The tension is mounting this week in California, where Monday's Eclipse Award ceremony will reveal one Horse of the Year -- Rachel Alexandra or Zenyatta. Today I checked in with Hall of Fame jockey Mike Smith to get his thoughts on the nerve-wracking battle. Because of his position as the regular rider for Zenyatta, Mike has been interviewed quite a bit by the racing media -- so I asked him to relive some old memories of his first days aboard the big mare before building his case for Zenyatta as Horse of the Year. Here's what he had to say:

Well, she was mine to start with. I'd worked her in the mornings and everyone knew she was going to be something special, and of course I was looking forward to being a part of that. Around that time I was riding a horse named Tessa Blue for Frankie Brothers; I won the Indiana Oaks on her and came back and won a race on Breeders' Cup Friday in the slop at Monmouth by 12 lengths. Anyhow, we were back in California and John decided to run Zenyatta in this maiden race and we didn't think she was going to run short the first time out because she's such a big giant mare. Well, I was supposed to ride Tessa Blue at Churchill in the Fall City Handicap there, she was one of the favorites, and John Shirreffs said "No big deal, she's gonna need a race anyways, if she gets beat you'll get her back."

She didn't get beat, but Tessa Blue did. She stumbled leaving the gate and didn't get an easy lead and later I was sitting in my hotel, the Executive West in Louisville, watching TVG, thinking to myself, Ah, I'm gonna watch Zenyatta run, I think she'll put on a good show, I hope she comes running. Of course she did and I was like, aw, heck, no, holy cow, man! I can't believe I missed that!

I landed late that night in California and got up early the next morning and went straight to the barn.

Well, John said, "David did a good job with her. I said you'd get her back if she lost." Of course I wasn't happy about that, and then she ran again and won again and then I was really upset.

It all worked out when they were going to send Tiago down to run in the Oaklawn Handicap and John said, "I'm thinking of sending Zenyatta there for the Apple Blossom,' but David had to stay in California to ride Gato Malo." John said "It's the same situation, you stay on her if you don't get beat."

So the Apple Blossom was my first time riding her and she just annihilated them that day, and she's never been beat and so I've stayed on her.

Now I'll tell you what makes this year's Eclipse Awards ceremony even more nail-biting than it already is -- as far as I'm concerned, she should be going for two-time Horse of the Year. I thought she was denied last year, when they gave it to Curlin after he didn't win the Breeders' Cup Classic and the excuse then was that they were judging the body of his work. In that case, let's look at a mare who is undefeated. Not to take anything away from Rachel Alexandra, I think she's amazing, but we beat the best of the best and they made the Breeders' Cup to determine champions. And that's not all. We knocked them out all year; she's never let anyone down. I could talk 'till I'm blue in the face but in my opinion she's horse of the decade, two-time horse of the year, and I love her to death. She's an experience; the show is on from the time she walks into the paddock until the time she gets into the gate and then winning every time after she always spots the field one or two lengths.

As far as if she'll win, it's tough to say. You hear all this back and forth talk rolling one way and the other way but I'm just going to sit there and enjoy the night. If we're blessed enough to win I'll be so excited, but in my heart I know what she's done for racing and any of the people who really watched her campaign this year know it too.

Read comments or leave a comment

I've been eligible to participate as an Eclipse Award voter for several years, but I've never thrown in my two cents. The reason is simple: I disagree with the fact that one voting block (the National Turf Writers' Association) maintains a public ballot policy while the other two (racing secretaries and the Daily Racing Form) cast their vote in secret. In my opinion, all ballots from all parties should be exposed.

This year, however, I decided to put my reservations aside for two reasons. First, the honor of receiving a ballot, secret or not, is not to be taken lightly. Second, after following and promoting and criticizing and praising these horses and connections over the entire year, the least a turf writer owes them is a nod of respect for a job well done. The system may not be perfect, but neither is the industry and neither are we.

Any smart young reporter will look to those with more experience in any situation -- post race interviews, conversations with trainers after morning works, the handling of sensitive issues -- and preparation for Eclipse Award voting should offer no exception. As I was preparing my ballot and reviewing past performances, Jay Hovdey's exceptional column on the topic caught my eye. I have chosen to follow his lead in two of my human selections.

