CAMPBELLVILLE, ON — Reigning Gold Final champion Mill Work looked impressive on Monday evening capturing the fastest of three Gold Series Eliminations at Mohawk Racetrack.
The Mr Lavec colt and driver Rick Zeron employed their trademark come-from-behind style to achieve the 1:57.4 score, sailing across the finish line one length ahead of favourite Feeling Frazzled and eight lengths up on third-place finisher St. Lads Speedy.
“He’s got great ability,” said trainer-driver Rick Zeron from the winner’s circle. “The Mr Lavec’s sometimes get real hot and crazy and I kept this one pretty calm. He kind of gets a little docile on me once in a while, but tonight when I fired him coming off the turn he kicked in pretty good for me.”
Zeron shares ownership on the two-time Gold Final winner with Leonard Tucker and Gestion C. Charest Ltee. of Montreal, QC and numbered company 9131 5929 Quebec Inc. of Lachenaie, QC. After three lacklustre performances through the month of September, the Oakville resident is confident Monday’s sharp mile proves Mill Work is back on track heading toward the rich late season events.
“He was huge at Rideau (Aug. 27) and I told Len Tucker and Claude Charest — my partners — �Congratulations you guys.’ I said, �I think we’re going to be in for a big treat,'” recalled Zeron. “But he just came up sick. He was a lot better in the Campbellville consolation (Sept. 20), he finished third, but he still only trotted in two minutes. This week we really noticed his eyes were opening up and he was feeling a lot better.”
Mill Work will join the top three finishers from each of Monday’s Gold Eliminations, plus one fourth-place finisher selected by random draw, back at Mohawk on Monday, Oct. 4 for their $130,000 Gold Final. Among the colts hoping to challenge Mill Work for the Gold Final crown is the consistent Classic Lavec, another son of Mr Lavec who sits just behind Mill Work in the division standings.
Paul MacDonell drove Classic Lavec to his second Gold Elimination victory in the sixth race on Monday, coming from the rear of the field to halt the Mohawk teletimer at 1:59.4 and hit the wire well ahead of runner-up Hudd and third-place finisher Ja El Abe.
“He got away back in the field. I moved him and was fortunate to pick up some nice second-over cover behind Dominant Kemp,” said MacDonell after the race. “He took me about as far as we needed to go and he was strong at the wire.
“He had about a month off, but it didn’t hurt him any because he came in tonight and he was good and tight and he went about his business with no problems.”
Albert White trains Classic Lavec for breeder Stanley Malec of Belle River. The gelding went into the Gold Elimination off a month long vacation following the Aug. 27 Gold Final at Rideau Carleton Raceway.
The other Gold Elimination went to Stonebridge Diablo, owned by trainer Ron Waples, Jr. of Fergus, driver Randy Waples of Milton and Dr. Sheila Atmore of Fergus. The Angus Hall son carved out all the fractions in the 1:59 mile and hung on for a half length win over Freewheel Hanover and Last Flight Out.
Fourth-place finishers from each elimination — Brancaleone, Anahar Charlie and Dominant Kemp — will await the results of the draw before packing their bags for a return trip to Mohawk Racetrack next Monday, while the top three finishers already have their invitations to the $130,000 Gold Final.