WINDSOR, ON — Fresh from a gritty performance in the Confederation Cup, reigning Gold Final champion Astronomical proved he is still at the top of his game with a Gold Elimination victory at Windsor Raceway on Sunday evening.

Leaving from Post 2 the three-year-old pacing colt and driver Mark MacDonald wrestled control of the pace from Bert’s Casey heading toward the half mile pole and never faced another challenge, cruising home four lengths the best in 1:51.4.

Bert’s Casey, owned by Leo Racicot of Harrow, hung on for second and Apache Of Grey closed well to edge out Riverfront Cafe for the third spot. Could Be A Player rounded out the top five money earners.

Dr. Ian Moore of Campbellville trains Astronomical for his partners William Shearer of Bedford, NS and R G McGroup of Bathurst, NB. The group has enjoyed two outstanding seasons with the Astreos son, who has a lifetime record of nine wins, eight seconds and one third through 29 starts for earnings of $359,455. In the second elimination the free-legged Zooka sprinted home to record his first Gold Elimination win of the season in a personal best 1:51.2. Isle Of Patmos was quickest off the gate, leading the field of three-year-old pacing colts to a :26.2 opening quarter before fan favourite Silent Swing took control. Silent Swing racked up a :54.4 half and 1:23.1 three-quarters under heavy pressure from Grand Bend Turbo, but as the colt thundered down the stretch it was Zooka who emerged the three-quarter length winner over hard closing Extreme Three and Grand Bend Turbo. Early leaders Silent Swing and Isle Of Patmos settled for fourth and fifth. Milton resident Ben Wallace trains Zooka for his partner James Millier of Dorchester. Another son of Astreos, Zooka has been ultra consistent over the past two seasons, earning a total of $400,639 while only winning five races. After the colt got off to a sluggish start this season Wallace removed the hopples from the colt’s equipment bag and Zooka has been no worse than fifth in his last seven starts. The top four finishers from each elimination, plus one fifth-place finisher selected by random draw, will return to Windsor Raceway next Sunday, Sept. 4 for their second last shot at a $130,000 Gold Final prize.

The post positions for the three-year-old pacing colt Gold Final at Windsor Raceway on Sunday, Sept. 4 are as follows:

Post 1 Apache Of Grey

Post 2 Riverfront Caf�

Post 3 Zooka

Post 4 Berts Casey

Post 5 Grand Bend Turbo

Post 6 Extreme Three

Post 7 Astronomical

Post 8 Silent Swing

Post 9 Could Be A Player

AE1 Isle Of Patmos

AE2 Seventh Evan

AE3 Almost Gunned Down

For complete results please go to:

http://www.standardbredcanada.ca/results/data/rwrfsu.html