CAMPBELLVILLE, ON — For the second straight week three-year-old trotting colt Flirtin Man stood head and shoulders above his peers, capturing the first $130,000 Gold Final of the 2007 season at Mohawk Racetrack on Sunday evening.

Leaving from Post 8 Flirtin Man and driver Paul MacDonell employed their usual laissez faire strategy and were sitting 12 lengths back in sixth when T Js Mr Lavec hit the quarter in :28. Moving to the outside heading by the :57 half, the pair gained cover from elimination winners Chelemark Porter and Guilford as Tymal Cherub powered to a 1:26 third quarter.

Coming around the last turn Flirtin Man made an alarming bobble, but Guelph resident MacDonell was able to hold the colt together and shift him into high gear for the stretch drive. In what has become his trademark, Flirtin Man sprinted down the stretch to claim a three length victory over Guilford in 1:55.1. A tired Tymal Cherub stayed game for third, hitting the wire seven lengths behind Flirtin Man.

The win was Flirtin Man’s fifth straight and brands him as the top Ontario-sired contender in the June 9 Goodtimes Eliminations at Mohawk Racetrack, what his connections hope will be the first step on the Angus Hall son’s journey toward the $1.5 million Hambletonian at The Meadowlands in early August.

Breeder Brittany Farms of Versailles, KY, driver John Campbell and Joseph Grano’s Juniper II LLC of River Vale, NJ and Eric Cherry’s Let It Ride Stables Inc. of Delray Beach, FL share ownership on Flirtin Man, who almost tripled his lifetime earnings to $99,945 with Sunday’s Gold Final victory.

“John Campbell said he was a nice horse,” said Michael Vanderkemp, who picked up training duties on the talented young trotter when Flirtin Man shipped into Ontario in early May. “And he’s a nice horse to be around, you can do anything with him.”

Many of Flirtin Man’s peers will join him in the Goodtimes Eliminations at Mohawk on June 9, while the others will enjoy a break from stakes action until the second Gold Series event on June 26 at Kawartha Downs.

Ontario Sires Stakes excitement returns to the Campbellville oval on Sunday, June 24, when the three-year-old pacing fillies will wage battle in their second Gold event of the season.

For complete results please go to:

http://www.standardbredcanada.ca/results/data/rmohssu.html#N5