Contenders
Gayego
Trainer: Paulo Lobo
Jockey: Mike Smith
Owner: Cubanacan Stables
Breeder: Hargus Sexton & Sandra Sexton
Gayego's trainer Paulo Lobo has tasted success at Churchill Downs before, winning the 2002 Kentucky Oaks (gr. I) with longshot Farda Amiga. Gayego is a son of champion sprinter Gilded Time, leading some to question his ability to get the Derby's 10 furlongs, and his dosage of 4.33 is outside of the 4.00 guideline. However, he does have plenty of stamina influences on his dam's side, including Ribot (inbred 5x5), Arts and Letters, and 1943 Triple Crown winner Count Fleet. Gayego has never been worse than second in five starts, the first four of those coming on synthetic surfaces. Jockey Mike Smith is looking for his second Derby victory after scoring with Giacomo in 2005.
Auction History
| Year | Sale | Price |
|---|---|---|
| 2006 | Keeneland September Yearling Sale | $32,000 |
Racing History
| Date | Race Name | Distance | Finish | Earnings |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 04/12/08 | Arkansas Derby (gr. II) | 9 f | 1 | $600,000 |
| 03/15/08 | San Felipe (gr. II) | 8.5 f | 2 | $40,000 |
| 01/20/08 | San Pedro | 6.5 f | 1 | $47,820 |
| 12/28/07 | Allowance @ Santa Anita | 6.5 f | 2 | $10,400 |
| 11/18/07 | Maiden @ Hollywood | 6 f | 1 | $25,200 |
| Record: 5 Starts, 3-2-0 | Total Earnings: $723,420 | ||||
| Race Records provided by equineline.com | ||||
By Claire Novak
Two-time Eclipse Award winner Mike Smith won the Kentucky Derby aboard Giacomo in 2005. Since then, he's had Derby fever even worse than before. The 41-year-old rider - who began riding races in New Mexico at age 11 - makes his fifteenth Derby start aboard in this year's Kentucky Derby Presented by Yum! Brands (gr. I).
Height: 5'4"
Weight: 114
Career wins: 4,682
Born: Aug. 10, 1965, Roswell, N. Mex.
Residence: Pasadena, Calif.
Family: Single ... Father George was a jockey.
Favorite food: "Steak"
Favorite sport: "Football and baseball."
I can't live without: "My Bible by my bed."
Most hated chore: "Are you kidding? I'm an absolute freak. Everything has to be neat; I make my bed and all my clothes have to be folded just right."
The fastest I’ve ever driven was: "120 miles per hour in a real nice Porsche, somewhere in the Florida Keys. There was that long strip of road down there, and I'd just bought the Porsche so i just let it out. It could have done more, but 120 was fast enough for me."
If I could trade careers with another professional athlete, I would: "Michael Jordan. If you're gonna let me dream, you might as well let me dream big."
Another rider I admire is: "Alex Solis is still one of my favorites."
One thing I wish people knew about jockeys: "The dedication takes to be a rider. We really work at it, there’s a lot of sacrifice that goes on behind the scenes."
The best part about winning the Derby this year would be: "Winning for a second time. Now I want it more, I know what it feels like, and there's nothing else to give you that feeling - or at least, there hasn’t been for me."
More on BloodHorse.com:
Bob Black Jack Works Half in :48 3/5
Bob Black Jack, the runner-up to Colonel John in the April 5 Santa Anita Derby (gr. I), drilled a half-mile at Churchill Downs late Monday morning in :48 3/5.
Lobo, Smith Fly in for Gayego Work
Trainer Paulo Lobo and jockey Mike Smith flew to Louisville, Ky., from California April 26 for the final work by Gayego before the May 3 Kentucky Derby Presented by Yum! Brands (gr. I).
Gayego, Z Fortune Shipping to Louisville
Arkansas Derby (gr. II) winner Gayego is to be flown to Louisville, Ky., on April 14, to prepare for the May 3 Kentucky Derby Presented by Yum! Brands (gr. I). He will be joined on the flight by second and third-place finishers, Z Fortune and Tres Borrachos.
Gayego Answers Dirt Question at Oaklawn
After doing all of his running on Southern California's synthetic tracks, favored Gayego proved he has no problem with a conventional dirt surface, either. The Paulo Lobo-trained invader repelled Z Fortune in the stretch run for a three-quarter-length victory in the $1-million Arkansas Derby (gr. II) at Oaklawn Park.
Z Fortune Seeks Redemption in Arkansas
Last year, Steve Asmussen and Robby Albarado teamed up with eventual Horse of the Year Curlin to clobber eight other contenders in the $1 million Arkansas Derby (gr. I). On April 12 at Oaklawn Park the trainer/jockey duo will collaborate again with Zayat Stables' Z Fortune, but this time their starter has a lot to prove.
Race Options Discussed For Denis of Cork
Complications with travel arrangements could keep the undefeated Denis of Cork from coming to New York for the $750,000 Wood Memorial (gr.I) at Aqueduct April 5. Denis of Cork's trainer, David Carroll, said the other option for the winner of the Southwest Stakes (gr.III) is the $500,000 Illinois Derby (gr.II) at Hawthorne Race Course April 5.
Georgie Boy Fights On in San Felipe
Looking for a new favorite for the Derby after the disappointing efforts by 3-year-old stars War Pass and Z Fortune? Why not Georgie Boy? A grade I winner at 2, the favored California-bred son of Tribal Rule used a late burst to pass Gayego in deep stretch and win the $200,000 San Felipe (gr. II) in his first try around two turns March 15 at Santa Anita.
Route Question Lingers Over San Felipe
The most accomplished entrants in the $200,000 San Felipe Stakes (gr. II) March 15 have done all their work sprinting. So the question is which of them is ready to stretch out in Southern California's last major prep race before the April 5 Santa Anita Derby (gr. I).
Gayego Gets Going in San Pedro Win
Gayego figured to need a suicidal pace in order to catch the speedy Sea of Pleasure in the $79,700 San Pedro Stakes, and that's exactly what the Gilded Time colt received in setting a track record at Santa Anita Jan. 20.
| Gayego | Gilded Time | Timeless Moment |
| Gilded Lilly | ||
| Devils Lake | Lost Code | |
| Diamonds 'n Dust |
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