The Daily Racing Form’s Marty McGee reports that Kentucky Derby winner Mine That Bird will have a new jockey when he makes his next start on Aug. 1 in the $750,000 West Virginia Derby at Mountaineer Park.

Calvin Borel after winning the Kentucky Derby aboard Mine That Bird. (Molly Gash / AP)

 Mark Allen, who owns Mine That Bird with Leonard Blach, said Wednesday that he and trainer Chip Woolley were not yet prepared to name a replacement for Calvin Borel but that they wanted a firm commitment through the Nov. 7 Breeders’ Cup Classic at Santa Anita. That span of several months also is scheduled to include the Aug. 29 Shadwell Travers Stakes at Saratoga and probably one more race leading into the BC Classic.

        Allen said Wednesday that the decision to replace Borel was made the previous evening, after he learned that Borel and his agent, Jerry Hissam, were hedging on whether to ride Mine That Bird at Mountaineer or Warrior’s Reward the same day in the $500,000 Jim Dandy Stakes at Saratoga. Allen said the precedent set at the May 16 Preakness, where Borel took off Mine That Bird to ride the victorious Rachel Alexandra, forced him to make a preemptive move.

       Borel won the May 2 Kentucky Derby on Mine That Bird, then got the mount back for his only subsequent start, the June 6 Belmont Stakes, in which the gelding finished third as the favorite.

       “I’m not going to bad-mouth Calvin or Jerry because they’ve done me a lot of good,” said Allen. “Heck, they won the Derby for me. But I’m not going to let them hang us out the way they did before the Preakness, waiting until the last minute to tell us we needed another rider. I’m going to do what I have to do, just like they have to do what they have to do.”

       Hall of Fame jockey Mike Smith rode Mine That Bird in the Preakness, and although he was a logical candidate to get the mount back, Smith’s agent, Brad Pegram, said he is unable to commit to the BC Classic. Smith possibly could be riding Zenyatta, the mare who is unbeaten in 11 career starts, in the BC Classic, if owner Jerry Moss and trainer John Shirreffs choose that race over the BC Ladies’ Classic the previous day.

      Pegram said Wednesday he had been contacted by the Mine That Bird connections “and we’ve talked about it. I can commit to three races, but not the Classic because of Zenyatta.”

      Hissam said he and Borel would have no comment about being replaced. Borel will be at Belmont Park on Saturday to ride Warrior’s Reward in the Dwyer Stakes, a race that trainer Ian Wilkes is looking to use as a prep toward the Jim Dandy and Travers.

      Mine That Bird is scheduled to work again Monday at Churchill Downs, where he has been based since April 21 except for his trips to the Preakness and Belmont. The gelding breezed a half-mile last Monday in his first work since the Belmont. Borel was aboard for that move but will be replaced for subsequent works.

NO PLACE LIKE HOME FOR BONDE

      Pleasanton native Jeff Bonde wasted no time getting to the Alameda County Fair winner’s circle, as Tango Mango won the very first Thoroughbred race of the 2009 season.  Owned by Batman Stable, Mark Hanna, and Michael Rovner, Tango Mango ($4.40) put away Rudeameanie and repelled a late bid from Tijuana Tuesday to score by three-quarters of a length.

       “All kidding aside, it’s so fun to run into all the people you haven’t run into all year long,” said Bonde.  “Today is got to the point of overwhelming, as there were so may people in the winner’s circle, there wasn’t any room for the horse.”

       Bonde, who was featured in an article last week in Pleasanton Weekly, went on to say that today “couldn’t have been any better.  You wish you could talk to more people, but we’re having a great time.  This is our time to shine, and I hope we keep firing away.”

