DUNDAS, ON — Hamilton resident Dave Van Camp enjoyed a golden afternoon at Flamboro Downs on Wednesday as two-year-old trotting gelding Musclescorleone captured the first Gold Final trophy of the freshman season.

Starting from Post 5, with Puslinch resident Paul Mackenzie in the bike for a second straight week, Musclescorleone delivered an impressive effort to capture the lion’s share of the $130,000 Gold Final purse. The gelding sat fourth through the :30 first quarter clocked by The Manipulator, then powered up the outside heading for the 1:01.3 half. By the 1:31.1 three-quarters Musclescorleone was just three-quarters of a length behind The Manipulator, and the pair were neck and neck as they straightened out for home.

A strong finishing kick propelled Musclescorleone to the half length victory, clocked in 2:01.4. The Manipulator settled for second, fending off hard charging favourite Cool Victory whose early miscue had left him a lot of ground to make up on the leaders.

Van Camp shares ownership of Musclescorleone with trainer Fred Jamieson of Putnam and Renato Confortin of London. Wednesday’s Gold Final win was the Muscle Mass son’s first; he and Mackenzie finished third to Cool Victory in last week’s elimination round. The gelding will have an opportunity to defend his Gold Final title when the two-year-old trotting colts make their second Gold Series start on July 16 at Mohawk Racetrack.

Also on the menu at Flamboro Downs on Wednesday were eight $24,000 Grassroots divisions for the two-year-old pacing colts. Oakville resident Scott Zeron piloted the winner of the fastest division, crossing the wire in 1:55.3 with Bobby Hill.

Zeron engineered the two length victory for trainer Casie Coleman of Cambridge and owner-breeder Tom Hill of Lancashire, GB. The son of Camluck and Beyonce Blue Chip bested Sly Ruler and Lyonsshadyacres.

Zeron picked up a second Grassroots victory when Windsong Jack demolished the field in the last division by 13 lengths. Starting from the trailing Post 9, Zeron and the Santanna Blue Chip son coasted away from the gate and sat fifth through the early going. Heading up the outside at the halfway marker Windsong Jack reeled in pacesetter Mach It Paiden and sailed away to the commanding victory in 1:56.1. Mach It Paiden settled for second and Soevil rounded out the top three.

Cheltenham resident David Menary conditions Windsong Jack for Larry Menary of Cheltenham, Kenneth Ewen of Georgetown, Denis Breton of Welland and Geoffrey Lyons Mound of Burford.

Two other colts with local connections were also victorious in their Grassroots divisions at Flamboro. Dull Roar kicked things off in the first race with a gate-to-wire triumph for trainer Jeffrey Gillis of Hillsburgh and his partners Ken Henwood of Mississauga, Mac Nichol of Burlington and Gerald Stay of Buffalo, NY.

The Mach Three colt halted the teletimer at 1:58.2, finishing three and one-half lengths ahead of Why Dont U Stay and M D Buddy.

President Sylberun also found his way to the winner’s circle from Post 9, cruising to a one and three-quarter length victory in 1:58.3. Rude Boy and Mystic Deuce paced into second and third.

Anthony MacDonald piloted the No Pan Intended gelding to the win for trainer Shawn Robinson and owner Domenic Chiaravalle of Hamilton.

The other Grassroots trophies went home with Adversary Seelster (1:55.4); Windsong Joker (1:56.2); Get Around Town (1:57.2); and Southwind Amazon (1:56.2). The two-year-old pacing colts and geldings make their second Grassroots start at Kawartha Downs on July 21.

Ontario Sires Stakes excitement continues at Flamboro Downs on Sunday, July 15 when the impressive two-year-old trotting fillies bring their Gold Series battle to the Dundas oval.

For complete results please go to Flamboro Downs Results — July 4, 2012