GLOUCESTER, ON — Rideau Carleton Raceway’s handicappers have installed Majestic Son as a prohibitive early favourite in the second of two $49,000 Gold Eliminations on Sunday, and trainer Mark Steacy fervently hopes the three-year-old trotting colt will prove them right.

“In all the years we have been racing Ontario Sires Stakes colts I don’t think I’ve ever won one there,” says the Lansdowne resident. “Rideau Carleton has just been my bad track. It’s my closest track, but it’s been my worst track for luck. Hopefully that all ends this weekend.”

Majestic Son’s credentials lend credence to both the handicappers predictions and Steacy’s hopes for an end to his OSS drought. The Angus Hall son heads to Rideau Carleton off an impressive 1:53.2 victory in the June 17 Goodtimes Final at Woodbine Racetrack, where he carved all the fractions and cruised across the wire three and one-quarter lengths ahead of the field. He was also a winner at Woodbine on June 3, powering through the mud to a seven and a half length win in 1:57.3.

However, the colt’s early season has not been without its hiccups. He finished fourth in his first Gold Elimination, failing to make the final, and was placed from first to third in the Goodtimes Elimination after making a late break.

“Trevor (Ritchie) drove him in the first race, it was his first time up on him, and I maybe talked to Trevor too much before the race. He was very cautious with him and got back a little too far,” recalls Steacy. “He raced super the next week, just jogged in the mud, and then he just had a couple small issues he had to overcome in the Goodtimes Elimination.

“Trevor tried to keep him together, but he just didn’t make it to the wire,” Steacy adds. “We corrected a few small things and he was good for the Final of the Goodtimes.”

Trotting specialist Trevor Ritchie will make the trip to Rideau Carleton on Sunday to pilot Majestic Son from Post 1 in the seventh race. The pair face a field of Gold Series veterans that includes reigning Gold Final winner Mr Lemon.

“I think my horse is a little special, but the other horses are no slouches either,” says Steacy, who trains Majestic Son for Dr. Malcolm Man Son Hing of Nepean, A K Malik Stable of Ottawa, David McDonald of Cornwall and David Reid of Glenburnie. “There are lots of nice trotters in there, it’s no walk in the park by any means.”

While Majestic Son’s impressive victory in the Goodtimes Final elevated him to favoured status among Ottawa horse players, the colt was already a star in and around Steacy’s Lansdowne home.

“We get visitors and phone calls,” says Steacy. “There are a couple of older gentlemen who used to be in horses and still keep up with things. One of them is in the hospital, but he still seems to find out what’s going on and he’ll phone the next day. Visitors, local people, will stop in just to see him and know how he’s doing.

“This horse is different. He has such a high speed, he is a fun horse to watch, even for other horsemen,” adds the trainer. “I’m very lucky to have a horse like this.”

Ottawa and area fans will be treated to Majestic Son’s speed in Race 7 on Sunday, with the other Gold Elimination going postward in Race 4. The top four finishers from each elimination, plus one fifth-place finisher drawn by lot, will return to Rideau Carleton Raceway on Sunday, July 2 for their $130,000 Gold Final.

For complete entries please go to:

http://www.standardbredcanada.ca/entries/data/eridcfsu.html.