Smith Tries for Three in a Row

Jockey Mike Smith will try to do something this afternoon at Del Mar only one rider has done before.

If Smith is successful aboard Victory Encounter in the $300,000 Clement L. Hirsch Handicap, it will give the Hall of Famer three consecutive wins in the Grade II, a feat accomplished previously by Chris McCarron.

McCarron, in fact, won the race, when it was still called the Chula Vista Handicap, four times in a row, beginning with Paseana in 1994 and continuing with Borodislew (1995), Different (1996) and Radu Cool (1998).

In Victory Encounter, Smith will be reuniting with a 4-year-old Victory Speech filly with whom he has had success and who is unbeaten at Del Mar.

She won the Torrey Pines under Smith here Sept. 7 and he was also the rider when she took the El Encino at Santa Anita on Jan. 10.

Owned by Tom Mankiewicz and trained by John Sadler, Victory Encounter will break from post two in the 1 1/16 -mile race against Tucked Away, Royally Chosen, Indy Groove, Miss Loren, Star Parade, the likely favorite, House Of Fortune, who will be trying older for the first time, and Elloluv.

Race of the day: Rock Hard Ten and Lion Heart head the field of nine 3-year-olds in the $1-million Haskell Invitational Handicap at Monmouth Park. In the day’s other significant race for the division, The Cliff’s Edge and Medallist head the field in the $500,000 Jim Dandy at Saratoga. Both races are 1 1/8 miles.

One for the road: Nives is bred to improve on the grass -- she’s by El Prado out of a Red Ransom mare -- and also should relish two turns for trainer Dale Romans in today’s fourth at Saratoga.

Robby Albarado, who is due to heat up, will ride the gray in the $46,000 race for 2-year-old maidens at 1 1/16 miles.

Exotically speaking: A place pick all using Just Like That in the first, Bella Banissa in the second, Smoken Feathers in the third, Minister Blair and Richochet in the fourth, Taylor’s Series, Little Foxy Baby and Eva’s Royalty in the fifth, Proud Tower Too and Territorial in the sixth, Nister Bere in the seventh, Victory Encounter and Star Parade in the eighth and Court Shenanigans in the ninth.

Winners: Previous day/meet total: 4/37. Money: Previous day/meet total: $23.60/$209.20. Total money bet: $274.