CAMPBELLVILLE, ON — With his trademark late dash, two-year-old trotting colt Laddie scored his fourth straight victory at Mohawk Racetrack on Sunday evening, capturing the third of three $34,270 Gold Eliminations.

Leaving from Post 4, driver Paul MacDonell eased Laddie away from the starting gate into seventh spot as Snazzy Hot Rod zipped out to a :28.2 opening quarter. The fan favourites sat comfortably at the rear of the pack as Snazzy Hot Rod continued to lead the field of nine through the :58 half, and then edged to the outside behind Evidence AS moving by the 1:28.1 three-quarters.

Turning for home Laddie was still four lengths behind leader Relentless Duke, but when MacDonell shifted him into gear the Angus Hall son shot down the stretch to claim a half length victory in 1:58.3 over a track rated one second slower than normal.

Libra Vita and Relentless Duke picked up the second and third-place share of the provincial pie, and Australian Stock won the draw between the three fourth-place finishers to land a berth in next Sunday’s $130,000 Gold Final.

Paula Wellwood trains Laddie for the Wellwood Stables Inc. of Cambridge, who acquired the colt for $50,000 at last fall’s Harrisburg Yearling Sale and have watched him capture his Champlain Stakes division, his elimination and the final of the William Wellwood Memorial and Sunday’s Gold Elimination in just six starts.

The talented colt will put his four race win streak on the line from Post 6 in the Oct. 1 Gold Final.

Rick Zeron and Celtic Warrior employed similar come from behind tactics to post the second fastest elimination victory, stopping the Mohawk teletimer at 1:59. Zeron and the Angus Hall son landed in sixth from Post 9, moved to the outside heading by the halfway marker and then circled three-wide around the final turn to get up for the half length victory over Chelemark Porter and favourite Think Gold.

Daniel Martin trains Celtic Warrior for Ecuries Daniel Plouffe Inc. of Bedford, QC and Jean Dessureault of Candiac, QC. With eight starts under his belt, Celtic Warrior boasts a record of two wins, one second and one third and will start from Post 8 in next weekend’s final.

The other elimination went to the consistent Beer Budget, who benefited from a pocket trip behind pacesetter Meadowview Matty in his 2:00.1 effort.

Luc Ouellette piloted Beer Budget to his second Gold Elimination win for trainer Christopher Beaver of Rockwood and Johanna Beaver of Delaware, OH. Through 11 starts the colt has amassed three wins, two seconds and one third for earnings of $82,978.

Lemon Drop finished one and one-quarter lengths behind Beer Budget, with pacesetter Meadowview Matty another quarter length back in third.

The top three finishers from each elimination, plus fourth-place finisher Australian Stock, will return to Mohawk Racetrack on Sunday, Oct. 1 for their last $130,000 Gold Final. The complete field for the regular season finale is as follows:

Post 1 Libra Vita

Post 2 Think Gold

Post 3 Beer Budget

Post 4 Lemon Drop

Post 5 Australian Stock

Post 6 Laddie

Post 7 Chelemark Porter

Post 8 Celtic Warrior

Post 9 Relentless Duke

Post 10 Meadowview Matty

AE1 Snail Mail

AE2 Blaze Of Sonshine

AE3 Prime

For complete results please go to:

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