CAMPBELLVILLE, ON — Three impressive miles at Mohawk Racetrack on Thursday evening proved that the early season excitement about this year’s two-year-old pacing colt crop had been richly deserved.

Raising the curtain on their hotly anticipated Ontario Sires Stakes season, the colts in the first $40,000 Gold Elimination powered around the Campbellville oval in 1:53, the second elimination was clocked in 1:52.3, and the competitors in the third elimination wrapped up the evening with a 1:53.4 mile.

Mach It Big and driver Rick Zeron hustled away from Post 5 in the first split with a 13.3 opening eighth, and continued to lead the field through the :29.1 quarter before allowing heavily favoured Mystician to take command heading for the :58 half. Mystician and driver Jody Jamieson cruised along to a 1:26 three-quarters and were on top turning for home, but Zeron and Mach It Big had some power in reserve. When Zeron hit the turbo button, the Mach Three son rocketed down the stretch to hit the wire in 1:53.

Mystician settled for second, one length behind the winner, while Dr Dew picked up third-place spoils four and one-quarter lengths to the rear.

Carl Jamieson trains Mach It Big for his partner Thomas Kyron of Toronto, ON, and the Princeton, ON resident prepped the colt for his debut with a pair of outings over the Mohawk oval. In a June 19 qualifier the young pacer clocked a seven length win in 2:00.3, and on June 28 he used a :26.4 last quarter to grab a half length win in a two-year-old conditioned event, halting the teletimer at 1:56.1.

Jamieson and Kyron acquired Mach It Big for $42,000 from last fall’s Canadian Open Yearling Sale.

Lyons Elite settled for second behind Mach It Big in that June 28 overnight event, but the Life Sign son was second to none on Thursday, as he delivered a commanding victory in a sharp 1:52.3.

Veteran reinsman Jack Moiseyev settled Lyons Elite into third through the early going, watching as Seven Grins and Drain Daddy rang up a :13.2 eighth and a :27.4 quarter, then sent the talented youngster after the lead. By the :57.2 half Lyons Elite was one and three-quarter lengths on top and the colt had extended that margin to two and one-quarter lengths by the time he sailed under the wire.

Drain Daddy and Prodigal Seelster sprinted down the stretch, but could not catch the pacesetter and had to be content with the second and third-place share of the $40,000 purse.

Geoffrey Lyons Mound of Burford, ON and Harness Racing Cdn Elite of Ajax, ON share ownership on Lyons Elite, who was a $20,000 purchase out of the Forest City Sale. The colt counts among his half-siblings Putnam Romeo ($311,890) and Putnam Fantasy ($251,699).

Trainer Wayne Preszcator employed a June 18 qualifier at Flamboro Downs — where Lyons Elite scored a 10 length win in 2:01.2 — and the June 28 overnight as preparation for Thursday’s battle.

In the final elimination, Paul MacDonell tucked Bullet Speed in behind Hold Your Hat and simply bided his time, waiting until the final turn to make his charge at the leader. Bullet Speed responded with a snappy finishing kick and breezed home a one and three-quarter length winner in 1:53.4. Machal Jackson overcame an early break to finish second, while Hold Your Hat held on for third.

Guelph, ON resident MacDonell was in the race bike for trainer Timothy Pinske and the Pinske Stables of Plato, MN. The homebred son of Camluck and Lady Ann Mathew made his first appearance at Mohawk in a June 19 qualifier where he finished fourth with a 2:02.1 effort, then returned to the Campbellville oval for a second qualifier on June 29, which he captured with a 1:58 clocking.

Among Bullet Speed’s siblings from prolific broodmare Lady Ann Mathew are Western Prince ($542,751) and Nonuknlady ($197,004).

The top three finishers from each elimination, plus one fourth-place finisher drawn by lot, will return to Mohawk Racetrack next Thursday, July 15 for the first $130,000 Gold Final on the two-year-old pacing colt stakes calendar.

For complete results please go to: http://www.standardbredcanada.ca/racing/results/data/r0708mohsn.dat.