LONDON, OCT. 23, 2001 — It may be pouring rain, but the oval at London’s Western Fair Raceway is firmly set to host a pair of Gold Series Elimination races for two-year-old trotting colts on Saturday, Oct. 27.
Scheduled as Races 5 and 9 on the half-mile track’s Saturday evening card, the two Ontario Sires Stakes showdowns will each offer $44,534 in prize money and are the last Gold Eliminations for the rookie trotters this season.
With only the top eight of the twelve starters from this Saturday’s Elimination eligible to return to London for a shot at the $100,000 Gold Series Final on Nov. 2, competition this weekend is sure to be tough.
Looking forward to seeing both of his entries grab top honours on Saturday night is veteran trainer, driver and owner George Zirnis.
Based in Elmira, Zirnis will be in the race bike when Promising Catch son Total Mayhem leaves the gate in Post Position 6 in the fifth race. Then, in Race 9, Zirnis will again be at the reins when Flak Bait sired two-year-old Carrland Buddy comes out of the three-hole.
“They both raced really well their last two times at Mohawk and they both feel really good coming into this weekend,” declares Zirnis.
“On the tighter half-mile I don’t think they should be bothered. Total Mayhem is better on a half-mile oval than a larger track — even though he is the harder to handle of the two colts,” adds Zirnis. “Carrland Buddy is really handy and shouldn’t be a problem at all.”
Zirnis is very pleased with how both youngsters have been progressing over a grueling rookie season, and he feels that his duo are up to the challenge on Saturday.
“They had a bit of the break after the Champlain and it was enough of a break get them fresh. They have been racing since July 1 and it is a tough grind,” he says. “They have kept sound and I am really happy with how they are coming into this race. They are holding their flesh and I think that they are better now then they were six or eight weeks ago.”
If forced to pick a favorite between his two colts, Zirnis is cagey. Carrland Buddy, owned by Smart Cat Stable of Elmira currently ranks first in the Super Final point race and Total Mayhem, who is co-owned by Zirnis, Thomas Cousineau of Elmira and NFWR Stables of Brampton, sits fourth.
“He (Total Mayhem) has been workman-like all year and he should in front or near the front from the get go,” says the trotting specialist. “Carrland Buddy makes his own luck that is why he is first on the Gold Series division leader board.”
However, Zirnis remains cautious about his duo’s chances. “You have to remember that they-re two-year-olds and with two-year-olds you never know what can happen.”
Zirnis’ talented youngsters face off against their peers in Races 5 and 9 pm on Saturday. Western Fair Raceway sends its first race behind the starting gate at 7:30 pm.