This is amazing!! Can you believe that MINE THAT BIRD does NOT have a jockey for the Belmonte??!!
Smith takes off Mine That Bird
Updated: May 18, 2009, 5:06 PM ET
By Jay Privman - Daily Racing Form
Mike Smith, who rode Mine That Bird to a second-place finish in the Preakness Stakes on Saturday, will not ride him in the June 6 Belmont Stakes, choosing instead to ride Madeo in the Grade 1 Whittingham Stakes at Hollywood Park that day.
Brad Pegram, Smith's agent, informed Chip Woolley, the trainer of Mine That Bird, on Monday morning. The decision opens the possibility that Calvin Borel, who rode Mine That Bird to a victory in the Kentucky Derby before opting to ride the filly Rachel Alexandra in the Preakness, can get back on Mine That Bird for the Belmont, if Rachel Alexandra does not run. As of Monday she was only considered possible for the Belmont.
"We made this commitment to Madeo before the Preakness, before the filly was sold and Calvin took off Mine That Bird to ride the filly and we got a chance to ride Mine That Bird in the Preakness," Pegram said Monday.
[ame="http://sports.espn.go.com/sports/horse/triplecrown09/news/story?id=4175615"]Mike Smith takes off Mine That Bird for Belmont Stakes - ESPN[/ame]