Trainer Chip Woolley announced July 4 that Mike Smith would ride Kentucky Derby Presented by Yum! Brands winner Mine That Bird in the $750,000 West Virginia Derby (gr. II) on Aug. 1 and the $1 million Shadwell Travers on Aug. 29.

“Mike Smith has given us a two-race commitment for the West Virginia Derby and the Travers,” Woolley said.

Mine That Bird and Mike Smith during the post parade for the Preakness Stakes.
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Smith rode Mine That Bird in the to a second-place finish in the BlackBerry Preakness Stakes when Calvin Borel honored a commitment to ride winner Rachel Alexandra.

Borel won the Kentucky Derby on Mine That Bird and was in the saddle in the Belmont Stakes in which Mine That Bird ran third in his most recent start on June 6.
 
However, Borel could not give a commitment for the West Virginia Derby.
 
Woolley did not get a commitment for the Breeders’ Cup Classic to be run Nov. 7 at Santa Anita