Louisville, KY (Sportsbooks) - Eclipse Award winning jockey Mike Smith has regained the mount on Kentucky Derby winner Mine That Bird. Smith has a two- race commitment to ride the gelding starting with the West Virginia Derby on Saturday, August 1. Smith, who rode Mine That Bird in the Preakness Stakes, replaces Calvin Borel who was relieved of his duties when he could not commit to ride the three- year-old on August 1. Smith won the Eclipse Award as champion jockey in 1993 and 1994. "I am looking for a rider that will fit my horse best," trainer Chip Woolley said on Friday. On Saturday, Woolley indicated that an announcement would be made Sunday morning. Borel lost the mount on Mine That Bird because he agreed to ride Warrior's Reward in the Jim Dandy Stakes at Saratoga on the same day as the West Virginia Derby. The Louisiana native has been the regular jockey for Warrior's Reward. Following the Kentucky Derby victory, Borel switched to the filly Rachel Alexandra in the Preakness Stakes. Borel won the Preakness with the filly and then regained the mount on Mine That Bird for the Belmont Stakes. Borel and the gelding finished third in the final jewel of racing's Triple Crown. Smith picked up the mount on Mine That Bird for the Preakness and finished second, a length behind Rachel Alexandra. After the West Virginia Derby at Mountaineer Park, Mine That Bird's schedule of races will be the Travers at Saratoga on Saturday, August 29 and the Breeders' Cup Classic at Santa Anita on Saturday, November 7 with the possibility of a race between the Travers and Breeders' Cup. |
