Hall of Fame jockey Mike Smith took a minute to remember his very first horse. He recounted his many adventures with a little black pony that his father bought him. The pony was named Stormy and taught him many lessons, as only an ornery Shetland could. Smith said, “Stormy had a ‘little man syndrome.’ I’d saddle him up and ride him after school or any chance I got. I’d learn how to post and how to stay on and not get bounced off.”
Coming into the Thoroughbred Makeover I couldn’t have been much more confident in where I was with Maverick. Our final run the week before at Stable View had gone just about perfectly with a fifth-place finish in the Beginner Novice only adding two rails in stadium — one of which was definitely my fault — and a couple speed faults on cross country. Most importantly, down there he was so bold and confident out on cross country and gave me a great feeling coming into the makeover.
Breeders’ Cup World Championships week has arrived, and media coverage of horse racing will reach a crescendo surpassed only by Kentucky Derby week and occasionally the lead-in weeks to the Preakness Stakes and Belmont Stakes. The 42nd annual Breeders’ Cup, set for Friday, Oct. 31, and Saturday, Nov. 1, will draw a good amount of national and international attention and in terms of quality racing, the two-day event is unmatched.
You could say trainer Riley Mott has been waiting for this moment for most of his life. Mott, 33, will saddle his first Breeders' Cup starter at this year's World Championships. He will be represented by a solid contender in the Breeders' Cup Juvenile Turf Oct.
