Closing weekend at Presque Isle

It is closing weekend at Presque Isle Downs, and while most outfits are getting ready to head south, with many heading to Tampa, on-air personality and handicapper Katie Mikolay will be heading north to visit Woodbine. In years past, the 30-year-old Elk Grove, Ill., native would be headed back to Chicago for the Hawthorne meet, the place where she got her start.

“It was a really tough decision not to go back “ Mikolay said. “I have come to the point where I just need to see what is out there, to see what options are out there and to take a look at every one of them.”

As far as returning to Presque Isle next year, Mikolay is looking forward to it. “It is such a great venue here,” she said. “When you are down on the apron, you can feel the excitement and it is such a great atmosphere – the way I think horse racing should be.”

However, Mikolay is keeping her options open.

“I plan on coming back, but we’ll have to see how things work out,” she said.

Daniel Centeno looks to have the riding title wrapped up, with 96 victories through Tuesday. Scott Spieth was second with 83.

Jamie Ness has the trainers title locked up, with 74 wins. Gerald Bennet was second with 36.