Rispoli to ride Smooth Like Strait in Frank Kilroe Mile
At 0h34, on March 1, 2021 • By Salle de nouvelles/Newsroom
Faced with an intriguing decision, jockey Umberto Rispoli has chosen to ride Smooth Like Strait over Hit the Road in Saturday’s Grade 1 Frank Kilroe Mile on turf at Santa Anita.
Rispoli has been the regular rider of both colts in the last six months. Rispoli rode Smooth Like Strait for a win in the Grade 3 La Jolla Handicap at Del Mar last August, a victory in the Grade 2 Twilight Derby here in October, a second in the Grade 1 Hollywood Derby at Del Mar in November and in the Mathis Brothers Mile.
“It’s not an easy decision,” Rispoli said. “I had to choose. I’ve won a Grade 3 on the horse and two Grade 2s.”
Hit the Road has won his last three starts with Rispoli aboard for each victory, a span that includes the restricted Oceanside Stakes at a mile on turf at Del Mar last July in what turned out to be the colt’s final start of 2020. Florent Geroux will ride Hit the Road.
