FRASERVILLE, ON — Two-year-old trotting colt Senator Hall delivered a convincing eight length victory in the fastest of three Gold Eliminations at Kawartha Downs on Tuesday evening.

With Douglas R. Ackerman in the race bike, the Angus Hall son powered away from Post 4 to a :29.3 opening quarter, gaping the field of nine freshman trotting colts by a full two lengths. Fan favourite Winning Mister stepped to the outside heading for the 1:01.1 half, but Senator Hall would not yield to the challenger, stepping to a sharp 1:28.3 three-quarters.

The colts fought on through the final turn until Winning Mister finally caved in to the pressure, making a break and fading back toward the rest of the field. Without a challenger in site, Ackerman put his feet up and enjoyed the ride under the wire, stopping the clock in 1:59. Winning Mister wound up eight lengths to the rear in second, with Mapleson another length back in third.

Bred and owned by trainer Douglas J. Ackerman and Ada Jean Ackerman of Warren, MI, Senator Hall qualified three times at Hazel Park before shipping across the border for Tuesday’s test. A 2:03.4 winner in his June 9 outing, Senator Hall made a break in his second qualifying attempt, but was back in top form on June 23 when he rolled to an eight length victory in 2:02.4.

The impeccably bred youngster is out of the Ackerman’s mare Lady Leesun, who has produced four foals with earnings greater than $100,000, the most successful being former Gold Elimination winner Coventry, who banked $641,049 in his career.

The margins of victory in all three Gold Eliminations were convincing, and all three winners used front end tactics to secure their spot in the July 22 Gold Final.

In the first $40,000 elimination, Mopey Corey was outhustled off the gate by Matador Bo, but moved to gain control of the race before the :31.1 quarter. The colt’s four length lead at the 1:02.3 half was cut to one length by the 1:31.4 three-quarters as Panz Kafka fought his way up the outside, but a :28.4 final fraction was more than enough to send Mopey Corey to the winner’s enclosure.

Matador Bo used the pocket trip to secure second spot in the 2:00.3 mile, while fan favourite Panz Kafka settled for third.

Anthony MacDonald of Guelph owns and drives Mopey Corey, entrusting the colt’s day-to-day care to his younger brother James MacDonald. The siblings prepped the Southwind Lustre colt for his Gold Series debut with a pair of qualifiers at Mohawk Racetrack, both over off tracks, a 2:04.3 win on June 14 and a fourth-place effort off an early break on June 28.

In spite of being handicapped by the outside Post 8, trainer Dewayne Minor sent Magic Carpet Ride straight to the front in the second elimination and there was never any doubt that the Angus Hall son belonged there as he cruised to a 1:59.4 victory. Rosesbowls MVP finished three lengths behind the winner in second, nudging favourite Dugan Creek into third.

A $90,000 yearling purchase at last fall’s Lexington Selected Sale, Magic Carpet Ride is out of 100 per cent producer Meadowbranch Magic. The half-brother to $547,353 winner Make It Happen qualified twice at The Meadowlands before trying his hand in the Harriman Cup at the New Jersey oval on June 26. An early break kept the colt from making an impact in the Harriman, but he followed the error up with a solid third-place showing in a division of the W.N. Reynolds Memorial at Pocono Downs on July 5. In three starts Magic Carpet Ride has recouped $22,400 for owners Cowboyland Aalborg of Highland Park, MI.

The top three finishers from each Gold Elimination will return to Kawartha Downs on Tuesday, July 22 for the first $120,000 Gold Final of their careers.

For complete results please go to: http://www.standardbredcanada.ca/results/data/rkdftu.html