Mike Smith To Again Ride Mine That Bird

Hall of Fame jockey Mike Smith has agreed to ride Mine That Bird for his next two starts. The Kentucky Derby winner and Preakness runner up will next start in the West Virginia Derby on August 1 at Mountaineer Park and then in the August 29 Travers Stakes at Saratoga.

Smith will replace Calvin Borel who would not commit to riding the horse for the rest of the year so trainer Chip Woolley decided to replace him. However, Smith would not commit at this time to riding Mine That Bird in the Breeders' Cup Classic stating that he would be aboard undefeated Zenyatta should she be entered against the colts in the Classic rather than in the Ladies Classic.