Wanted: Rider for 'Bird"

0 Comments | Oakland Tribune, May 18, 2009 | by Anonymous

Mike Smith, who rode Mine That Bird to a runner-up finish in Saturday's Preakness Stakes, won't ride him in the Belmont Stakes on June 6 because of a previous commitment.

He's already set to ride Madeo in the Charles Whittingham Memorial Handicap at Hollywood Park that day. Smith said he's sticking with Madeo out of loyalty to owners Jerry and Ann Moss and trainer John Shirreffs. Together, they won the 2005 Derby with Giacomo.

"They're my No. 1 and no one else," Smith said.

That means Calvin Borel, who rode Mine That Bird to a long-shot win in the Kentucky Derby, could get back on him for the Belmont if Rachel Alexandra doesn't run. Borel opted to ride Rachel Alexandra in the Preakness, and the filly won. Co-owner Jess Jackson has not yet decided if she'll run in the Belmont.

Chip Woolley Jr., who trains Mine That Bird, said he's heard from the agents of several riders who are interested in taking over the mount, but he hasn't made up his mind.

Boxing

Steve Benbasat, Edison Miranda's trainer, claims he used nothing but petroleum jelly and a common coagulant on his boxer when the California State Athletic Commission seized a suspicious substance from Miranda's corner. The commission is still testing the substance, which was confiscated after an inspector saw Miranda's cornermen remove an unfamiliar bottle from a bag during Miranda's unanimous-decision loss to Andre Ward at Oakland's Oracle Arena on Saturday. The commission could have results of the tests by next week, spokesman Luis Farias said.

Tennis

Wearing strips of tape on her right shoulder, Maria Sharapova played her first singles match on tour in nearly 10 months. She needed nine match points to finally put away Tathiana Garbin 6-1, 6- 7 (6), 6-3 in the first round of the Warsaw (Poland) Open. The Russian had surgery for a torn rotator cuff last year and missed the past two Grand Slam tournaments. She wouldn't discuss the French Open, which starts Sunday -- and is the only major title she hasn't won. Sharapova, who said her shoulder didn't bother her against Garbin, made a brief return in March, playing -- and losing -- a doubles match in Indian Wells.

-- Aravane Rezai upset second-seeded Sybille Bammer 6-2, 6-2 in the first round of the Internationaux de Strasbourg (France) tournament.

-- Third-seeded Victor Hanescu rallied to beat Nicolas Lapentti 6- 7 (6), 6-3, 7-5 in the first round of the Austrian Open in Kitzbuehel.

-- Kei Nishikori withdrew from the French Open because of an injured right elbow. He hasn't played since losing in the first round at Indian Wells in March.

Motor sports

The administrator of NASCAR's drug-testing program says he told driver Jeremy Mayfield what banned substance was found in his positive test. Dr. David Black said he's had several conversations with Mayfield since his indefinite suspension May 8. On Saturday, Mayfield said he was never told what he tested positive for. He maintains his positive result is from mixing a prescription drug with allergy medication Claritin-D, an explanation Black has rejected.

-- Former Raiders quarterback Ken Stabler was named grand marshal of the Toyota/Save Mart 350 at Infineon Raceway. The NASCAR Sprint Cup race is June 21.

Cycling

The riders in the Giro d'Italia enjoyed a day off. Danilo Di Luca holds a 13-second lead heading into today's 10th stage, a 163-mile mountainous leg. Lance Armstrong is 25th -- 4 minutes, 39 seconds behind Di Luca. Armstrong's Astana teammate, Levi Leipheimer of Santa Rosa, is 51 seconds behind in fourth.