richard Mandella said Sunday that United will be trained toward the Grade 3 San Luis Rey Stakes at 1 1/2 miles on March 20.