Assmusen On Partnering With Mike Smith, And His Hopes Of Winning His First Derby

Hall of Fame trainer Steve Asmussen, seeking his first Derby win, is giving a leg up to multiple Derby-winning rider, Mike Smith. Smith will ride Winchell Thoroughbreds' Midnight Bourbon, one of the trainer's two entries, while Asmussen's regular go-to rider, Ricardo Santana Jr., retains the mount on Erv Woolsey and Keith Asmussen's Super Stock.

Asmussen views the veteran rider's skills as a good fit for Midnight Bourbon, who won the Gr.3 Lecomte Stakes this winter on the lead and later hit the board in the Gr.2 Risen Star Stakes and Gr.2 Louisiana Derby after pressing the early pace.

"I just strongly feel Midnight Bourbon is in position. We're there. You know, he's been away from the gates nice and clean. He's got a big rhythm. Horse's got excellent pace to him," the trainer said. "We've all witnessed Mike with those attributes at this level."

Asked by Camilla Yakteen in a recent interview on XBTV.com what it is like to enter the first turn in the Derby, Smith explained that it depends on the style of runner.

"When I was on Justify it was pretty sweet. Man, we were in front. He was in a high, yet a nice cruising speed," he said. "I've also been back in that second flight, where I mean it's like playing the game of ping pong, almost. I mean you're just getting knocked back and forth, you know."

Possessing speed, Midnight Bourbon should be clear of the thickest Derby traffic provided he breaks well, which is vital in the Derby, according to Smith.

According to Smith, 55, who teamed with Asmussen previously as the rider of 2019 champion older female Midnight Bisou, the Derby is regularly a scramble for early position.

"They don't ride it like it's a normal mile-and-a-quarter race," he said of his fellow jockeys to Bloodhorse.com. "They literally ride it like—to me, it's ridden a lot like a 440-yard race for the first 100 yards out of there, and then everything settles into place afterwards."

Though Asmussen has twice had horses run second in the Derby (Nehro, 2011, and Lookin At Lee, 2017), show finishes in the Derby from Curlin and Gun Runner are editions that Asmussen regards as ones that may have gotten away. Curlin and Gun Runner would go on to earn more than US$10 million and US$15 million, respectively, and would both win Horse of the Year titles, Curlin at 3 and 4 and Gun Runner at 4.

The 2016 Belmont is one of three American classics won by Asmussen, the others being the 2007 Gr.1 Preakness Stakes with Curlin and the 2009 Preakness with Rachel Alexandra.

Asmussen, who will also saddle 3YO fillies Clairiere and Pauline's Pearl in the Gr.1 Kentucky Oaks at Churchill.