CAMPBELLVILLE, ON — Rick Zeron stood in the Mohawk Racetrack winner’s circle on Friday evening covered in mud, but you could still see the Oakville, ON resident’s smile.

The veteran reinsman had just succeeded where Mohawk fans had predicted he would fail — piloting three-year-old pacing colt Mach Dreamer to his second straight Gold Final title, from the outside Post 10.

Zeron and Mach Dreamer went into Friday’s $130,000 test on a three-race win streak, but because of their difficult outside post, which has a win percentage for pacers of just three per cent, Mohawk fans sent Canadian Breeders Champion Big Bay Point off as the favourite from Post 1. Mach Dreamer rated second choice status, with last week’s other elimination winner Dalhousie Dave getting the nod as the third choice from Post 7.

After getting an all day soaking, the Mohawk oval was rated one second slower than normal, but someone forgot to mention that fact to the province’s sophomore pacing colts, who bolted away from the starting gate as if their tails were on fire.

Keystone Raptor won early control of the rail, but was quickly overtaken by Dalhousie Dave, who rang up a :12.4 opening eighth and a :27.1 quarter, leaving Twin B Warrior hanging in the outer lane. After being two and three-wide during the early speed duel, Twin B Warrior finally reached the front before the :54.4 half, with Dalhousie Dave hot on his heels in second and Keystone Raptor shaking his head over being relegated to third. In hot pursuit of Twin B Warrior and the lead, Big Bay Point disappointed his backers by going off stride and out of contention.

As the colts rocketed down the backstretch, Future Million braved the outer lane first and was quickly followed by Stonebridge Tonic, Windsong Gorgeous and Mach Dreamer. Heading for the 1:23.3 three-quarters the field raced in pairs, each preparing to dig deep for a burst of speed in the stretch. Twin B Warrior turned for home with a short lead, but Dalhousie Dave was roaring out of the pocket and Mach Dreamer had found lots of open space in the centre of the racetrack.

Dalhousie Dave easily disposed of Twin B Warrior, but could not match the :27.1 last quarter speed of Mach Dreamer, who sprinted home to a one and one-quarter length victory in 1:51.4. Stonebridge Tonic came from the outer lane to finish third, leaving Twin B Warrior to settle for fourth. Red Bugler also closed sharply from the rear to finish fifth.

The win was the fourth straight and the sixth this season for Mach Dreamer, giving owner-breeder Stephen Scarff of Halifax, NS two Gold Final trophies to display on his mantel. Sunderland, ON resident Murray Brethour trains the son of Mach Three and Boy Meets Girl, who has earned $268,327 in 15 sophomore starts.

Mach Dreamer sits well atop the division standings with 200 points, his only loss in Gold Series action coming in the July 3 season opener at Georgian Downs where he suffered interference in the opening stages of the race and had to settle for a promotion from seventh to sixth, not enough to advance to the Gold Final.

The gifted young pacer will have an opportunity to defend his Gold Final title and extend his win streak when the three-year-old colts head to Windsor Raceway for Gold Elimination action on Tuesday, Sept. 28.

Next up on Mohawk Racetrack’s Ontario Sires Stakes calendar is a visit from the talented two-year-old pacing fillies, who arrive on Friday, Sept. 17 for their third Gold Elimination event.

For complete results please go to: Mohawk Racetrack Results — Sept. 3, 2010

To watch all of Mach Dreamer’s Gold Series starts go to: Mach Dreamer