It proved to be an award-wining choice: two full seasons later, Smilovsky was voted Canada’s outstanding apprentice jockey at the Sovereign Awards ceremony that took place on April 8.
Smilovsky recorded 11 wins and 48 in-the-money finishes in 161 starts during the 2015 season, with purse earnings of more than $360,000. She earned 127 voting points to be named outstanding apprentice jockey in the category that also included finalists Fanny Crausaz, Isabelle Wenc, and Kayla Pizarro.
Smilovsky began her riding career as a Quarter Horse jockey in 2008, recording one start towards the end of the Ajax Downs season. She returned for her first full season at Ajax Downs in 2009, and notched her first win on Windy Cartel in what was just her sixth start of the meet. She finished the 2008 season with three wins in 81 starts, accompanied by 19 in-the-money finishes.