CAMPBELLVILLE, ON —Mohawk Racetrack fans accurately predicted the winners of both three-year-old pacing colt Gold Eliminations on Saturday night, but neither race evolved quite how handicappers envisioned.

In the first $40,000 Elimination, Keystone Raptor sprinted hard away from the outside Post 7 to take early command, reaching the eighth of a mile mark in :12.2. Third through the early stages of the race, driver Doug McNair sent favourite Big Bay Point after the lead before the :26.3 quarter and had cleared to the front well before they reached the :54.4 half.

Big Bay Point controlled the pace through the 1:22.1 three-quarters and seemed comfortably in command as the colts turned for home, but the Camluck son veered wide down the stretch, allowing two horses up the inside and pushing challenger Keystone Raptor into the centre of the racetrack. Officials reviewed the stretch drive and awarded the 1:50 victory to Big Bay Point, leaving Keystone Raptor second, Windsong Gorgeous third, Red Bugler fourth and Future Million fifth. Reigning Gold Final champion Broadies Song finished out of the money in sixth.

David Menary of Cheltenham, ON trains Big Bay Point for Burke Racing Stable LLC of Fredericktown, PA and Weaver Bruscemi LLC of Canonsburg, PA. Through 17 starts this year the gelding has seven wins, one second and four thirds for earnings of $194,174. Saturday’s victory was Big Bay Point’s third straight, as he captured his elimination and the final of the Canadian Breeders Championship at Mohawk Racetrack in mid-July. With two Gold Elimination wins, and a third-place finish in the first Gold Final of the season, the gelding sits atop the three-year-old pacing colt standings with a total of 112 points.

In Saturday’s second Gold Elimination, long shot Adrenaline was quickest off the blocks, reaching the eighth in :13 and the quarter in :27.2. After permitting Adrenaline to have the early lead, driver Mark MacDonald sent BP Chimo to the front, but was quickly chased down by another long shot. Stonebridge Tonic sprinted past the leaders and reached the half two lengths earlier than his peers in :55.2.

Still on top at the 1:23.1 three-quarters, Stonebridge Tonic was soon facing a barrage of horses from the outside, led by BP Chimo. Arrayed across the racetrack, the colts battled fiercely to the wire, with fan favourites Rick Zeron and Mach Dreamer grabbing control mid-way down the stretch and refusing to yield to a charging Twin B Warrior. Storming under the wire with a neck in front, Mach Dreamer rang up a personal best 1:50.4.

Dalhousie Dave closed like a rocket to finish third, with Adrenaline hanging on for fourth and a tired BP Chimo landing the last spot in next week’s Gold Final from fifth.

Oakville, ON resident Zeron engineered the victory for trainer Murray Brethour and owner-breeder Stephen Scarff of Halifax, NS. The victory was the third this season for the son of Mach Three and Boy Meets Girl, who also has three seconds and one third to his credit through 12 starts. Mach Dreamer missed the first Gold Final of the season when he suffered interference and made a break in the July 3 elimination, so the full brother to $245,000 winner Freckly Sara will be looking to make up for lost opportunities next Saturday, Aug. 7.

Mach Dreamer will benefit from Post 1 in next week’s $130,000 Gold Final at Mohawk Racetrack, with the remainder of the field arranged along the gate as follows:

Post 1 Mach Dreamer

Post 2 Big Bay Point

Post 3 Future Million

Post 4 Windsong Gorgeous

Post 5 BP Chimo

Post 6 Adrenaline

Post 7 Twin B Warrior

Post 8 Dalhousie Dave

Post 9 Keystone Raptor

Post 10 Red Bugler

For complete results please go to: http://www.standardbredcanada.ca/racing/results/data/r0731mohsn.dat.