DUNDAS, ON — Mr Lavec sons had the key to the winner’s circle at Flamboro Downs on Saturday afternoon as the two-year-old trotting colts competed in a pair of $48,385 Gold Series Eliminations.
In the first split Mill Work delivered an impressive come from behind effort over the sloppy track, which was rated two seconds slower than normal. Leaving from Post 9 trainer-driver Rick Zeron settled the fan favourite in seventh and sat well off the pace through the first three-quarters of the mile. Heading up the outside on the last turn the pair moved into striking range and then powered down the stretch to score the neck victory over another Mr Lavec son, St. Lads Speedy.
Freewheel Hanover was one length behind the duelling leaders in third and fourth-place finisher Sam McCord also advanced to next Friday’s $100,000 Gold Final.
Oakville resident Zeron handles Mill Work for his partners Leonard Tucker and Gestion Charest Ltee. of Montreal, QC and numbered company 9131 5929 Quebec Inc. of Lachenaie, QC. The group acquired the colt for a bargain $23,000 at last fall’s Forest City Yearling Sale and have banked $195,097 on his behalf through 11 starts.
In addition to Saturday’s 2:02.4 triumph, Mill Work captured a Sept. 27 Gold Elimination at Mohawk Racetrack and the Aug. 11 and Aug. 27 Gold Finals at Windsor and Rideau Carleton Raceways.
Three races later another pair of Mr Lavec sons battled to a neck decision with Feeling Frazzled prevailing over reigning Gold Final champion Classic Lavec in 2:03.3.
Feeling Frazzled landed in fourth from Post 6 and was quickly sent up the outside by trainer-driver Raymond Kinney. The colt made steady progress and had a half length on the field turning for home. Classic Lavec and Paul MacDonell attempted to sprint by in the stretch, but Feeling Frazzled stayed game to capture his second win of the season.
Kinney trains the colt for William Roberts of Bad Axe, MI and opted to start the talented youngster in the Aug. 26 Grassroots event at Hiawatha Horse Park, where he scored an 11 length victory in 2:01.3. Two weeks later Feeling Frazzled finished fourth in an elimination of the Campbellville Stake at Mohawk Racetrack and then logged a runner-up result behind top freshman trotting colt Ken Warkentin in the $464,900 Final on Sept. 20.
In his Sept. 27 Gold Series debut at Mohawk, Feeling Frazzled finished second in his elimination and he was favoured in the Oct. 4 Gold Final won by Classic Lavec, but made an early miscue that took him out of contention.
Former Gold Elimination winner Stonebridge Diablo and pacesetter He Rocks also advanced to the Nov. 5 Gold Final out of the second elimination.