Re: Smith's Holy Bull Tribute, '05 pre-Derby talk

[Kasept]

Seasoned Pilot Expects Top Effort From Overlooked Colt
By Steve Byk

LOUISVILLE (May 3) -- Mike Smith is excited.

The veteran jockey is excited about bringing his tack to Churchill for this year's spring meet. He is excited about being back among friends he hasn't seen regularly in years, and he is excited about yet another new challenge at this stage of his long career.

And as we wait outside Wagner's Pharmacy for the breakfast lamp to be lit, he's excited about Derby mount Giacomo and the colt's chances in Saturday's 131st Run for the Roses.

Giacomo, a late arrival to the Churchill backstretch this week, is the proverbial "forgotten horse" in Derby longshot discussions around the Downs so far. If this is a case of "out of sight, out of mind", it may turn out to be fortuitous for those who prefer their Derby plays to be the kind they can laud over fellow punters for years.

Giacomo, who as the lone roan left in the field will be the choice of those that "bet the grey horse", has arguably the most intriguing record of any horse in this year's Derby. Though 7/1-2-2, with the October '04 maidenbreaker being the sole tally, the son of Holy Bull has gamely challenged the West Coast's best from his third career start when he ran into juvy buzzsaw Texcess in a N1X ALW at Hollywood.

After that, trainer John Shirreff's colt was second to Declan's Moon in the HOL Futurity (Gr. I); third to Going Wild and Papi Chullo in the Sham; second to Consolidator in that one's big San Felipe (Gr. II) and fourth by two in the Santa Anita Derby (Gr. I) to Buzzards Bay, General John B and Wilko. But Smith thinks no one has seen Giacomo's "A" race yet.

"We haven't seen his best yet. John (Shirreffs) has been taking baby steps with him all spring," says Smith. "He only really starting turning the screws on him after the (Santa Anita) Derby."

Based on the colt's sharp work this week, and his consistent record of competitive performances, Smith thinks Giacomo merits plenty of attention at the windows in the Derby. "I loved the way he worked Monday", said Smith. "He galloped out strong, which he always does. He made a nice run at Santa Anita (in the Derby), but he got out a bit slow, and I was on the wrong part of the track (inside) for too long. He never got leg-weakened for as long as we went on past the wire though."

Smith has been Giacomo's rider from the moment Shirreffs got the colt, and it seems the jockey who piloted Holy Bull always gets first call on any of the great runners' sons. Smith: "This is the first one that REALLY reminds of 'Bull. He looks like him.. He acts like him.. He feels like him.."

And though Giacomo has yet to get his photograph taken as often as his sire, Smith felt strongly about the $226,000 winner from early on. "When I got on him the first time, I told John this was going to be my '05 Derby horse", Smith said. "I have said that only one other time, and the horse I said it about won the Derby. But not with me aboard." Smith was referring to Unbridled, whom he rode as a juvenile. "You can ask Carl Nafzger how that ended up happening," quizzically smiled the amiable rider.

Smith wouldn't speculate on Holy Bull's failed Derby try as part of the conversation, but agreed that a special performance by Giacomo could be retribution of the sweetest kind. "Wouldn't that be great?" Said Smith. "This colt has been so close every time. Saturday could be his turn." What does Smith think it will take for Giacomo to be "special" in his eighth career start? "He just has to take to the track", thinks Smith. "Everything else should be in place."

"I'll tell you this," ended Smith before joining his agent for coffee, "I'm excited for Saturday."