Smith Tests Positive for COVID-19

Mike Smith tested positive Dec. 4 for COVID-19, the Hall of Fame rider said, resulting in him missing two stakes mounts this weekend at Los Alamitos Race Course. He was scheduled to ride Astute in the Dec. 5 Starlet Stakes (G1) and Proud Emma in the Dec. 6 Bayakoa Stakes (G3) in his only mounts of the weekend. 

Contacted via telephone at his home Friday afternoon, Smith said he took a rapid COVID-19 test prior to the start of the Los Alamitos Thoroughbred meet in keeping with track protocols and was surprised to test positive. He said he has begun a 10-day quarantine and would take another test Saturday to ensure the accuracy of the first one.

"I have absolutely no symptoms. As a matter of fact, I was getting ready to go on a five-mile run whenever they called me," he said.

Smith had been looking forward to riding LNJ Foxwoods' Astute, a 2-year-old daughter of Speightstown , in the $300,000 Starlet. He was aboard for her first two starts, both victories, including a 7 1/2-length romp in the Desi Arnaz Stakes at Del Mar Nov. 14.

"It's too bad I have to miss a filly like her. I think a lot of her," he said. "I'm hoping she runs well tomorrow, and hopefully down the road I can reunite with her at some point."

Flavien Prat will replace Smith aboard Astute and Juan Hernandez will now ride Proud Emma, their trainers indicated.

Daily Racing Form first reported the news of Smith's COVID-19 positive.

Smith, 55, was previously tested before the start of the Del Mar meet that began Oct. 31. He tied for fourth in the standings there, winning with nine of his 42 rides.

"Somewhere in between, I guess I came up with it," he said.