REXDALE, ON — With any luck, Ontario Sires Stakes fans will finally get to see what Hypnotist is truly capable of in this Sunday’s Gold Elimination at Woodbine Racetrack.

After 14 lifetime starts, trainer Roger Mayotte says the three-year-old pacing colt has at last conquered his fear of the starting gate.

“Just in the last four starts he started going right up to it,” says the Mississauga resident, who adds that there was no Eureka moment for the gelding, just a gradual easing of his fear. “I just had to keep racing him. He was all right in the day time; it was at night under the lights, with the glare on the starting car.”

Last season Hypnotist made three starts, logging one win and one second in spite of starting two lengths behind his peers on each occasion. Mayotte hoped the winter would see a mellowing of the pacer’s nervous disposition, but when he started back this spring Hypnotist was more than 10 lengths back at the quarter in his first two starts as a direct result of his starting gate phobia.

“Last year he was not just scared of the starting gate, he was spooky at everything. This year he was more laid back about everything else, except that,” notes the horseman. “It was just a mental thing.”

Mayotte tried every tactic possible to help Hypnotist get over his fear, but the veteran trainer says time, maturity and endless amounts of patience did more than any specialised equipment.

“It seemed like the more you put on him, like a screen or anything, the more hesitant he was to go forward,” explains the trainer. “It was just a matter of him learning to see everything and get comfortable with it.”

Bred and owned by Mayotte, Ross Warriner of Burlington and Stavros Kourgiantakis of North York, Hypnotist did not make his sophomore debut in the Ontario Sires Stakes program until the Aug. 5 Gold Series event at Mohawk Racetrack. Spotting the field eight lengths at the quarter, the son of Astreos and Elanthropist sprinted home to finish fifth, but did not advance to the Final.

Taking his second stab at the provincial program on Sept. 18 at Kawartha Downs, Hypnotist made up a 12 length deficit to finish third in his elimination and then claimed fourth-place in the final when Bigtime Ball was set back for causing interference in the early going.

Following those two starts Mayotte opted to give the gelding a mid-season holiday and Hypnotist heads into Sunday’s contest off a 1:53 qualifying mile at Mohawk Racetrack on Oct. 15. The gelding will make his bid for a top five finish from Post 1 in the second $62,465 Gold Elimination, and Mayotte is hoping fans will finally have an opportunity to see the colt’s natural ability.

“He has always showed the gait, and showed me some talent,” reflects the horseman. “And he’ll be better for it if he can get himself into the race.”

Hypnotist faces off against former Gold Final winner Domitian Hanover from Post 3 and reigning Gold Final champion Deuces And Jacks from Post 5, while the first elimination features former Gold Final winner Bigtime Ball from Post 8.

The top five finishers from each elimination will earn a return trip to Woodbine Racetrack on Oct. 28 for the last $130,000 Gold Final of the season. Post time for Sunday’s program is 7:40 pm, with the three-year-old pacing colts battling in Races 4 and 6.

For complete entries please go to:

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