D2 WEDNESDAY,MAY 17 ,2017LATIMES.COM/SPORTS The first time is no shock for these jocks

of in a good spot.” By studying form, Smith was in a bad spot when he won the Kentucky watching video and Oaks on Abel Tasman, hav- talking to their peers, ing to rally from last. It was the second time he rode the riders feel good when horse. they get in the saddle. The filly ended up at the back over a poor surface in the early part of the race. By John Cherwa Both Smith and Baffert thought the place to be BALTIMORE — You would be the inside based on would never think of buying previous races that day. The acar without test driving it. problem was Abel Tasman When you go to the rental car didn’t like it there, so Smith counter, given a choice, you moved her outside. From pick the vehicle with which there, she started running you’re most familiar. and didn’t stop until the fin- So how is it that jockeys ish line. can get on a horse without Here was a case where ever having ridden or Smith picked up something worked the animal and from the first time he rode make it look like they are life- the filly, a well-beaten sec- long friends? ond to Paradise Woods in If you ask the best — and the Santa Anita Oaks. It in this case, that’s Mike made the second ride that Smith — they will tell you it’s much better. no big deal to be on a horse Baffert says Smith said for the very first time sec- unsolicited that the filly onds after the “riders up” needed blinkers, something call. that had been suggested Smith will be doing just earlier by Martin Garcia, that for the second straight one of Baffert’s regular rid- Triple Crown race Saturday ers who often works the when he rides in horses. the Preakness. Smith says it was Baffert This will follow his ride on who brought up the idea, Girvin, a horse he had never which he seconded. ridden, in the Kentucky “She was not 10 0% fo- Derby two weeks ago. cused,” Smith said after the “It’s not that compli- Kentucky Oaks. “She would cated,” Smith said. “You talk get ahold of you for about a to the owners and trainers. 16 th of a mile, and there was You’ve got all the previous alittle bit of focus again. It’s races that you can watch on agood indication they prob- video. At this point, these Leslie Martin Associated Press ably need just a little bit of a horses are so well trained, GUNNEVERA,ridden by , wins the Fountain of Yo uth Stakes in March. Gunnevara finished blinker. it’s just a matter of getting seventh in the , and Castellano switched to Cloud Computing for the . “So as soon as we get off, them to run their race.” [Baffert says], ‘What do you Three other jockeys will [, third; Ken- think about a little bit of a be riding a horse for the first tucky Derby, seventh], he Preakness Stakes blinker?’ and I said, ‘I was time in the Preakness. Javier hasn’t gotten a chance to just getting ready to tell you Castellano got off Gunnev- run his race. In the Fountain When: Saturday, 3:45 that.’ ” era to ride Cloud Comput- of Youth [a win], he ran his p.m. PDT post time. The fact that Smith was ing, Joel Rosario will be rid- race.” Where: Pimlico Race available on these horses ing Multiplier for the first Smith also plans to talk Course, Baltimore. was just a matter of bad luck. time and Term Of Art, run- to Castellano about the TV: Coverage starts at 2 He was the regular rider ning his first race outside horse. p.m. PDT on Channel 4. on Mastery, who was looking California, will have Jose Or- Other jockeys “are al- to be the Kentucky Derby fa- tiz aboard. ways helpful,” Smith said. vorite, until he suffered a Joe Talamo, who is one “You do it for everyone.” very specific, he’ll tell you,” likely career-ending injury win behind the co-leaders in Regardless of the quality Smith said. “But for the moments after the San Fe- the Santa Anita of your jockey, having Smith most part, you know who’s lipe Stakes at Santa Anita. standings, won Sunday’s on board is never a negative. in the race. You know what So he picked up mounts Angel Flight Stakes riding “Mike Smith is a nice per- [your horse] is capable of or on Girvin and now Gunnev- Faypien for the first time. son and a great rider,” Gun- what type of race to run to era. He echoed Smith’s idea nevera trainer Antonio Sano get their best race. Smith also was the regu- that it’s not the mystery it said. “He likes this horse, “He [Baffert] knows I’ve lar rider for Unique Bella, used to be. and he wants to ride him. done my homework. He who was looking to be the “Reading the Racing Mike Smith wins the most leaves it to me to go to Plan top filly in the country until Form gives you a good idea,” important races in the C, if A or B isn’t working.” she came down with a shin Talamo said. “But it’s even world.” When Talamo rode Baf- injury. more important to watch Smith now seems to find fert’s Faypien to a win Sun- So he picked up the the replays. The last five, 10 himself atop most of