'Money Mike' Smith could become oldest jockey to win Kentucky Derby

Mike Smith is a two-time Kentucky Derby winner and the oldest jockey to win the Triple Crown. He will ride Taiba in the 2022 Kentucky derby. John Velazquez rode Taibas to a win in his debut race at Santa Anita Park in March. He also won the Grade 1 Santa Monica Derby on April 9. Smith has been the jocke for four of the last five Santa Ana Derby winners. His 28th all- time ride in Kentucky Derbies is his most recent. Bill Shoemaker won it in 1986 at the age of 54. It was Smith's first KentuckyDerby ride two years earlier in 1984.

Justify won the 2018 Triple Crown. Taiba is a horse that Smith rode to the Santa Anita Derby and the Kentucky Derby. He hopes for a good clean break and to get him into a nice, happy rhythm early on.

'Money Mike' Smith has made 30 starts in the Kentucky Derby. He will be riding with Tim Yakteen, who is the Derby trainer of record. Yakte was an assistant trainer for Bob Baffert and won three Kentucky Derbies. He has both Taiba and Messier in his stable. They were formerly trained by B Afferent. Bafert is suspended for the 2021 Derby due to a drug violation.

Yakteen is happy about the marriage between Taiba and veteran jockey Mike Smith. Yakteen thinks Smith is a natural horseman. Smith has vast experience at Churchill Downs and prefers a post position in the middle. Taibia received post number 12 during Monday's draw. Smith could become oldest jockeying to win Kentucky Derby.