Mike Smith May Ride Mine That Bird in Preakness Stakes

If Rachel Alexandra runs in the Preakness as expected, Mike Smith will be mounting the Kentucky Derby champion Mine That Bird in the second leg of horse racing's Triple Crown. Bloodhorse.com quotes the winning trainer in the 135th "Run for the Roses" as saying:

“Calvin (Borel) will have the call on my horse right up to the time entries are taken," Chip Woolley said. "If the filly is entered, then Mike Smith will have the mount. We’ve had talks with Mike and we decided it was the best move to have Mike on our horse if the mare is in the race. Mike watched the Derby. He saw how the horse ran and knows the kind of running style he has. We’re confident that he’d do his job well.”

Borel has stated that he will ride the filly Rachel Alexandra who won by over 20 lengths in her romp in the Kentucky Oaks. Smith, a veteran rider, has one victory in the "Run for the Black Eyed Susans" under his belt as he guided Prairie Bayou to victory in the race in 1993.