Smith pumped for Belmont Stakes

Jockey Mike Smith, who in two weeks will chase the Triple Crown with Justify, is scheduled to ride Sunday at Lone Star. He has the mount on Mubtaahij in the Grade 3, $200,000 Lone Star Park Handicap.

Smith said Justify has been a blessing and he is looking forward to the Belmont Stakes.

“It’s every rider’s dream to get an opportunity like this,” he said Friday. “First of all, to win a Derby, and a Preakness . . . and now going for the Triple Crown. I’m so excited for the opportunity. I can’t wait.”

Smith is based in Southern California.

Mubtaahij flew in Thursday from Southern California. The start in Texas will be a first for the Irish-bred horse, who has raced in California, Dubai, England, Kentucky, and New York. His biggest wins have come in the Grade 1 Awesome Again at Santa Anita and the Group 2 UAE Derby at Meydan.

All American winner returns to Ruidoso

Trials for the Grade 1 Ruidoso Derby for Quarter Horses will get off to a rousing start. Fly Baby Fly, the winner of last year’s All American Futurity, will make her 3-year-old debut in the first race Sunday. It is one of 10 trials for the Ruidoso Derby.

Fly Baby Fly was a 1 1/2-length winner of the All American in her last start, Sept. 4 at Ruidoso. She shows works at Sam Houston and Ruidoso Downs for her return. Rodrigo Vallejo has the mount from post 7 for trainer Trey Ellis.

Fly Baby Fly will meet two colts she defeated in the All American: Uptown Dynasty, who won last year’s Grade 1 Ruidoso Futurity before finishing sixth in the All American, and Hawkeye, who was eighth in the All American.

The trials will be run over 400 yards. The purse for each is $8,000, up from $4,000 a year ago as Ruidoso has boosted the value of all trial races this meet from $4,000 to $8,000.

Ruidoso Downs was to open its meet Friday.