Mike Smith supposedly retired recently but he sure is staying busy. Today it was announced that Smith will be aboard Suddenbreakingnews in the Belmont Stakes.

Suddenbreakingnews finished 5th in the Kentucky Derby while Smith finished way off the pace on Danzing Candy. That’s not the most exciting news for the horse and trainer Donnie Von Hemel today–‘upon further review’ Suddenbreakingnews is no longer a gelding.

That bears further explanation–Suddenbreakingnews has what is known as ‘undescended testicles’ which were stuck up in his abdomen. That means that he’s technically a ‘ridgling’ and potentially (though unlikely) able to be bred. Trainer Von Hemel explains: “He looks like a gelding, he acted like a gelding and that’s the way it was. The ultra sound revealed that he had two undescended testicles so he looks like a gelding and we never had any other reason to think otherwise. He’s now an official ridgling. I think on the ultrasound they were rather small and with both of them being in his abdomen at this point I don’t think they would descend. The part of the testicles descending is the temperature of the sperm that’s alive so they’re too hot right now. A lot of time there’s one up and one down and there’s the question of if it’s tugging on him and it doesn’t seem to be a problem.”

He’s also thinking his horse could contend in the Belmont after his training session earlier today: “I thought he looked good. He went real smooth and picked up as he went, galloped out real smooth. Everything seems to be in order; it’s just what we’re looking for. I realize that the pace won’t be :45 in the Belmont, but we also won’t be 20 lengths back either. I just think this horse can run a mile-and-a-half – his pedigree says he can. I think it’s our best chance to get a Grade I is in that race.”

The Belmont Stakes is scheduled for Belmont Park in New York on June 11. Preakness champion Exaggerator is expected to be a strong favorite after Kentucky Derby champion Nyquist was forced to withdraw.