      In the eighth race, Awesome Jared ($16.00) scored a come-from-behind victory over $25,000 claimers under Frank Alvarado.  My Creed was second, with Sacred Light rallying from last to get third.  Sidepocket Cat, the even-money favorite, dueled through the first six furlongs in 1:10.33 with longshot Switzerland, severely compromising his chances, as he tired to finish last.  Awesome Jared, is owned by a partnership of trainer Gloria Buckridge, Tom Heller and John Lee.

      Racing resumes today, with a first post of 12:45 p.m.  The daily handicapping seminar, which begins at 11:15 a.m., will feature syndicated handicapper Bob Ike, who will be visiting from Southern California.

STOCKTON’S A WINNER

       According to Tony Sauro of the Record.net, horse racing crossed the finish line ahead of last year’s receipts to help avoid a loss at the 2009 San Joaquin County Fair in Stockton.

       Substantial increases in horse racing revenue offset slightly lower attendance totals, helping the fair beat the heat and withstand cold economic reality.

       “Well, considering that last year we didn’t have horse racing, we should have been up,” Debbie Cook said, reflecting on attendance during her first year as the fair’s chief executive officer. “Throw in the economy and the heat the last two days; when you consider those things, it doesn’t really seem like we did so awful.

      “We could be bulging at the seams and would still want more. It could have been a lot worse. I’m pleased it was as good as it was.”

       The fair’s five-day attendance (last Wednesday through Sunday), according to Cook, dropped to 79,807 from 84,811 in 2008, a 5.9 percent decline.

       On-track betting during the fair’s nine days of horse racing – including at the Winners wagering facility on the fairgrounds – increased 28 percent over 2008, when racing was held in September, separate from the fair’s June schedule.

      Last year was the first time the fair had been cut to five days – with the horse racing held 2 1/2 months later. It didn’t work.

       Off-track betting throughout Northern California – the fair opened the summer schedule and had exclusive racing dates – was up 10 percent this year.

       Betting from all sources increased 22 percent. The fair gets a percentage only of the on-track, Northern California and out-of-state betting handles – not those from Southern California.

       “Being in June,” Cook responded when asked why racing income increased. She said attendance and betting were solid from June 18 to 21 (before the fair opened), when admission was $3.

       The quality of thoroughbreds improved, and the number of races increased.

       “We had a fabulous first (four days), considering we didn’t have the fair,” Cook said. “It was such a party atmosphere. People really had a ball.”

        “Overall, the horse racing excited me,” said Mitch Slater, chairman of the nine-member San Joaquin County Fair board of directors. “I was very happy with the numbers, the (racing grandstand) was clean, folks were attentive, and the crowds were excited. It all goes into the same pot. (Horse racing revenue) helps us survive. If it hadn’t been more profitable, it would be a real concern.”

LOCAL UPDATE:

      In today’s eighth race at the Pleasanton County Fair, Santa Rosa trainer Steve Specht saddles Richest Wager for owners Mr. and Mrs Larry D. Williams. Frank Alvarado is the jockey in this $4,000 claiming race going six furlongs.

      In the tenth race, Specht sends out County Wexford for Hugh C. Stone’s Irrevocable Trust. Alvarado is again the rider in this $4,000 claimer going six furlongs.

      Also in the race is Robert H Walter Family Trust’s Vested Alliance, who is trained by William E. Morey and will be ridden by A. Bisono.

LOCAL WATCH UPDATE:

     In today’s eighth race at Pleasanton, Mr. and Mrs. Larry D Williams Richest Wager finished first in a $4,000 claimer going six furlongs. Ridden by Frank Alvarado, Richest Wager, who is trained by Steve Specht, returned $5.20, $3.40, $2.60.

        In the tenth race, Specht’s County Wexford, who is owned by Hugh C. Stone’s Irrevocable Trust, finished first, returning $5.20, $3.80, $3. Alvarado was again in the saddle in this $4,000 claimer going six furlongs.

     Robert H Walter Family Trust’s Vested Alliance, who was also in the race, finished third and returned $4.20 for trainer William E. Morey. Vested Alliance was by A. Bisono.