The categories of apprentice jockey and trainer both posed problems this year; it has been a weak season for bug boys and the trainer division comes down to whether the award should be based purely on high statistical achievements (i.e. Steve Asmussen) or popularity among the fans (i.e. John Shirreffs). Hovdey went maverick on both choices, selecting the severely injured Michael Straight as leading apprentice and voting for the late Bobby Frankel as outstanding trainer.

Neither of those two made the finals, which were announced on Wednesday, but while they won't be named champion in their respective categories, both already exist as such in our hearts -- Straight for giving far more to the industry than a 24-year-old apprentice should have had to give, and Frankel for maintaining a strong presence in 2009 in spite of his terminal illness. Hovdey was spot-on in his choices here and, as they say, imitation is the sincerest form of flattery.

A quick run-though of my selections in the other categories: Steeplechase (Mixed Up), 2-year-old colt or gelding (Lookin At Lucky), 2-year-old filly (She Be Wild), 3-year-old colt or gelding (Summer Bird), 3-year-old filly (Rachel Alexandra), older male (Gio Ponti), older filly or mare (Zenyatta), sprinter (Zensational), female sprinter (Informed Decision), male turf horse (Gio Ponti), female turf horse (Goldikova), breeder (Juddmonte), owner (Jerry and Ann Moss), trainer (Bobby Frankel), jockey (Ramon Dominguez), apprentice jockey (Michael Straight).

Now for Horse of the Year, I chose Zenyatta. There's nothing to be said that hasn't already been said on that subject, but here's the bottom line -- like many of my fellow Turf writers, I would have approved a chance to offer an unprecedented Horse of the Year title to both. Since that is not an option, I chose the horse I believed to be the best. This is in no way knocking Rachel Alexandra, who moved me to tears with her Kentucky Oaks score and continued to impress throughout the season. But Zenyatta, in my book, is the champion based on the company she put away -- not only in the Breeders' Cup Classic, but in previous races this season -- and based upon the way she did it, and upon the distinct weight advantage she handed to her competitors on more than one occasion, and finally upon the fact that she handled the Classic distance in remarkable style.

It's hard to believe it's been almost two months since my last blog entry! I went to Japan for their jockey challenge at the beginning of December and that was a lot of fun even though I didn't win. I love the way they're so happy to have you there and it's an honor to be invited to participate. After that I just kind of laid low toward the end of the Hollywood meet, until I rode in the CashCall Futurity, which I was fortunate enough to win with Lookin at Lucky. We had a little bit of a Christmas break before Santa Anita started, and that was pretty much the end of the season.

Now here we are, just a few days before the Eclipse Awards. It's one of those years where anything could happen -- both with Horse of the Year, which I'll talk about a little later, and also with my category. For Outstanding Jockey this year you have me, Julien Leparoux, and Ramon Dominguez, and I respect my competition a lot.

Going into the end of the year, I really wanted the money title because I felt like if I had that, it would put me in a competitive position for the Eclipse. Julien had a good Breeders' Cup and a solid year, but I felt like if I captured the money title, when they hung up the numbers it would give me a chance. It came down to the wire, but we got it done and so my name is at the top of the list for Grade I races and Grade II races and we're tied with overall total of stakes victories. Winning the money title is a goal that we set up, something we wanted to do, but of course that's not the main goal. The main goal is to try to find the right horses and to win races day in and day out and then as the year progresses if you're lucky you start finding yourself in positions to do that and as time goes on that pushes you toward the top.

When you're a finalist for an Eclipse Award, it's something you'd love to win and of course that's the goal, but at this point there's nothing more you can do about it, so you try to keep it more in the back of your head. When you get to the dinner that changes, because you're in the moment and the nerves are building up. You get that queasy feeling like, oh, come on, please, please, please, please, please. That adrenaline goes to work. So on Monday I'll be sitting down with those butterflies in my stomach, and hopefully we walk out with some hardware.

