THOROUGHBRED RACING : Smith Ties Day’s Calder Stakes Record

Mike Smith, seeking his first Eclipse Award as the nation’s best rider, tied a record for most stakes victories ridden in a single year at Calder on Saturday.

He managed that by winning both halves of the $35,000 Tropical Park Oaks for 2-year-old fillies. With strong come-from-behind rides, Smith won the first division on Shahara Bay and came back to take the second division of the 1 1/16-mile grass feature with Long Gone Blues. Smith has won 60 stakes, equaling Pat Day’s 1991 mark.

Shahara Bay won by 1 1/2 lengths over Cut The Pot with Leah Jolean coming from last to finish third at 73-1. Shahara Bay was timed in 1:44 1/5 and paid $8, $5.20 and $5. Cut The Pot paid $5 and $3.60; Leah Jolean paid $13.20.

Long Gone Blues’ time was 1:44 2/5 as she won by 3 1/2 lengths. Roam N Ramble was second at 23-1, three-quarters of a length ahead of Tambien Me Voy, a 76-1 shot. The winner paid $5.80, $4.60 and $3.60. Roam N Ramble paid $12.80 and $10. Tambien Me Voy paid $18.60.

In the first division, Smith dropped Shahara Bay back to next-to-last soon after the start and remained there going into the far turn. Cut The Pot, on the outside, went to the lead at the top of the stretch and led by 1 1/2 lengths leaving the eighth pole.

At midstretch, Smith moved Shahara Bay between horses, then took her outside and caught Cut The Pot 60 yards from the wire. Shahara Bay is a Canadian-bred daughter of Shahrastani.

In the second division, Long Gone Blues broke from the 12 post and Smith eased her into ninth going into the first turn as Here’s My Neffer set the pace. Long Gone Blues moved into seventh on the far turn and was gaining when she turned for home.

Long Gone Blues is a Kentucky-bred daughter of Sovereign Dancer.