CAMPBELLVILLE, ON — Burlington, ON resident Mac Nichol had a fun evening out at Mohawk Racetrack on Saturday night when both his lightly regarded two-year-old pacing filly Monkey On My Wheel and heavily favoured two-year-old pacing colt Mystician swept to victory in their respective $130,000 Gold Finals.

Monkey On My Wheel provided Nichol with his first trip to the winner’s circle, rushing from eighth to first down the stretch to earn her first Gold Series victory. The Mach Three daughter and driver Rick Zeron started from Post 1 in the 10 filly field and eased off the gate into eighth spot as Pearl Handlepistol and Bunkhouse Babe battled to a :13 opening eighth.

Village Janus went after the lead heading for the :27.1 quarter and proceeded to lead the field through a :55.3 half and a 1:25.1 three-quarters. Bunkhouse Babe stepped to the outside to challenge Village Janus at the halfway marker, and four fillies quickly followed her. Although Bunkhouse Babe could not gain any traction on the determined leader, she provided a convenient windbreak to her peers around the final turn.

As the fillies squared up at the top of the stretch they were ranged right across the racetrack. Fan favourite Lauren looked poised to defend her Gold Final title through the first half of the stretch drive, but it was Monkey On My Wheel who laid down the fastest last quarter and reached the wire first, halting the teletimer at 1:54.1. Lauren finished half a length back in second and Shipps Xanadu was two and one-quarter lengths back in third.

Nichol bred Monkey On My Wheel and shares ownership on the daughter of Mach Three and Legislation with trainer Travis Umphrey of Guelph, ON. The filly made her Gold Series debut in last week’s elimination, finishing tenth, and her only other start was a 1:56.2 victory in an overnight event at Mohawk on Sept. 2.

Nichol’s second trip to the winner’s circle was less unexpected, but no less enjoyable as Metro winner Mystician made short work of his Ontario-sired peers in the tenth race.

Also starting from Post 1, Mystician rolled away from the gate into the fourth spot as Royal Will sprinted away from Post 9 to a :12.4 opening eighth. Royal Will’s ownership of the front end was brief however, as Mach It Big stepped up to take command heading for the :27.2 quarter. In his turn, Mach It Big yielded to Mystician, and the fan favourite had opened up a two length lead on his peers by the :56.2 half.

Twin B Legend did his best to attack Mystician from the outside, but driver Tim Tetrick let the Camluck son roll along to a 1:23.3 three-quarters and by the top of the stretch there was a three length gap between the leader and the field. Some Mach Some Win and Bullet Speed laid down sharp last quarters to close from the back of the pack, but there was no catching Mystician, who sailed under the wire a one length winner in 1:52.

Nichol shares ownership of Mystician with trainer Jeff Gillis of Hillsburgh, ON, Ken Henwood of Mississauga, ON and Gerald Stay of Buffalo, NY. The partners have enjoyed an outstanding year with the son of Camluck and super-broodmare Mystic Mistress, hoisting one Gold Elimination trophy, two Gold Final trophies and the Metro Pace trophy.

Through 10 starts the full-brother to $779,728 winner Camystic and $616,605 winner Lucks Mistress has tallied five wins, four seconds and one fourth for earnings of $771,070.

Mystician will have an opportunity to add a third Gold Final title to his collection when the two-year-old pacing colts return to Mohawk for their second last Gold Series event next Saturday, Oct. 2. Monkey On My Wheel will also make her fourth lifetime start on Oct. 2 as the two-year-old pacing fillies travel to Kawartha Downs for their second last set of Gold Eliminations.

Mohawk Racetrack fans only have to wait until Monday, Sept. 27 however, for their next dose of Ontario Sires Stakes excitement. The three-year-old trotting colts will square off on Monday in a pair of $40,000 Gold Eliminations, kicking off the program at 7:20 pm.

For complete results please go to: Mohawk Racetrack Results — Sept. 25, 2010