If Blingo wins the Santa Anita Handicap, Aaron Gryder would be the first to
admit he owes Mike Smith a debt of gratitude. Gryder rides the five-year-old
gelded son of Artie Schiller, whom he piloted to a 15-1 upset in the Grade 2 San
Antonio on February 8, and will have the return ride for trainer John Shirreffs
in the 77th edition of Santa Anita’s marquee race on March 8.
“I was working a couple horses for John at Hollywood Park, even after the
track closed,” Gryder said. “I give credit to my friend Mike Smith as far as
making the introduction and kind of opening the doors with John for working his
horses.
“Blingo was one of the first ones I worked, but I was always impressed with
him. John told me the key to the horse is keeping him happy. In the race before
the San Antonio, (the San Pasqual in which Blingo ran an eventful sixth), he
lost it in the paddock and ran his race before it even started. But he was
pretty good before the San Antonio, and the whole race I was just letting him
settle. I didn’t ride him worrying about where Game On Dude was or anybody else.
Obviously I was liking the pace, but it was about my horse being comfortable.
“He ran super that day and his work Sunday (six furlongs in 1:12 1/5 on
February 23) was just awesome.”
With three wins through 40 days, victories have been slow in coming for
Gryder, a native of West Covina, California who began his career in earnest in
1987. But successes like those in the $300,000 San Antonio and the $500,000
Breeders’ Cup Marathon in 2012 are worth more than gold and glory.
“It’s obvious you want to win as many as you can, but those are the races
that really make people recognize you, and they bring you more opportunities,”
Gryder said. “It was great to ride for John Shirreffs, and the owners (Jerry and
Ann Moss) have been fabulous in keeping me on the horse. I’m very happy for the
opportunity and hope it leads to more.”
The 43-year-old jockey will face a much more difficult task in the $750,000
Big ‘Cap. Besides Game on Dude, the 1 1/4-mile event will feature top older
horses Mucho Macho Man and Will Take Charge, who finished a dramatic nose apart
in last year’s Breeders’ Cup Classic at Santa Anita.
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