As reported by the Daily Racing Form‘s Marty McGee on Twitter Tuesday, two-time Kentucky Derby-winning jockey Mike Smith has picked up a mount for the race’s 2021 edition. He’ll partner the Steve Asmussen-trained Midnight Bourbon (Tiznow), winner of the G3 Lecomte Stakes in January, and subsequently third and second in the G2 Risen Star and G2 Louisiana Derby, respectively.
Midnight Bourbon races for Winchell Thoroughbreds, LLC.
Smith’s two Derby wins came in 2005 with longshot Giacomo and in 2018 with the favorite and eventual Triple Crown winner, Justify.
Originally, the Hall of Fame rider was booked on early roses favorite Life is Good for trainer Bob Baffert, but that colt was injured, underwent surgery for an ankle chip, and is expected to miss the 2021 Triple Crown races.
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