CAMPBELLVILLE, ON — Last time the three-year-old pacing colts faced off at Mohawk Racetrack in Ontario Sires Stakes action, Mach Dreamer needed a 1:50.1 mile to win the Gold Final title, but when the talented pacers returned to the Campbellville oval on Friday night for a pair of $40,000 Gold Eliminations, fully half of the 12 colts participating hit the wire in 1:50.1 or faster.
The colts kicked off their high speed showcase in the second race and both Dalhousie Dave and Big Bay Point lit out quickly. Dalhousie Dave held top spot through the :12.4 opening eighth, but driver Jody Jamieson wisely chose to let Sylvain Filion and Big Bay Point take over before the :26.4 quarter. Big Bay Point continued to lead the field through the :54.3 half and the 1:22 three-quarters, but Dalhousie Dave leapt out of the pocket turning for home and sprinted away to a one length victory in 1:49.4.
Big Bay Point took home the runner-up’s share of the $40,000 Gold Elimination purse, while Stonebridge Tonic went from last to third with a snappy :27 final quarter. Fourth and fifth-place finishers Keystone Raptor and Red Bugler also advanced to next week’s final, while fan favourite Broadies Song missed the cut for the second straight time.
Moffat, ON resident Jamieson piloted Dalhousie Dave to the victory for trainer Tony O’Sullivan of Cambridge, ON and owners John and Jim Fielding of Toronto, ON. Unraced as a two-year-old, the homebred son of Astreos and My Precious Katie made his first Ontario Sires Stakes start in the Grassroots program at Rideau Carleton Raceway on June 20, where Jamieson drove the gelding to a 1:53.4 victory.
His Grassroots win was Dalhousie Dave’s fourth in four starts, and his next two appearances were also victories — in a leg and the final of the Summertime Series — so O’Sullivan let the talented youngster take a swing at the big boys in the Canadian Breeders Championship in mid-July. Dalhousie Dave proved he belonged at the elite level with thirds in his elimination and the final of the Canadian Breeders, and he replicated that finish in his July 31 Gold Elimination at Mohawk. In the Aug. 7 Gold Final, Dalhousie Dave finished second to Mach Dreamer.
Through 11 starts this season the gifted youngster has not missed the top three, posting seven wins, one second and three thirds for earnings of $158,614. Dalhousie Dave will attempt to score his eighth victory from Post 7 in next Friday’s $130,000 Gold Final.
The second Gold Elimination went postward as Race 3, and also got off to a quick start. Adrenaline earned the call at the :13.1 eighth, but Jamieson had Future Million in high gear and that colt had roared off to a two length margin by the :27.1 quarter. Future Million maintained a comfortable lead through the :55 half, with the other five colts strung out in a line behind him, and was still three lengths ahead when Windsong Gorgeous made the first move off the rail heading for the 1:21.4 three-quarters.
Defending Gold Final champion Mach Dreamer slipped out behind Windsong Gorgeous, with early trailer Twin B Warrior completing the outer tier. Turning for home Future Million and Jamieson still seemed to have things in hand, but when Rick Zeron aimed Mach Dreamer at open racetrack the defending champion simply gobbled up ground, reaching the wire two and one-quarter lengths on top in a personal best 1:49.1. The clocking was just one-fifth of a second off the all-time Ontario Sires Stakes speed record set by Fast Pay last summer at Mohawk.
Future Million was easily second, while Twin B Warrior did his own sprint from last to third. Windsong Gorgeous finished fourth and Adrenaline advanced to the Gold Final from fifth.
Friday’s victory marked the third straight appearance in the Mohawk winner’s circle for Oakville, ON resident Zeron and Mach Dreamer. The pair also swept their elimination and the final of the last Gold Series. Murray Brethour of Sunderland, ON conditions Mach Dreamer for owner-breeder Stephen Scarff of Halifax, NS, and has sent the son of Mach Three behind the gate 14 times this season resulting in five wins, three seconds, one third and earnings of $203,327.
Mach Dreamer will be handicapped by the outside Post 10 in his effort to defend his Gold Final crown next weekend. The complete field for the Friday, Sept. 3 Gold Final is as follows:
$130,000 Gold Series Final � Friday, Sept.3 at Mohawk Racetrack
Post 1 Big Bay Point
Post 2 Future Million
Post 3 Stonebridge Tonic
Post 4 Adrenaline
Post 5 Twin B Warrior
Post 6 Keystone Raptor
Post 7 Dalhousie Dave
Post 8 Red Bugler
Post 9 Windsong Gorgeous
Post 10 Mach Dreamer
For complete results please go to: Mohawk Racetrack Results — August 27, 2010