CAMPBELLVILLE, ON — Mohawk Racetrack fans got a full serving of thrills for their dollar on Sunday evening as the three-year-old pacing colts battled in Gold Elimination action.

All three of the $43,143 Gold Eliminations were decided by less than one length, and in the second split the margin between the third and fourth horses across the finish line was so narrow they were awarded a dead heat.

Mohawk fans sent Bigtime Ball off as the favourite in the second elimination and driver Paul MacDonell wasted no time putting the Presidential Ball son on the front end. The pair took command just after the :27 opening quarter and kept up a sharp pace through the :55 half and 1:23 three-quarters.

Down the stretch Bigtime Ball stepped things up a notch, but so did his peers. When the dust had settled, Bigtime Ball had been awarded the 1:50.4 victory by half a length over Sergei Seelster, and Sipwiththepres and Daddy Mac had been awarded joint ownership of third-place, hitting the wire in lock-step one and three-quarter lengths behind the winner.

Bigtime Ball now boasts a record of seven wins in 11 starts for owner, trainer and breeder Gord Irwin of Cobourg. Since joining the Ontario Sires Stakes circuit, the baby brother to $2 million winner Invitro has been exceptional, finishing third in his July 7 debut and winning the July 14 Gold Final at Georgian Downs.

Canadian Breeders Champion Domitian Hanover recorded his second straight victory with an impressive 1:52.1 score in the third elimination. The Camluck colt and driver Mark MacDonald also employed a front end strategy, stepping to the lead just after the :27.1 opening quarter and posting a :56.2 half and 1:25 three-quarters before battling down the stretch to a half length victory over Windsun Ben and Twin B Survivor.

James “Friday” Dean trains Domitian Hanover, last year’s division champion and O’Brien Award winner, for Clay Harland and Scott Horner of Toronto. Sidelined by sickness in June, Domitian Hanover was making his sophomore debut in the provincial program on Sunday.

The other elimination saw Along Came Polly and Jason Brewer stalk pacesetter Deuces And Jacks throughout the mile, then fire down the stretch to a half length victory in 1:52.1. Deuces And Jacks stayed game for second, one length ahead of James Dean trainee Raw Energy.

A fresh face on the provincial circuit this season, Along Came Polly was also an elimination winner at Georgian Downs in July 7. Through 14 starts this season the Camluck son has amassed five wins and two thirds for owner and breeder Larry Pollard of Harrow. Rodney Duford trains the talented young pacer, who boosted his lifetime earnings to $89,787 with the win.

The top three finishers from each elimination return to Mohawk Racetrack next Sunday, Aug. 12 for their third $130,000 Gold Final. The field for the hotly contested final will go postward as follows:

Post 1 Raw Energy

Post 2 Twin B Survivor

Post 3 Bigtime Ball

Post 4 Sipwiththepres

Post 5 Windsun Ben

Post 6 Daddy Mac

Post 7 Along Came Polly

Post 8 Domitian Hanover

Post 9 Deuces And Jacks

Post 10 Sergei Seelster

Also Eligible 1 Warrawee Ideal

Also Eligible 2 Kaos Agent

Also Eligible 3 Transcending

For complete results please go to:

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