Jockeys Needed for Early Belmont Contenders

Smith Is Off the Bird, Chocolate Candy Riderless, Desormeaux Wins

May 20, 2009 BarbaraAnne Helberg

Jockey Kent Desormeaux won the inaugural Pimlico Jockey Challenge the day before the Preakness Stakes. Belmont riders are unsecured for 'Bird and Chocolate Candy.

Before the Preakness Stakes entrants broke from the gate, two major horses were potentially riderless for the third jewel of the traditional American male Triple Crown series, the June 6 Belmont Stakes.

In the meantime, last season's jockey in the spotlight, Kent Desormeaux, won the first ever Pimlico Jockey Challenge on May 15. In 2008, Desormeaux rode Big Brown to Kentucky Derby and Preakness victories.

Triple Crown Case of Musical Jockeys

Kentucky Derby winner Mine That Bird continues to race to a tune of musical jockeys for the Crown classics, while Derby fifth place finisher Chocolate Candy returns riderless to the series in the Belmont Stakes.

Hall of Fame jockey Mike Smith rode both contestants in their last races. He got the 'Bird up second in the Preakness Stakes after Calvin Borel quit the horse to ride (Preakness winner) Rachel Alexandra. Smith guided Chocolate Candy in the Derby.

Smith has a prior commitment on Belmont Stakes day. The 'Bird has no jockey once more, unless Rachel doesn't run in the Belmont, in which case Borel could regain the mount on Mine That Bird.

No previous TC series has endured such a case of jockey play.

Early Belmont Stakes Contenders

With final decisions regarding fitness of individual horses yet to be made, the preliminary Belmont Stakes contenders list has ten names, including six repeats from the Derby and four from the Preakness.

  1. Charitable Man
  2. Chocolate Candy
  3. Dunkirk
  4. Flying Private
  5. Luv Gov
  6. Mine That Bird
  7. Miner's Escape
  8. Mr. Hot Stuff
  9. Rachel Alexandra
  10. Summer Bird

Woolley Looking for 'Bird Rider

"It's kinda funny," Bennie "Chip" Woolley Jr. remarked concerning facing 'Bird's next Triple Crown race with no rider hired. It's the second time in the three-race series that his Derby champ is temporarily without a pilot.

Smith will be riding John Shirreffs-trained grade two winner Madeo in the Charles Whittingham Memorial Handicap (G1) on June 6 at Hollywood Park. Madeo is owned by Jerry and Ann Moss.

Smith is the regular rider of the Mosses' filly Zenyatta. He also won the Kentucky Derby for them aboard longshot Giacomo in 2005.

Madeo is a four-year-old bay colt by Mizzen Mast--Passion Flower, by Deputy Minister who is named after an Italian eatery, Madeo's Restaurant located in Beverly Hills. Madeo's connections often dine their following a racing victory.

Black-Eyed Susan Challenge Race

On May 15, eight top jockeys took part in the inaugural Pimlico Jockey Challenge, a four-race event for which the riders' mounts were drawn by lot.

A point system was used to determine the Challenge winner. A first place finish garnered fourteen points; a second, six points; third, four points; and fourth, three points.

Two Hall of Fame jockeys and two Eclipse award jockeys entered the Challenge with the country's first four rider earnings leaders.

Finishing third in the first race, winning the second race, and capturing show in the last contest, Kent Desormeaux earned top points, 22, in the competition. The other point-getters were Julien Leparoux, 17 points; Ramon Dominguez, 16; Mario Pino, 9; Smith, 3; and Rafael Bejarano, 3.

Also in the contest were Garrett Gomez and Javier Castellano.

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