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  • Stormy Atlantic sire of Storming John 1st Mdn (May 20, 3rd LAD). Owner, Larry L. Johnson; Breeder, Southern Equine Stables...
  • Read the Footnotes sire of Opus A 1st Key Cents S. (May 20, 4th BEL). Owner, Broadway Blue Stable; Breeder, Nan Cassidy...
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  • Pulpit sire of At the Pulpit 1st Mdn (May 20, 4th CD). Owner, Chicago 8 LLC; Breeder, Erik Amlie & Mary Jo Amlie...
  • Eddington sire of Buddy Be Good 1st Alw (May 20, 2nd PRX). Owner, Old First Ward Stable; Breeder, Overbrook Farm...
  • Tribal Rule sire of Eternal Rule 1st Alw (May 20, 2nd WO). Owner, Donald A. Myers; Breeder, Don Myers...
  • Giant's Causeway sire of Book Review 1st Mdn (May 20, 6th BEL). Owner, West, Gary and Mary; Breeder, Gary & Mary West Stables, Inc....
  • Mobil sire of Natural Blonde 1st Mdn (May 20, 1st WO). Owner, C. E. C. Farms; Breeder, Paul Buttigieg...
  • Wiseman's Ferry sire of Tanivan 1st Alw (May 20, 5th PRX). Owner, Happy Got Lucky Stable, Inc.; Breeder, Louis Carrico...
  • Monarchos sire of Regal Nurse 1st Alw (May 20, 5th CD). Owner, PTK, LLC; Breeder, Claiborne Farm...
  • Montbrook sire of Lightning Road 1st Alw (May 20, 9th MNR). Owner, Equinox, Inc.; Breeder, Kinsman Farm...
  • Scat Daddy sire of Sca Doodle 1st Mdn (May 20, 9th WO). Owner, Bear Stables, Ltd.; Breeder, Burleson Farms LLC & Hart Farm...
  • Zavata sire of Zavata Jr. 1st Alw (May 20, 5th MC). Owner, Kara Truesdell; Breeder, Anthony Guida...
  • Roaring Fever sire of More Zen Tea 1st Mdn (May 20, 7th BEL). Owner, Commonwealth Stable; Breeder, Adam Madkour...
  • Tale of the Cat sire of Sinister Tale 1st Alw (May 20, 3rd CRC). Owner, Cairoli Racing Stable, Vicente Stella Stables LLC, and Amin Saiden; Breeder, John R. Mulholland &Martha Jane Mulholland...
  • Petionville sire of Love You Baby 1st Mdn (May 20, 6th LAD). Owner, Bayou Fitness Thoroughbred Division; Breeder, Bayou Fitness Thoroughbred Division...

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Smith back on Mine That Bird for West Virginia Derby

Posted: Saturday, July 04, 2009 4:32 PM

MIKE SMITH

Benoit & Associates photo

by Mike Curry

Bennie “Chip” Woolley Jr. did not get the three-race commitment he sought from a rider for Kentucky Derby Presented by Yum! Brands (G1) winner Mine That Bird, but the trainer did lock up Racing Hall of Famer jockey Mike Smith for the Birdstone gelding’s next two starts.

Smith will ride Mine That Bird in the West Virginia Derby (G2) on August 1 at Mountaineer Race Track and the $1-million Shadwell Travers Stakes (G1) on August 29 at Saratoga Race Course. He was aboard Mine That Bird for his runner-up finish in the BlackBerry Preakness Stakes (G1) on May 16 at Pimlico Race Course.

"Mike Smith has given us a two-race commitment for the West Virginia Derby and the Travers," Woolley said. "Hopefully, we won't be in a switch in the Breeders' Cup."

Smith did not commit to ride Mine That Bird in the Breeders’ Cup Classic (G1) on November 7 at the Oak Tree meeting at Santa Anita Park. He is the regular rider of unbeaten champion Zenyatta, who won the Breeders’ Cup Ladies’ Classic (G1) last year and probably would be among the favorites should she face males in the Classic this year.

Smith replaces Calvin Borel, who rode Mine That Bird in the Derby and for his third-place finish in the Belmont Stakes (G1). Borel was unable to give Woolley a firm commitment to ride Mine That Bird in the West Virginia Derby.

"I'm very happy to have the opportunity to get back on him,” Smith said. “Hopefully, I can make amends for what happened the last time and get him home this time."

Mike Curry is a Thoroughbred Times TODAY editor

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