FRASERVILLE, ON — Meadowview Matty trotted to a 2:00.1 win at Kawartha Downs on Thursday, posting the fastest mile of four Gold Series Eliminations for the two-year-old trotting colts.

With Steve Condren at the helm, the Angus Hall son coasted off the starting gate from Post 4 and landed in third place. As pacesetter Oratorio made his way through fractions of :30.1 and 1:00.3 Condren sat comfortably on the rail, waiting until the colts were heading for the 1:30.2 three-quarters to move Meadowview Matty to the outside. At the top of the stretch the pair were still two and three-quarter lengths behind the leader, but a smart finishing kick propelled them to a neck victory in 2:00.1.

Oratorio settled for second and The Midas Man finished six lengths behind the leaders in third.

Trainer Brad Shakes and his father Paul Shakes of Stayner own Meadowview Matty, a half-brother to $121,448 winner Meadowview Marion. Paul Shakes also bred the talented young trotter, in partnership with Charlie Reid’s Meadowview Farms Inc. of Orono.

Kawartha Downs fans were treated to nail-biting finishes in all four Gold Eliminations as no more than three-quarters of a length separated the winners from the rest of the field.

In the first race Smarty Jims and driver Trevor Ritchie ran down pacesetters and fan favourites Catch My Korvette and Paul Walker in the stretch to score a three-quarter length victory in 2:01.2. Third-place finisher Baracay hit the wire just one and a half lengths behind the leaders.

Christopher Beaver trains Smarty Jims for breeder Lynne Foley of Salvisa, KY, Mimi Lenenberg of Pittsburgh, PA and Clare Semer of S. Pal Beach, FL. The Striking Sahbra son prepped for his Gold Series debut with a pair of solid qualifiers at Mohawk Racetrack on June 17 and 24.

Three quarters of a length also separated Blaze Of Sonshine from second-place finisher Beef Up in Race 3. Mike Saftic piloted Blaze Of Sonshine to the 2:03.3 victory for trainer Gregg McNair of Guelph and his mother Gwendolyn McNair of Walkerton. Blaze Of Sonshine is from the first crop of Son Of Grace, who earned $1 million under McNair’s tutelage.

Ernie B Earnest claimed the third spot in the second elimination, nudging fan favourite Super Chuck in to fourth.

About Face wrapped up the outstanding evening of Ontario Sires Stakes action with a half length decision over pacesetter and favourite Lukes Laddie, stopping the clock at 2:03. Trained and driven by Rod Allen of Ocala, FL for his partner Ed Mullinax of Amherst, OH, About Face finished one and one-quarter lengths ahead of third-place finisher Grogan.

The top two finishers from each elimination, plus third-place finisher Ernie B Earnest, will return to Kawartha Downs next Thursday, July 6 for their first $130,000 Gold Final. Post positions for the Final are as follows:

Post 1 Meadowview Matty

Post 2 Blaze Of Sonshine

Post 3 Catch My Korvette

Post 4 Ernie B Earnest

Post 5 Lukes Laddie

Post 6 Smarty Jims

Post 7 Oratorio

Post 8 About Face

Post 9 Beef Up

AE1 The Midas Man

AE2 Baracay

AE3 Grogan

For complete results please go to:

http://www.standardbredcanada.ca/results/data/rkdfth.html