CAMPBELLVILLE, ON — Mohawk Racetrack showcases one final evening of Ontario Sires Stakes action this Friday, Oct. 6 as the three-year-old pacing colts and trotting colts square off in their last regular season event.

Ten of Ontario’s most talented sophomore pacing colts will match wits in Race 8 and Janice Van Nest says she will likely be too nervous to watch elimination winner Stormaway make his bid for a second Gold Final title.

“Lately we’ve had family and friends coming out to see him, and they enjoy it, but I always have to watch the replay,” admits the Hamilton resident, who bred and shares ownership on Stormaway with Peter Caetano of Ancaster and trainer Dan Megens of Hamilton. “During the race I’m a bit nervous.”

Van Nest has had a second look at some impressive performances this season as Stormaway captured 13 of 18 starts and earned $319,906. The Northern Luck son was a Gold Elimination and Final winner at Western Fair Raceway in May, delivering a track record 1:53.1 performance on the half-mile oval, and also captured Gold Eliminations at Mohawk on Aug. 27 and last Saturday, Sept. 30.

“Once Dan started training him he said, �I think he’s going to be a good horse,'” recalls Van Nest. “So I don’t know if I’m a doubting Thomas or what, but for me he’s been a pleasant surprise.

“Although, because we bred the mare and raised him, he was always special,” she adds.

Stormaway and driver Mark Megens will take aim on a second Gold Final title from the outside Post 10 on Friday and Van Nest is not sure what strategy they will employ. Although he favoured the front end in his early season races, the colt was a 1:50.1 winner from off the pace in the Aug. 27 elimination.

“In the beginning he was mostly going to the front, but Dan schooled him a couple of times just to teach him that he didn’t have to be on the front,” she explains. “I don’t know what he’ll do Friday. Sometimes when you think you have a race all figured out, everything goes different.”

The hands-on owner will be in her usual spot in the race paddock on Friday, but says she might be looking for a replacement when the division leader heads to Woodbine Racetrack on Oct. 14 for the $300,000 Super Final.

“I’m usually down in the paddock with Dan, trying to help, but likely sometimes getting in the way,” she says. �We’re kind of looking for somebody to do the work (Oct. 14) so we can enjoy it, but I don’t know if that will happen or not.”

With 245 points, 70 points ahead of second ranked Doonbeg, Stormaway has his spot in the lucrative season finale sewn up, but his connections would still like to see him deliver a strong effort in the last Gold Final. Among the colts Stormaway and Mark Megens will face in Friday’s eighth race are the other elimination winner Eagle Luck from Post 2, Little Brown Jog winner Mr Feelgood from Post 5 and fan favourite Doonbeg from Post 6.

Once the pacing colts have wrapped things up, Mohawk fans will turn their attention to the top trotting colts assembling for their last $130,000 Gold Final in Race 10.

Leading the group of gifted young trotters is Majestic Son, who coasted to a four and three-quarter length 1:56 elimination win last week and will make his bid for a third straight Gold Final title from Post 4.

Mark Steacy trains the Angus Hall son for the Majestic Son Stable of Lansdowne and regular reinsman Trevor Ritchie will steer the winner of $1.5 million on Friday.

The other trotting colt elimination went to Swan Image, who will line up right next to Majestic Son from Post 5. Mike Saftic piloted the Balanced Image son to a personal best 1:55.2 triumph in the elimination round and will return to the race bike for Friday’s contest.

Majestic Son leads the three-year-old trotting colt division with 308 points, while Swan Image sits fourth with 116 points.

Post time at Mohawk Racetrack on Friday evening is 7:20 pm and the three-year-old pacing colts will battle for Gold Final supremacy in Race 8, while the three-year-old trotting colts square off in Race 10.

For complete entries please go to:

http://www.standardbredcanada.ca/entries/data/emohsfr.html