Smith, Baze Share Jockey of the Week Honor

Hall of Famer Mike Smith punched his ticket to the Kentucky Derby with an upset win in the Santa Anita Derby (G1), his fifth win in the track's marquee race for three-year-olds, while journeyman jockey Tyler Baze collected a career milestone with his 3,000th Thoroughbred win at Santa Anita on their closing day. The voting by the panel of racing experts ended in a tie with Mike Smith and Tyler Baze sharing Jockey of the Week honors for March 30-April 5. Smith has been the regular rider aboard So Happy in each of the colt's three prior races including a win in the San Vicente (G2). Trainer Mark Glatt once again gave a leg up to the Hall of Famer in the Santa Anita Derby (G1) on Saturday. Off at odds of 7-1 in the field of seven, So Happy stalked race favorite Potente with Juan Hernandez and Robusta with leading rider Emisael Jaramillo. So Happy continued to track the leaders until the quarter pole. As Robusta started to fade, Smith gave So Happy his cue on the turn overtaking Potente and powering home by 2-3/4 lengths in 1:49.01 for a mile and one-eighth. At the age of 59, Smith became the oldest jockey to win the Santa Anita Derby (G1). "He kept on going today," said Smith to Santa Anita publicity. "I thought he would be better today plus we had a better post position. The Kentucky Derby is America's race. Anyone in the world would want to be in that race. I'm looking forward to going to Kentucky again." The Santa Anita Derby wasn't the only graded stakes win of the day for Smith. He followed up with a win aboard 18-1 Spirited Boss in the Monrovia Stakes (G3) on the downhill turf course for fillies and mares 4-years-old and up. Riding the Florida-based Spirited Boss for the first time, Smith guided the 4-year-old past pacesetter Amorita inside the final furlong to win by 3/4-lengths in 1:12 for about 6-1/2 furlongs. "I went in thinking I was really live today on everything I was riding," Smith said. "You have to get them across the wire first. That's always tough." Going into closing day on Sunday, Baze's career win total stood at 2,999 with three mounts on the day's card. Longshot Gypsy Tears for trainer Val Brinkerhoff in race 9 closed from seventh in the field of 10 giving Baze, 43, his 3,000th win. A multiple Gr. 1 winner, Baze won his first career race at Santa Anita October 31, 1999 at the age of 17. He was honored with the Eclipse Award as Outstanding Apprentice Jockey in 2000. Baze also has a 2-3-0 record from six Quarter Horse starts. "I've got lots of years left in me," an emotional Baze said in the winner's circle. "I'm healthy and it took me a long time to get healthy. I'm making the right decisions now. It's one foot in front of another and one day at a time." Other nominees for Jockey of the Week included Emisael Jaramillo with two stakes wins and the leading rider title at Santa Anita, Luan Machado who won the Ashland (G1) at Keeneland, Irad Ortiz, Jr. who won the Blue Grass (G1) and the Madison (G1), and Jaime Torres who won the Wood Memorial (G2).