Of course people aren't going to be fixated on the jockey category; everyone will be waiting to find out who is Horse of the Year. I actually threw my two cents into the ring in my November 9 entry after the Breeders' Cup, but I'll give you an updated version here. The Breeders' Cup races were drawn up by the Thoroughbred industry to have a championship moment for all these good horses to revolve around. Basically it was like, "You did that this year, and I did that this year, and let's see who's best." Those races are meant to bring all those good horses together, and this year one showed up and the other one didn't.

Now if Zenyatta hadn't shown up on Breeders' Cup day, there's no doubt she would have lost Horse of the Year. But on the biggest day at the biggest show of the year, she did exactly what she had to do to beat the other filly out of the Eclipse Award. It was one of those things where the odds were unbelievable -- she had to run against the boys, and at a mile and a quarter, and if she runs second it doesn't do her any good -- but the only thing that could have gotten the Eclipse Award taken away from the other filly was exactly what happened.

That's not to knock the other filly. Jess Jackson ran a gutsy campaign with her that not a lot of owners would have tried. It's a difficult decision and part of the excitement is not knowing what will happen. It should be interesting!

The next few months will be typical for the early 3-year-old season, waiting to see which horses pan out and how our prospects are shaping up for the Kentucky Derby. We have Lookin at Lucky, and then we have another nice horse of Baffert's named Conveyance, he's an Indian Charlie, two for two, and won a nice little allowance at Hollywood for me by seven lengths last time out. We have another horse with Baffert named Tiz Chrome, obviously by Tiznow, who is also two for two, and he just won the Stuka Stakes for me at Hollywood.

Of course it's still early and we're still searching because you know how difficult this road to the Derby is. A lot of these horses have a tough two-year-old campaign and have to be something special to make it through a tough three-year-old campaign as well, so you're always looking for that one.

I'll check in with you guys in about a month or so, once things start to pan out on the Derby trail and then we'll pick up the pace coming down to the wire. Until then, tune in Monday to catch the Eclipse Awards on TVG -- you might even catch a glimpse of me!

Read comments or leave a comment

The tension is mounting this week in California, where Monday's Eclipse Award ceremony will reveal one Horse of the Year -- Rachel Alexandra or Zenyatta. Today I checked in with Hall of Fame jockey Mike Smith to get his thoughts on the nerve-wracking battle. Because of his position as the regular rider for Zenyatta, Mike has been interviewed quite a bit by the racing media -- so I asked him to relive some old memories of his first days aboard the big mare before building his case for Zenyatta as Horse of the Year. Here's what he had to say:

Well, she was mine to start with. I'd worked her in the mornings and everyone knew she was going to be something special, and of course I was looking forward to being a part of that. Around that time I was riding a horse named Tessa Blue for Frankie Brothers; I won the Indiana Oaks on her and came back and won a race on Breeders' Cup Friday in the slop at Monmouth by 12 lengths. Anyhow, we were back in California and John decided to run Zenyatta in this maiden race and we didn't think she was going to run short the first time out because she's such a big giant mare. Well, I was supposed to ride Tessa Blue at Churchill in the Fall City Handicap there, she was one of the favorites, and John Shirreffs said "No big deal, she's gonna need a race anyways, if she gets beat you'll get her back."

She didn't get beat, but Tessa Blue did. She stumbled leaving the gate and didn't get an easy lead and later I was sitting in my hotel, the Executive West in Louisville, watching TVG, thinking to myself, Ah, I'm gonna watch Zenyatta run, I think she'll put on a good show, I hope she comes running. Of course she did and I was like, aw, heck, no, holy cow, man! I can't believe I missed that!

I landed late that night in California and got up early the next morning and went straight to the barn.

Well, John said, "David did a good job with her. I said you'd get her back if she lost." Of course I wasn't happy about that, and then she ran again and won again and then I was really upset.

It all worked out when they were going to send Tiago down to run in the Oaklawn Handicap and John said, "I'm thinking of sending Zenyatta there for the Apple Blossom,' but David had to stay in California to ride Gato Malo." John said "It's the same situation, you stay on her if you don't get beat."

So the Apple Blossom was my first time riding her and she just annihilated them that day, and she's never been beat and so I've stayed on her.

