All eyes on Mike K

Mike K in the Sprint, Lord Nelson in the Classic, and Fabulous Flight in the Distaff all figure to be short prices in the final three races of the B.C. Cup Summer Festival of Racing Monday. While the $65,000 B.C. Cup Classic is usually the featured race during the B.C. Cup, the return of Mike K in the 6 1/2-furlong Sprint is the most anticipated event of the day.

Mike K dominated the older handicap division at Hastings Park in 1999 and was named the province's horse of the year. He won five stakes at Hastings Park and also finished first in the Budweiser Emerald Downs Handicap but was later disqualified in a controversial call by the Washington State Racing Commission.

Mike K's best race had to be his second-place finish, beaten a half-length, to $2.8 million earner Budroyale in the 1999 Longacres Mile. Budroyale went on to finish second in the Breeders' Cup Classic.

Mike K's last start at Hastings was a third-place finish in the 1999 Premiers. He missed all of last year with an injury but returned with a dazzling win over Handy N Bold in the 6 1/2-furlong Independence Handicap at Emerald Downs on July 4, threatening the track record and earning a 101 Beyer Speed Figure. He's in a different class than the other five horses entered in the Sprint and his trainer, Allan Jack, reports that he's training "just fine." Frank Fuentes has the call.

Fuentes will also ride Lord Nelson, who has developed into a very nice 4-year-old.