CAMPBELLVILLE, ON — Flirtin Man may have half as much experience as his main rivals in Sunday’s $130,000 Gold Final at Mohawk Racetrack, but the three-year-old trotting colt can already match most of them in wins.
Started just once as a two-year-old, Flirtin Man has made four starts this season and scored four straight victories, including an impressive 1:55.3 effort in last weekend’s Gold Elimination. The Angus Hall son will make his bid for a fifth win from Post 8 on Sunday, and while trainer Mike Vanderkemp would rather see the gifted youngster a little closer to the rail, he is still confident in Flirtin Man’s abilities.
“I would like to draw closer, but he’s run them down from 10 lengths back in his last two starts,” says the Puslinch resident. “So I’m a touch concerned, but not too much. As long as nobody gets in his way, he should be okay.”
In last week’s elimination Flirtin Man and driver Paul MacDonell of Guelph suffered interference just before the three-quarter pole when Good Knight went off stride in front of them. The pair laid down a brisk :27.4 final quarter to overcome the 10 length deficit and claim the neck victory over pacesetter Tymal Cherub. The colt was also bounced around at the quarter-mile marker in his second start of the season, on April 22 at The Meadowlands.
“He’s still a little green around other horses, but he’s getting better every start,” notes Vanderkemp, who trains the colt for breeders Brittany Farms of Versailles, KY, Juniper II LLC of River Vale, NJ and Let It Ride Stables Inc. of Delray Beach, FL.
The flawlessly bred youngster — two of his siblings have earned more than $500,000 — has an action-packed calendar of stakes engagements this summer if he continues to impress his connections.
“He’s staked pretty good,” says Vanderkemp, who took over training duties from Gary Napierala when Flirtin Man shipped into Ontario from his New Jersey base. “He’s eligible to the Hambletonian and he goes to the Goodtimes after this.”
A win in Sunday’s Gold Final would position Flirtin Man as a favourite heading into the June 9 Goodtimes Eliminations at Mohawk, but to get there he will have to overcome the other three elimination winners.
Chelemark Porter and Milton resident Steve Condren will be looking for their second straight victory from Post 1, while Think Gold looks for his fourth straight from Post 4 with leading driver Jody Jamieson of Cambridge at the helm. Jamieson also qualified Guilford for the Final, but Acton resident Trevor Ritchie will pick up the lines on the Angus Hall son on Sunday.
Post time for Mohawk Racetrack’s Sunday program is 7:20 pm, and the three-year-old trotting colts will light up the Campbellville skies for a second straight week in Race 5.
For complete entries please go to:
http://www.standardbredcanada.ca/entries/data/emohssu.html#N5