trainer day, the only thing assistant mount on Abel Tasman. years, you can easily watch Bob Baffert’s best horses, in- trainer Jimmy Barnes told Smith has won only one every race a horse has run.” cluding Arrogate, winner of him in the paddock was Preakness, aboard Prairie Smith already has done the Dubai World Cup and “good luck.” Bayou in 1993, but says he’s most of his studying on Gun- Breeders’ Cup Classic, and “We had the same idea on looking forward to riding at nevera, a horse that likes to Kentucky Oaks winner Abel paper,” Talamo said. “It Pimlico. save his best running for Tasman. looked like there were a cou- “I enjoy riding anywhere I late. The Hall of Fame trainer ple of speed horses. … We have a good horse,” Smith “I’ve seen all his previous and Hall of Fame jockey usu- had a good post position said. “But I’m due for a win.” races,” Smith said. “I’ve ally don’t have to talk strate- [the six in a six-horse field]. Jamie Squire Getty Images been interested in him for a gy. Drawing the outside has so MIKE SMITH CELEBRATES after winning the [email protected] little while. His last two trips “If there is something many benefits. We were kind Kentucky Oaks on Abel Tasman on May 5. Twitter: @jcherwa

PRO CALENDAR WED.THU.FRI. SAT. SUN. Sagan gets rewarded for patience 17 18 19 20 21 at San MIAMI MIAMI MIAMI MIAMI Francisco 7 7 7 1 12:45 Slovakian rider waits SNLA SNLA SNLA SNLA, Ch. 5 SNLA Amgen Tour California: Stage 4 DODGERS for the right time to at N.Y. at N.Y. at N.Y. make a move and wins CHICAGO 13 MILES Mets Mets Mets 7 Stage 3 of race. 4 4:15 10 a.m. FSW FSW Ch. 11 FSW ANGELS By Lindsey Thiry VENTURA COUNTY CA at Nashville NASHVILLE Reigning world champi- 5* 4:15* on Peter Sagan of Slovakia 4 NBCSN Ch. 4 waited until the final sec- Casitas Ojai Dennison Grade DUCKS onds to make his move Tues- Santa day in Stage 3 of the 12th Pass Rd. at S Clarita Amgen Tour of California. Minnesota Start Finish 2 After facing a headwind Santa Barbara Magic ESPN for most of the 120-mile GALAXY East Cabrillo Blvd. Grimes Mountain course from Pismo Beach to Balcom S Canyon Rd. Pkwy. Shade denotes home game Morro Bay, Sagan weaved Canyon Rd. through the pack with less SPARKS: Friday vs. Washington, 7:30, SpecSN, SpecD than a mile to go and im- *Stanley Cup playoffs proved his position by 20 101 spots to ride among the top 15 cyclists. With the finish about 405 TODAY ON THE AIR 2,000 feet away, Sagan, a Malibu member of team Bora- Santa TIME EVENT ON THE AIR Hansgrohe, sprinted uphill Monica BASEBALL and was shoulder to shoul- 12:45 p.m. Dodgers at San Francisco TV: SNLA der with several riders be- Pacific Ocean R: 570, 1020 fore he accelerated and won 12:30 p.m. New York Mets at Arizona TV: MLB the longest stage of the tour 5:15 p.m. Boston at St. Louis TV: ESPN, ESPND by a bicycle length ahead of Start Finish second-place finisher Rick 7p.m. Chicago White Sox at Angels TV: FS West 184 ft. 1,198 ft. R: 830, 1330 Zabel of Germany, who rides for Team Katusha Alpecin. 25 mi. 1 mi. 1.4 mi. 0.7 mi. at 11.8% COLLEGE BASEBALL UAE Abu Dhabi team mem- at 5.4% at 6.1% at 5.2% 6p.m. UC Santa Barbara at USC TV: Pac-12 ber Simone Consonni of Ita- 725 ft. S S 935 ft. CYCLING ly placed third. 2p.m. Amgen Tour of California, Stage 4 TV: NBCSN “My teammates helped GOLF to get me in the right posi- Elevation 2:30 a.m. European PGA, Rocco Forte Open TV: Golf tion for the last run, and I (Thu.) have to thank them very 99.1 miles HOCKEY, NHL PLAYOFFS much for that,” Sagan said. Source: Amgen Kyle Kim Los Angeles Times 5p.m. Pittsburgh at Ottawa TV: NBCSN Sagan has won a record16 stages in the Tour of Califor- PRO BASKETBALL, NBA PLAYOFFS nia. Federico Zurlo and Sean 50 seconds. Clarita. 5:30 p.m. Cleveland at Boston TV: TNT However, after three days Bennett. The break led Atailwind aided the final On Thursday, riders will SOCCER of racing, it’s Sagan’s team- through most of the course sprint through Morro Bay. climb12,000 feet from Ontar- 11:30 a.m. England, Southampton vs. Manchester United TV: NBCSN mate, Rafal Majka of Poland, and even gained more than a After three days in North- io to the top of Mt. Baldy and 11:45 a.m. Spain, Celta de Vigo vs. Real Madrid TV: beIN Net who is the tour’s overall five-minute advantage. ern and Central California, an individual time trial will Noon Italy, Juventus vs. Lazio TV: GolTV leader. However, with 34 miles to the Tour of California con- take place Friday at Big Early in Tuesday’s race, ride, the gap closed to a little tinues Wednesday when it Bear Lake. TENNIS Ben Wolfe of the United over three minutes and with enters the Southland and 10 a.m. WTA, Italian Open TV: beIN1 States led a breakaway with 12 miles until the finish, the cyclists travel 99 miles from [email protected] 2a.m. (Thu.) WTA, Italian Open TV: beIN1 Danny Pate, David Lozano, breakaway lead dwindled to Santa Barbara to Santa Twitter: @LindseyThiry