Mike Smith takes off 'Bird for Belmont

[PPerfectfan]

Smith takes off Mine That Bird for Belmont
By Jay Privman

http://www.drf.com/news/article/103872.html

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.

"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.

[SniperSB23]

I guess he really is the Rodney Dangerfield of horse racing.

[blackthroatedwind]

Originally Posted by SniperSB23

I guess he really is the Rodney Dangerfield of horse racing.

Mike or Mine That Bird?

I guess you could say both.

[Antitrust32]

poor horse!! He runs so well and nobody wants to stay on him!

[blackthroatedwind]

Unless Gomez is getting the mount back on Dunkirk, the Belmont winner, I bet he is trying hard to ride Mine That Bird......as are about ten riders.

[CSC]

Honestly MTB hasn't had who I would regard as a top rider on him yet, Chantal, Lambert, Borel, Smith. If Wooley makes the right choice the horse is bound to get a jockey upgrade in the Belmont.

[Scav]

Originally Posted by blackthroatedwind

Unless Gomez is getting the mount back on Dunkirk, the Belmont winner, I bet he is trying hard to ride Mine That Bird......as are about ten riders.

He really did run a huge race in the Preakness, completely shocking but nice to see that maybe he isn't the worst Derby winner evah...

[Fearless Leader]

Originally Posted by blackthroatedwind

Unless Gomez is getting the mount back on Dunkirk, the Belmont winner, I bet he is trying hard to ride Mine That Bird......as are about ten riders.

WHAT ARE YOU SMOKING ?

[chucklestheclown]

Originally Posted by blackthroatedwind

Unless Gomez is getting the mount back on Dunkirk, the Belmont winner, I bet he is trying hard to ride Mine That Bird......as are about ten riders.

Surprisingly, to me, Dunkirk had a great work at Belmont today. I would like Coa to be on MTB, and I am still looking for a reason to think Mike Smith is not an ass. Did he tell them in advance he had a prior Belmont day commitment? Sure doesn't seem that way. Very discouraging.