Daily Racing Form National Digital Edition
My Boy Jack has options on dirt and turf at Belmont
ARCADIA, Calif. – My Boy Jack, who was fifth in the Kentucky Derby on May 5, may have his next start at Belmont Park, but it could come on dirt or turf.
Trainer Keith Desormeaux said on Friday that My Boy Jack is being considered for two Grade 1 races – the $1.5 million Belmont Stakes at 1 1/2 miles on dirt on June 9, or the $1.2 million Belmont Derby at 1 1/4 miles on turf on July 7.
Desormeaux was leaning slightly toward the Belmont Derby as of Friday.
“He’s just as good on either surface,” Desormeaux said.
As for the Belmont Stakes, Desormeaux said, “I wouldn’t rule it out.
“He’s proved he’s a serious contender for 3-year-old races all year long.”
My Boy Jack has won 3 of 11 starts and earned $705,145 for the partnership of Don’t Tell My Wife Stable, Monomoy Stables, and West Point Thoroughbreds. Earlier this year, My Boy Jack won two Grade 3 races on dirt – the Southwest Stakes at Oaklawn Park in February and the Lexington Stakes at Keeneland in April.
In the Kentucky Derby, My Boy Jack encountered traffic, was wide on the far turn, and was beaten seven lengths by winner Justify. My Boy Jack was ninth, trailing by 15 lengths, with a furlong remaining. In his last start on turf, My Boy Jack was seventh, beaten three lengths, in the Breeders’ Cup Juvenile Turf at Del Mar last November. My Boy Jack won the Zuma Beach Stakes at a mile on turf at Santa Anita last October.
Friday at Santa Anita, My Boy Jack galloped on the main track, his second day of training since the Kentucky Derby.
Repeat plan for Skye Diamonds
Skye Diamonds may have a summer campaign similar to last year’s, when she won consecutive graded stakes in Southern California.
On Thursday, trainer Bill Spawr said Skye Diamonds will be considered for the Grade 2 Great Lady M. Stakes for fillies and mares at 6 1/2 furlongs at Los Alamitos on July 7, a race she won last year.
“That’s on our radar,” Spawr said. “She’s run so well on that track. I’d hate to pass that up.”
Spawr said Skye Diamonds may also try to repeat in the Grade 3 Rancho Bernardo at Del Mar on Aug. 12.
Skye Diamonds was sixth, beaten 10 3/4 lengths by American Gal in the Grade 1 Humana Distaff at seven furlongs on a wet-fast track at Churchill Downs on May 5. Mike Smith rode Skye Diamonds and told Spawr after the race that the 5-year-old mare struggled on the surface.
“He said she was slipping the whole way,” Spawr said.
Owned by Allen Racing Stable and Bloom Racing Stable, Skye Diamonds is winless in four starts since the Rancho Bernardo.
Skye Diamonds has won 9 of 20 starts and earned $578,150.
Smith can ride in Preakness
Despite a four-day suspension for careless riding at Santa Anita on May 6, Hall of Fame jockey Mike Smith will be able to ride Justify in the Preakness Stakes next Saturday.
Santa Anita stewards Thursday suspended Smith from next Thursday, May 17, through next Sunday, May 20, for his ride aboard Achira in an optional claimer on turf. Achira won the one-mile race, but drifted out several paths in the final furlong. In a majority decision, the stewards did not disqualify Achira for the incident, stating that runner-up Helen Hillary was not cost a better placing, but held Smith responsible for his mount’s action.
Smith will be able to ride stakes at Pimlico next Friday and Saturday, including Justify in the Preakness, because those stakes are rated as designated races, which are exempt from routine suspensions.
California’s designated race rule allows jockeys to ride stakes while under suspension for 10 or fewer days. If Smith rides designated races out of state for two days, he will have to serve two additional days of suspension.
It is likely Smith will not ride next Thursday or next Sunday, and will then serve the two additional days of suspension later this month.
The Achira incident was the second time in 60 days Smith was suspended for careless riding. He was cited for his ride on McKinzie in the Grade 2 San Felipe Stakes on Mach 10 when his mount was disqualified from first to second for causing interference to runner-up Bolt d’Oro near the finish of the Triple Crown prep. Smith received a three-day suspension for that infraction.