Now I'll tell you what makes this year's Eclipse Awards ceremony even more nail-biting than it already is -- as far as I'm concerned, she should be going for two-time Horse of the Year. I thought she was denied last year, when they gave it to Curlin after he didn't win the Breeders' Cup Classic and the excuse then was that they were judging the body of his work. In that case, let's look at a mare who is undefeated. Not to take anything away from Rachel Alexandra, I think she's amazing, but we beat the best of the best and they made the Breeders' Cup to determine champions. And that's not all. We knocked them out all year; she's never let anyone down. I could talk 'till I'm blue in the face but in my opinion she's horse of the decade, two-time horse of the year, and I love her to death. She's an experience; the show is on from the time she walks into the paddock until the time she gets into the gate and then winning every time after she always spots the field one or two lengths.

As far as if she'll win, it's tough to say. You hear all this back and forth talk rolling one way and the other way but I'm just going to sit there and enjoy the night. If we're blessed enough to win I'll be so excited, but in my heart I know what she's done for racing and any of the people who really watched her campaign this year know it too.

Read comments or leave a comment

I've been eligible to participate as an Eclipse Award voter for several years, but I've never thrown in my two cents. The reason is simple: I disagree with the fact that one voting block (the National Turf Writers' Association) maintains a public ballot policy while the other two (racing secretaries and the Daily Racing Form) cast their vote in secret. In my opinion, all ballots from all parties should be exposed.

This year, however, I decided to put my reservations aside for two reasons. First, the honor of receiving a ballot, secret or not, is not to be taken lightly. Second, after following and promoting and criticizing and praising these horses and connections over the entire year, the least a turf writer owes them is a nod of respect for a job well done. The system may not be perfect, but neither is the industry and neither are we.

Any smart young reporter will look to those with more experience in any situation -- post race interviews, conversations with trainers after morning works, the handling of sensitive issues -- and preparation for Eclipse Award voting should offer no exception. As I was preparing my ballot and reviewing past performances, Jay Hovdey's exceptional column on the topic caught my eye. I have chosen to follow his lead in two of my human selections.

The categories of apprentice jockey and trainer both posed problems this year; it has been a weak season for bug boys and the trainer division comes down to whether the award should be based purely on high statistical achievements (i.e. Steve Asmussen) or popularity among the fans (i.e. John Shirreffs). Hovdey went maverick on both choices, selecting the severely injured Michael Straight as leading apprentice and voting for the late Bobby Frankel as outstanding trainer.

Neither of those two made the finals, which were announced on Wednesday, but while they won't be named champion in their respective categories, both already exist as such in our hearts -- Straight for giving far more to the industry than a 24-year-old apprentice should have had to give, and Frankel for maintaining a strong presence in 2009 in spite of his terminal illness. Hovdey was spot-on in his choices here and, as they say, imitation is the sincerest form of flattery.

A quick run-though of my selections in the other categories: Steeplechase (Mixed Up), 2-year-old colt or gelding (Lookin At Lucky), 2-year-old filly (She Be Wild), 3-year-old colt or gelding (Summer Bird), 3-year-old filly (Rachel Alexandra), older male (Gio Ponti), older filly or mare (Zenyatta), sprinter (Zensational), female sprinter (Informed Decision), male turf horse (Gio Ponti), female turf horse (Goldikova), breeder (Juddmonte), owner (Jerry and Ann Moss), trainer (Bobby Frankel), jockey (Ramon Dominguez), apprentice jockey (Michael Straight).

Now for Horse of the Year, I chose Zenyatta. There's nothing to be said that hasn't already been said on that subject, but here's the bottom line -- like many of my fellow Turf writers, I would have approved a chance to offer an unprecedented Horse of the Year title to both. Since that is not an option, I chose the horse I believed to be the best. This is in no way knocking Rachel Alexandra, who moved me to tears with her Kentucky Oaks score and continued to impress throughout the season. But Zenyatta, in my book, is the champion based on the company she put away -- not only in the Breeders' Cup Classic, but in previous races this season -- and based upon the way she did it, and upon the distinct weight advantage she handed to her competitors on more than one occasion, and finally upon the fact that she handled the Classic distance in remarkable style.