Two local horses try to run down Tatoo Artist in Breeders Crown
The picture Tatoo Artist has painted the past few months is beautiful indeed.
The aged pacer has won seven consecutive races and is as hot as any Standardbred in North America.
The task for two geldings with local ties – Bythemissal and Charlie May – is simple Saturday night. Slow down or run down Tatoo Artist to become a Breeders Crown champion at Harrah’s Hoosier Park, Ind.
Bythemissal, an impressive winner in his elimination last weekend, has overcome an illness that threatened his life earlier this year.
“He’ll be ready,” said Canonsburg’s Ron Burke, who trains and is part owner of 4-year-old Bythemissal. “He’s won big races. He’s done what we’ve ask of him.”
Yannick Gingras will drive Bythemissal, who has won 23 of 30 career starts. He’ll start from post No. 2.
Charlie May hasn’t been raced heavily and just might be fresh enough to make one big run at Tatoo Artist.
Charlie May finished fourth behind Tatoo Artist in his elimination a week ago. He is driven by David Miller and trained by Steve Carter.
Even-money favorite Tatoo Artist will be driven by Louis Roy and is trained by Ian Moore. He has won nine of 21 races this year and 40 of 93 lifetime starts. He is a 6-year-old.
T C I on a Roll
Burke- trained T C I can become the sport’s richest-ever 2-year-old Friday when he competes against nine others in the $700,000 Breeders Crown final for rookie male trotters.
T C I has won 10 consecutive races. He will leave from post No. 5 with David Miller driving.
Since placing second in his career debut July 7 in a division of the Kindergarten Classic Series at The Meadowlands, T C I has not lost.
“We got a great spot, the five-hole,” Burke said. “He can control his own destiny.”
T C I is the richest 2-year-old male trotter in history, with his $1.08 million besting the previous mark of $936,191 held by Deweycheatumnhowe.
“He’s a lot better than even I thought,” Burke said. “Every time I train him or race him, I think this is really a special horse.
To win the crown, T C I will have to beat a field that includes Karl. The only meeting between the two horses resulted in a nose victory for TCI in a division of the International Stallion Stakes Oct. 6 at Lexington, Kentucky’s Red Mile.