Smith to ride Drosselmeyer in Belmont

Hall of Fame jockey Mike Smith has been tabbed by WinStar Farm to ride Drosselmeyer in the $1 million Belmont Stakes, it was announced Thursday.

Smith replaces Kent Desormeaux, who had ridden the horse in seven of his eight career starts including, most recently, a runner-up finish to Fly Down in the Dwyer on May 8. Drosselmeyer is trained by Bill Mott.

Smith had ridden Jackson Bend in the first two legs of this year s Triple Crown. Jackson Bend is not running in the Belmont.

According to Elliott Walden, vice president and racing manager of WinStar Farm, Smith is coming in to ride Proviso for Mott in the Grade 1 Just a Game on the same card. "We decided to keep it all in the family," Walden said.

Smith is 0 for 12 in the Belmont, having finished second aboard Thirty Six Red in 1990, third aboard the filly My Flag in 1996, and third on Tiago in 2007.

Thus, the only confirmed Belmont starter without a mount is Spangled Star. Larry Roman, the owner of Spangled Star, said the leading candidates to ride his longshot are Cornelio Velasquez and Edgar Prado.