CAMPBELLVILLE, ON — Three-year-old trotting colt Coventry emerged from the shadows at Mohawk Racetrack on Saturday evening to capture the third Gold Series Elimination of his career in impressive style.

In rein to owner and trainer Doug Ackerman, the Mr Lavec son eased out of Post 2 and employed classic come-from-behind tactics to post the 1:58.2 victory, hitting the wire two lengths up on favourite Erics Image and four ahead of third-place finisher Armbro Balance.

“It couldn’t have been better,” said Ackerman after the race. “We just kind of flattened off out of the gate, and the speed was going on the front-end, so we just followed up with cover. It took us a very good way into the lane, and he just spun us home from there.”

A two-time Gold Elimination winner at two, Coventry boosted his lifetime earnings to $151,427 for Doug and Ada Jean Ackerman of Warren, MI.

The second elimination saw trotting specialist Trevor Ritchie score the first of two OSS victories. The Acton resident piloted Kings Ransom to an effortless three length, 1:59.1 victory for trainer Susanne Kerwood of Campbellville and owner Ed Radin of Kitchener.

“I liked him,” said Ritchie, who was making his first appearance behind the lightly raced King Conch son. “He’s a big colt, good-gaited and felt kind of lazy actually, but when I asked him to go he was more than willing.

“Susie (Kerwood) was a little concerned that he may be a little short because he had been off for a little while and she hadn’t been able to get as much work into him as she would have liked. She asked me to stay on a helmet as long as I could, but other than that she said that I’d likely like him, and she was right.”

In spite of his relative inexperience, Kings Ransom is no stranger to Mohawk’s winner’s circle. The gelding captured his April 6 debut and a delivered a 1:59.1 victory in a leg of the Tie Silk Series on April 12 before making a break in the April 26 Final. Saturday’s effort saw him get the best of favourite Grand Sovereign, who recovered from an early break to earn the runner-up’s share of the $35,056 purse, and pacesetter Royal Kent.

Ritchie’s second victory came aboard the only favourite to deliver the goods in the three Gold Eliminations. Witness Perfection crafted a flawless effort to post a very impressive 1:56.4 victory in his first start on Canadian soil.

Racing at The Meadowlands in New Jersey, the San Pellegrino son had only cracked the top three once in six starts prior to Saturday’s contest, but he appeared completely in control as he cruised to the one and a half length win over Flight Dream and Trudel.

Jim Raymer trains the San Pellegrino son for owner and breeder Cedar Post Management LLC of Pemberton, NJ.

The top three colts from each elimination plus one of the fourth-place finishers — Wake Up And Drive, Eatonmeadow Clyde or Onondaga Kid — will return to the Campbellville oval on Sunday, May 23 for the first $130,000 Gold Final on their schedule this season.