CAMPBELLVILLE, ON — There were 10 spots available on the starting gate for Friday’s night’s two-year-old pacing colt Gold Final, but with Bill Budd packing the most powerful one-two punch in the industry, only eight have chosen to make the return trip.
When Budd’s second string colt Boulder Creek captured last week’s Gold Elimination, the owners and trainers of the other nine colts in the race threw their hands up and asked when they were going to get a turn. It was enough that they had to go head-to-head with Metro Pace winner Sir Luck, but with his stablemate Boulder Creek rounding into peak form there did not seem to be much of the provincial pie left to spread around.
Rick Zeron picked up the drive on Boulder Creek in mid-July when Mike Saftic qualified both colts for the Woodbine Gold Final and selected Sir Luck as his mount. He has since piloted the Pacific Rocket youngster to two wins, two seconds and two thirds in eight starts for owner Cliff Siegel of Brooklyn , NY and developed a feel for the gelding’s on track quirks.
“He is an all around nice colt,” says Zeron. “But he tends to be a little ouchy around the turns. You have to baby him a little around the turns, but he gets the job done down the lane.”
Trainer Budd says the colt is at his best from a mid-field to outside post position and Zeron agrees with that assessment, noting that the start before last week’s elimination demonstrated the difficulty he has from an inside post.
“He taps his inside knee and the week before (Sept. 14), when I finished fifth, we had the two-hole and when I brought him into the first turn I had to bring him in hot. He tapped a knee and wasn’t good after that,” explains the Oakville resident. “I had to really hold him together around the turns and then just let him pace down the stretch. My race was finished at the quarter pole when he tapped his knee.
“But he’ll grow out of that. Billy’s (Budd) a pretty good horseman, he’ll do some corrective shoeing over the winter and get him off his knee,” adds the veteran trainer-driver.
On Friday night Zeron will send Boulder Creek after a second straight victory from Post 6 and says there will be lots of speed on the outside of the racetrack through the early stages of the race.
“The 6, 7, and 8 will probably be leaving out of there, and Killer Rabbit will be leaving hard from the rail,” he surmises. “Mike (Saftic) might just send his colt to the front this week. We’ll have to see what strategy he uses.
“Last week I knew where Mike was, he was behind me, and when you go a quarter in :27.3 it’s kind of hard to go by a horse.”
Saftic will send Sir Luck after a third Gold Final victory from Post 7 and Zeron also expects reigning Gold Final champ Au Rumba and Mario Baillargeon to be part of the cavalry charge at the start from Post 8.
The colts will dazzle Mohawk Racetrack fans with their speed and ability in Race 4 on Friday night’s 7:40 pm program, duelling for the $130,000 purse and the bragging rights that go along with a Gold Final trophy.