CAMPBELLVILLE, ON — Mohawk Racetrack fans sent Lennon Blue Chip off as the prohibitive favourite in Saturday’s first $40,00 Gold Elimination, and the three-year-old pacing colt delivered such a commanding performance they were counting their money at the half way marker.

Mark MacDonald gave Lennon Blue Chip an intelligent steer from Post 3, easing the No Pan Intended son off the gate to a :28.1 opening quarter and coasting to a :57.2 half. Heading for the three-quarters, MacDonald allowed the colt to step out, and the pair hit the third fraction in 1:25. With the gap behind him widening, MacDonald eased Lennon Blue Chip up in the stretch and cruised under the wire in 1:52.1.

Cuzzin Sid trailed along behind Lennon Blue Chip throughout the mile, but was only able to get within three and one-quarter lengths of the winner at the finish. Lyons Geoff was three and three-quarter lengths back in third, while Carter In Motion and Shady Idea were five and six lengths to the rear in fourth and fifth.

MacDonald had never driven Lennon Blue Chip before, and the Cambridge resident was impressed with the youngster’s power.

“I got cheap fractions, and I tried to keep his attention so nobody was able to sprint by me,” said MacDonald after the race. “I was trying to pull him up a bit at the wire — there’s no need to win by five or six if you don’t have to. He was pretty comfortable.”

The win marked Lennon Blue Chip’s first visit to the winner’s circle in three sophomore starts, and his fourth lifetime victory. The highlight of the pacer’s freshman season was a Gold Final triumph at Woodbine Racetrack in October, where he became the only colt to best division champ Deuce Seelster in OSS action. Cambridge resident Casie Coleman has assumed training duties on the winner of $229,322 for Rodney Mitchell Inc. of Dover, DE.

MacDonald and Lennon Blue Chip will return to Post 3 for next Saturday’s $120,000 Gold Final, while their peers from the first elimination drew the outer half of the starting gate.

The second elimination saw impressive performances from fan favourite Deuce Seelster, who carved most of the fractions, and Keystone Horatio, who stole a half length victory from the division champion with a sharp sprint to the wire.

Starting from Post 5, driver Randy Waples hustled Keystone Horatio to the front with a :27 opening quarter. Deuce Seelster and Jack Moiseyev took over through the :55.2 half and 1:23.4 three-quarters, but Keystone Horatio shifted into another gear in the stretch to claim the 1:51.4 victory for owner and breeder George Hempt of Camp Hill, PA.

Lucky Man was three and a half lengths behind the leaders in third, Believeinbruiser was five lengths back in fourth and Dougs Fame, co-owned by trainer Gregg McNair of Guelph, was seven lengths back in fifth.

Campbellville resident John Kopas trains Keystone Horatio and Waples praised the veteran trainer for having Keystone Horatio in top form for his sophomore debut.

“He was scary good in his first qualifier of the season (April 25), but in his last one (May 2) he wasn’t quite as good,” noted Waples, who makes his home in Milton. “John (Kopas) decided to scope him, and he found out that he had some mucous and some problems. John caught it and got him good for this race, and it worked out well.”

A winner of $471,335 last season, Keystone Horatio never missed a cheque in 14 freshman starts, amassing a record of five wins, two seconds, five thirds, one fourth and one fifth. The Rustler Hanover son captured a Gold Final at Rideau Carleton Raceway in September, two Gold Eliminations, a division of the Nassagaweya Stakes, and an elimination for the Battle of Waterloo.

Waples and Keystone Horatio will pursue a second Gold Final trophy from Post 8 in next weekend’s lucrative Gold Final, while runner-up Deuce Seelster gets Post 4.

The top five finishers from each elimination will return to Mohawk Racetrack on Saturday, May 24 for the first $120,000 Gold Final on their sophomore schedule. Post positions for the final are as follows:

Post 1 Believeinbruiser

Post 2 Lucky Man

Post 3 Lennon Blue Chip

Post 4 Deuce Seelster

Post 5 Dougs Fame

Post 6 Cuzzin Sid

Post 7 Carter In Motion

Post 8 Keystone Horatio

Post 9 Lyons Geoff

Post 10 Shady Idea

Also Eligible 1 Fun Fiesta

Also Eligible 2 Trade Editor

Also Eligible 3 Castlecary Wildcat

For complete results please go to: http://www.standardbredcanada.ca/results/data/rmohssa.html