DUNDAS, OCT. 31, 2001 — The competition will be fierce at Flamboro Downs this Saturday, Nov. 3 when the tough and talented three-year-old pacing colts battle for top prize in their Ontario Sires Stakes Gold Series Final.

Gunning for a big slice of the OSS pie will be Tyler A, owned by Thomas Rankin, Elizabeth Rankin and Brian Rankin of St. Catherines and Glen Rankin of Ottawa. The Camluck colt will make a bid for his first Gold Final crown from Post 1.

“He has a great draw,” says Brian Rankin. “Everyone is going to try to leave fast so Post 1 is a great place to be.”

Rankin expects the toughest competition in Saturday’s contest will come from the middle of the eight-horse field.

“Ton of Diamonds is a nice horse in the three-hole and he is strong coming off a win in the Eliminations,” he says. “But Tyler A is nicely positioned on the rail and the strategy is definitely not getting parked behind traffic.”

Rankin was concerned about his colt’s chances coming into the Flamboro Downs event when Tyler A got sick after the Gold Series at Rideau Carleton Raceway on Sept. 27.

“The seven hour trucking up there was tough on him. He got sick and didn’t race well and I wasn’t sure how he’d be for this Series at Flamboro. I really credit Pat (Hunt) for getting him in top shape. Pat has done a great job and Tyler A came out of the Eliminations with a second-place,” says Rankin. “This Saturday is going to be really exciting. Tyler A is very talented. He fits in that top field.”

The colt currently ranks fifth on the Gold Series division leader board, qualifying him for a spot on the gate in the $250,000 Gold Super Final at Mohawk Racetrack, Nov. 10.

Rankin plans to have as many family members as possible at Flamboro this Saturday afternoon and at Mohawk on Nov. 10 to cheer Tyler A’s attempts at Gold Final and Super Final glory.

“The family is going to be there, my three boys included. The colt is named after my youngest son, Tyler Anthony, so he’s got to go,” says Rankin, whose family also owns Breeders Crown and OSS three-year-old trotting colt champion Liberty Balance. “We’re not going to miss the excitement.”

Flamboro Downs’ first race goes postward at 3 pm on Saturday with the three-year-old pacing colts featured in Race 9, wrapping up the Dundas oval’s 2001 Ontario Sires Stakes season.