Smith Gets More Work

Chris McCarron’s retirement has been a boon to jockey Mike Smith.

The veteran has apparently become the No. 1 rider for owners Trudy McCaffery and John Toffan and trainer Paco Gonzalez.

Smith won two races Wednesday for the connections, scoring with firster Cash Blizzard and first-time turfer Fair Bianca.

This afternoon, Smith will make his debut on Came Home, the star of the Gonzalez barn, in the $500,000 Swaps Stakes, the first of three graded races on Hollywood Park’s program.

The $750,000 Hollywood Gold Cup follows as the fifth and then comes the $200,000 A Gleam Handicap in the ninth.

A winner of seven of nine, all with McCarron in the saddle, Came Home will be odds-on to win for the fourth time in as many races in Inglewood.

In the seven-furlong A Gleam, Kalookan Queen is the 122-pound highweight as she seeks her 10th win in 22 starts for owner Luis Asistio and trainer Bruce Headley.

The Grade II A Gleam is the next-to-last race in a pick six that has a guaranteed pool of $1 million.

Race of the day: The eighth race at Hollywood Park will be a spread for serious pick-six players. Contention runs deep in the field of 12.

Who’s hot: Skywriting. The Jeblar filly has won two in a row and three of her last four and will step into stakes company today in the A Gleam for owner Rosendo Parra and trainer Vladimir Cerin.

Who’s not: Der Rosenthing. The gelding, who has yet to hit the board in 18 starts, is in for more punishment in today’s sixth at Hollywood Park.

Exotically speaking: An exacta box in the fourth using Hotel Hall, Spycat and Royal Ambition.

Winners: Previous day/meet total: 2/154. Money: Previous day/meet total: $7/$873.40. Total money bet: $1,014.