CAMPBELLVILLE, ON — Fans at Mohawk Racetrack on Sunday evening liked the look of Deuce Seelster, and the two-year-old pacing colt proved he is the real deal with an effortless 1:53.4 victory in the first of three $38,771 Gold Eliminations.

Ten days ago Deuce Seelster posted a 1:52.2 win in a freshman event at The Meadowlands, and he had been flawless in his qualifying tests at Gaitway Farms in June, so Mohawk fans sent the young pacer off as the heavy favourite in the third race. Departing from Post 5 the Western Maverick son and driver Paul MacDonell eased off the gate into fourth as Romantic Thriller hit the opening quarter in :28.3, then MacDonell sent his charge up the outside behind Shady Idea.

Shady Idea took command of the race before the :57.3 halfway marker and carried his momentum through to a 1:25.2 three-quarters, but by the time the colts made the turn for home, Deuce Seelster was well in command and sailed down the stretch to a two length victory. Keystone Horatio closed smartly to finish second and Romantic Thriller held on for third.

Darren McCall trains Deuce Seelster for Katherine Bardis of Sacremento, CA, who purchased the talented youngster after his June 26 qualifier.

The second elimination saw Mike Saftic and John Pentland team up to land Fun Of The Game in the winner’s circle, a spot the pair visited regularly last season with freshman pacing filly sensation Luck Of Michelle. Also starting from Post 5, Saftic sent Fun Of The Game straight to the front and the Grinfromeartoear son cruised through fractions of :28, :57.1 and 1:26.4 on his way to the 1:55 victory.

Mohawk fans had selected Fun Of The Game as their top choice based on a pair of qualifying wins, and the favourite hit the wire one and a half lengths up on Great Intentions. Doctor J Holiday, owned by Joe and Karen Hudon of Acton, finished four and three-quarter lengths back in third.

Karen Carroll of Shedden owns the son of Grinfromeartoear and $162,902 winner Esthers Joy, offering up $41,000 for the colt at the Forest City Yearling Sale last fall.

One race later Saftic opted for dramatically different tactics, but achieved the same results, piloting Believeinbruiser to an impressive come from behind victory in 1:55.1.

The pair started from Post 7 and when Docdor Doc hit the quarter in :27.1, they were 15 lengths off the pace. As fan favourites Docdor Doc and Luc Ouellette continued through a :57.1 half and 1:27 three-quarters, Saftic and Believeinbruiser had made up half the deficit, but they were still sitting seventh in an eight horse field.

Squaring up for the drive to the wire, Docdor Doc was still in front by one length, but Believeinbruiser was only two and three-quarter lengths behind and Saftic had the Mach Three colt in overdrive. In a finish worthy of horses twice their age, Believeinbruiser, Woodmere Astroid and Samurai Seelster fought their way down the stretch, but his :26.3 last quarter propelled Believeinbruiser to the half length win.

Woodmere Astroid picked up the place cheque, Samurai Seelster was third for owners Carl Jamieson of Princeton, Fred Brayford of Alliston, the George Arthur Stable of Rockwood and Andrew Sayer of Cumbria, ENG., Macnamarra was fourth and Card Dealer rounded out the top five. Docdor Doc finished out of the money in sixth.

Bred and owned by Gerald Mijal of Westland, MI, Believeinbruiser prepped for his Ontario Sires Stakes debut with a win in qualifying action on June 8, a fourth in a two-year-old event at Mohawk on June 25 and a second in a freshman contest at Georgian Downs on July 8. Louie Eftimiadis trains the talented young pacer, who will start from Post 8 in next week’s Gold Final.

The top three finishers from each Gold Elimination, plus one fourth-place finisher drawn by lot, will return to Mohawk Racetrack on Sunday, July 22 for their first $130,000 Gold Final. The freshman pacing colts will line up behind the starting gate as follows:

Post 1 Woodmere Astroid

Post 2 Keystone Horatio

Post 3 Romantic Thriller

Post 4 Fun Of The Game

Post 5 Macnamarra

Post 6 Samurai Seelster

Post 7 Great Intentions

Post 8 Believeinbruiser

Post 9 Doctor J Holiday

Post 10 Deuce Seelster

For complete results please go to:

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