GLOUCESTER, ON — Mill Work captured his second straight Gold Final title with a 2:01.1 effort at Rideau Carleton Raceway on Friday evening.
With trainer Rick Zeron in the race bike the two-year-old trotter eased out of Post 3 and landed in third, content to sit behind leaders Monsieur Kan Due and Sam McCord.
On the front end Gregory Hostetler gave Monsieur Kan Due an opportunity to capitalise on the lucky break that saw him draw in from the also eligible list when Hawkesbury was scratched due to sickness. Leaving from Post 7 Monsieur Kan Due led the field through early fractions of :29 and 1:02 before facing a challenge from Sam McCord heading to the 1:31.4 three-quarters.
As the leaders battled around the final turn Zeron was readying Mill Work for the stretch drive and the Mr Lavec son delivered an impressive finishing kick that saw him power to a half length victory. Sam McCord earned second-place honours in the $130,000 contest and Monsieur Kan Due held off Reception Hall to land the third-place finisher’s cheque.
Elimination winners and favourites Brazen and Classic Lavec made side-by-side breaks from Posts 4 and 5 in the early going and were never factors in the race.
The win was Mill Work’s second of the season, with both of them coming in Gold Final action, and boosted his earnings through five starts to $148,027. Oakville resident Zeron shares ownership on the consistent young trotter with Leonard Tucker and Gestion Charest Ltee. of Montreal, QC and Marino Fabbri’s numbered company 9131 5929 Quebec Inc. of Lachenaie, QC. The partners acquired Mill Work at last fall’s Forest City Yearling Sale for $23,000.
The colt’s victory earned his supporters $10.90 on a win ticket, $4.90 on a place wager and $5.50 to show. Sam McCord returned $5.40 to place and $4.60 to show, while long shot Monsieur Kan Due paid $8.30 to show. The exactor was worth $53.60 and the addition of Monsieur Kan Due for a triactor play earned Rideau Carleton fans $1,224.30.
Mill Work will have another opportunity to add to his trophy collection Sept. 27 at Mohawk Racetrack, while Ontario Sires Stakes action returns to Rideau Carleton Raceway next Thursday, Sept. 2 for the exciting three-year-old trotting filly Gold Final.