GLOUCESTER, ON — Ontario’s talented two-year-old pacing colts gave Rideau Carleton Raceway fans their money’s worth on Sunday night in a pair of hard fought Gold Eliminations.

In the first $40,000 elimination, fan favourite Wellthereyougo set the tempo of the race, ringing up fractions of :27.1, :56.1 and 1:24.3. However, while the reigning Gold Final champion was doing all the hard work on the front end, the fans’ second and third choice were saving ground in the middle of the pack.

Third through the first half of the mile, Future Million and driver Simon Allard tipped to the outside heading for the three-quarter pole and started to apply pressure to Wellthereyougo. When Future Million stepped to the outside, Toughest Of All and Code Word quickly rolled out in his wake. Around the final turn the colts were stacked up two abreast waiting for the stretch to launch their final attack.

Pounding down the stretch, the freshman pacing colts had Rideau fans on their feet, awaiting a result that saw Future Million earn a head decision over Code Word in a 1:54.4 clocking, with Wellthereyougo one and three-quarter lengths back in third. Fourth-place finisher Toughest Of All also advanced to next Sunday’s $130,000 Gold Final.

Princeton resident Donald Lowes bred and trains Future Million, sharing ownership on the colt with Kerry Lowes of Princeton. Through nine starts the son of Million Dollar Cam and $128,885 winner Future Champion has recorded three wins, four seconds and one third for earnings of $179,747. With two Gold Elimination wins to his credit Future Million currently sits atop the two-year-old pacing colt standings with 162 points.

The second Gold Elimination saw Mach Dreamer and Stonebridge Tonic battle to a :27.3 opening quarter, with Stonebridge Tonic left alone on the lead when Mach Dreamer went off stride before the :57.3 half. Under heavy pressure from Adrenaline, Stonebridge Tonic continued to lead the colts past the 1:25.4 three-quarters and was just over a length ahead of the field turning for home.

Fan favourite Haul Away had been saving ground in behind the leader, and down the stretch the Modern Art son powered away to a one length victory in 1:55.1. Stonebridge Tonic settled for second, Big Bay Point was seven lengths back in third, and the last two Gold Final qualifiers, Adrenaline and Tigers Mattjesty, were well back in fourth and fifth.

Sunday’s outing was Haul Away’s first Gold Series start. The son of $166,732 winner Armbro Reno started his freshman campaign at the Grassroots level, securing two wins and one fourth-place finish under the guidance of owner and breeder Joe Hudon, Jr. After his most recent Grassroots triumph — Sept. 7 at Grand River Raceway — the talented youngster was purchased by Larry Menary of Cheltenham, Denis Breton of Welland and Phil Silvestri and Joseph Settimi of Hamilton.

Dave Menary assumed training responsibility for the winner of $48,720, and will send the gelding after a piece of next Sunday’s $130,000 Gold Final purse from Post 3. Complete entries for the Sept. 27 Gold Final are as follows:

Post 1 Wellthereyougo

Post 2 Future Million

Post 3 Haul Away

Post 4 Big Bay Point

Post 5 Stonebridge Tonic

Post 6 Toughest Of All

Post 7 Adrenaline

Post 8 Code Word

Post 9 Tigers Mattjesty

Also Eligible 1 Windsong Gorgeous

Also Eligible 2 Mach Dreamer

Also Eligible 3 Brusiers Brother

For complete results please go to: http://www.standardbredcanada.ca/racing/results/data/r0920ridcfn.dat.