Smith: ‘Shared Belief is as classy as classy comes’

Shared Belief and Smith have proven quite the dynamic duo (Benoit Photos)

Trainer Jerry Hollendorfer has been quick to put last year’s Breeders’ Cup
Classic (G1) — in which Shared Belief (Candy Ride) suffered his first career
loss after being slammed out of the gate by eventual winner Bayern (Offlee Wild)
— behind him and move on. Shared Belief proved he’s done the same when getting
back on the winning track with a gutsy neck victory in the Malibu S. (G1) on
December 26 to close out his sophomore season.

“Shared Belief is as classy as classy comes,” said Hall of
Fame jockey Mike Smith, who has ridden the four-year-old gelding in his last
five starts.

Smith will be aboard Shared Belief again Saturday when he
tackles Horse of the Year California Chrome (Lucky Pulpit) and seven others in the $500,000 San
Antonio S. (G2) for older horses at 1 1/8 miles.

“Shared Belief is not a big horse that you’re going to sit
back on and go like Zenyatta, who was imposing just to look at,” added Smith,
who also piloted that supermare. “He’s not really that, but he’s extremely athletic and really, really
well-balanced. He’s doing well. He looks good.

“They say he’s been working good. As long as Russell (Baze,
who works him at Golden Gate) says he’s doing good, then I’m all right. I was
glad to see that colt (Conquest Two Step [Two Step Salsa]) come back and win (the Palos Verdes
S. [G2]
last Saturday), if I couldn’t win it (on favored Distinctiv Passion [With
Distinction], who
finished fourth).

California Chrome has already earned his spot in the record books (Jim McCue/Maryland Jockey Club)

California Chrome
has been installed as the 6-5 morning-line favorite by Santa Anita oddsmaker Jon
White, with Shared Belief a
close second choice at 7-5.

“I can’t recall ever having a more difficult time deciding
who to make the favorite between two horses,” said White, who also provides
pre-race television commentary for Santa Anita’s simulcast network. “Not even in
all of the Breeders’ Cup races that I’ve made the morning-line have I had a
harder decision between two horses in terms of favoritism.

“One of the reasons I ultimately decided to go with
California Chrome is he is the reigning Horse of the Year,” White explained.
“And then there is his immense popularity. Being such a big fan favorite is
something that could come into play in the wagering. Also, California Chrome did
beat Shared Belief the only time the two have met.

“But while it’s true that Shared Belief finished 3 1/2
lengths behind California Chrome in the Classic, most people, of course, feel
that is a race you can throw out for Shared Belief because of all the trouble he
had. Shared Belief has lost just one time in his entire life. And
if not for all of the trouble he had in the Classic, it’s entirely possible he
would be nine-for-nine going into the San Antonio.

“Something else to keep in mind is Shared Belief was the favorite in the
Breeders’ Cup Classic, not California Chrome. Shared Belief was 5-2. California
Chrome was 4-1. I certainly would not be surprised if it turns out that Shared
Belief also ends up being the favorite in the San Antonio.”

Hoppertunity could upset the Shared Belief/California Chrome apple cart (Benoit Photos)

While most of the attention is being focused on California
Chrome and Shared Belief, White has pegged Hoppertunity (Any Given Saturday) at 4-1 for the San Antonio.

“Ignore Hoppertunity at your own peril,” he cautioned.

For the third straight race, Hoppertunity will be breaking
from the inside in the San Antonio, having drawn post position No. 1, the same
hole he had in winning the Clark H. (G1) last November. He captured the San Pasqual
S. (G2) on January 10 breaking from post position 2.

“I live in the one hole,” Bob Baffert quipped. “I don’t know. I’m going to
have to start going to the draw. I’ve always said, ‘There are two things you
need to get rid of in racing: the one hole and the last race.’ I’d rather have
been on the outside and clear.”

On a serious note, the Hall of Fame trainer is looking
forward to the San Antonio.