EL Mikko fresh & ready

EL Mikko gave Glidemaster all he could handle in the recent Kentucky Futurity, actually taking a short lead near the top of the stretch at The Red Mile before giving way and settling for runner-up honors. The two trotters don’t have to wait long for a return match-up as they drew into the same Breeders Crown elimination Saturday night at Woodbine.

EL Mikko came to The Red Mile as an unknown commodity, but he left with newfound respect after his elim win and valiant effort in the second heat. He comes into the Breeders Crown with a 10-3-4-2 record and nearly a quarter-million dollars in purse earnings, and Rich says he once again plans on Tim Tetrick being in the sulky as he was in the Kentucky Futurity.

“He looks like he is going to be ready for the Breeders Crown. I’m really happy with him right now,” said trainer Dennis Rich, who also supplies feed to many Ontario-based horsemen, including Glidemaster’s trainer, Blair Burgess. “We hooked up again with Glidemaster, but that’s alright, I don’t mind. We got the six hole in a six-horse field. The top five and we’re in, but I want to win it because you get to pick your post (for the final). We’ll give it all we got.”

Rich said his biggest win ever was EL Mikko’s Kentucky Futurity elim victory, and despite the colt finishing second to Glidemaster in the second and final heat, he still found himself again in the winner’s circle.

“I was walking to get my horse, but (Karin Burgess) grabbed and hugged me and said congratulations. And Blair said, ‘I sure got a scare down the lane,’ and I said, ‘That’s horse racing Blair.’

“The Kentucky Futurity was an experience and to finish second to probably the best horse, there is no shame.”

As for the Crown elimination, Rich is optimistic. “I’ve only had him since the World Trotting Derby, and he’s getting better every start,” he said. “He’s lightly raced and is going to get better. He’s fresh and will give a good account for himself.”

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