‘Big Money Mike’ lands Derby prize

US jockey Mike Smith showed again how he got his nickname in yesterday’s Kentucky Derby.

“Big Money Mike” came up with another impressive victory, this time aboard Justify in the showpiece at Churchill Downs.

Smith guided Justify to a commanding victory over Good Magic in the 144th Run for the Roses and earned his second Derby victory. It was his first Derby win since 2005 with 50-1 longshot Giacomo.

The 52-year-old Smith is the second-oldest Derby winning jockey behind Bill Shoemaker, who rode Ferdinand to victory in 1986 at age 54.

Smith has achieved so much on the big stage, but he doesn’t take anything for granted at his age. Especially a chance to ride a top-flight horse like Justify.

“Just keeping riding horses like this and that’ll keep you around a long time,” Smith said. “You don’t have to work a whole lot; they do all the work for you.”

Smith helped Justify, unbeaten in four runs, become the first horse since Apollo in 1882 to win without racing as a 2-year-old.

And the jockey made it look almost easy in the classic run in pelting rain and on a muddy, crowded track. Smith got Justify near the lead at the start and left the other horses to deal with the muck.

Smith has 5456 career wins and his engagement was one reason trainer Bob Baffert was so calm in the week leading up to the Derby.

“He was just . . . he’s all Hall of Fame,” Baffert said. — AP