ELORA, ON — A beautiful August afternoon and a field of talented two-year-old trotting colts resulted in another track record at Grand River Raceway on Monday as Majestic Son annihilated the 2:03.1 mark set by competitor Pass And Strike in last week’s Gold Series Eliminations.

Paul MacDonell picked up the lines behind Majestic Son for the first time on Monday and the veteran reinsman allowed the colt to float off the gate from Post 5, landing fifth on the rail as Pass And Strike sprinted to a :29.4 opening quarter. As the leader eased the red hot pace through a 1:01 half, MacDonell sent Majestic Son to the outside behind Lord Valentine. But when Lord Valentine could not keep up the torrid pace en route to the 1:31 three-quarters, MacDonell was forced three-wide and toured the last turn on the outside of Pass And Strike, who was beginning to show signs of weakening.

As the colts turned for home Majestic Son was one half length behind Pass And Strike, but the Angus Hall son easily overpowered the tired leader and cruised home to a one and one half length win in an impressive 2:01.1, a full two seconds faster than the mark set by his peer on July 22.

Second in last week’s track record setting mile, Mr Lemon found himself on familiar ground as he shadowed Majestic Son around the half-mile oval to earn the second-place finisher’s share of the $130,000 Gold Final purse. Indiana Hall saved ground on the rail to finish third. Pass And Strike faded to sixth.

Mark Steacy trains Majestic Son for David Reid of Glenburnie, David McDonald of Cornwall, A K Malik Stable of Ottawa and Malcolm Man Son Hing of Nepean. The partners acquired the colt at last fall’s Forest City Yearling Sale for $33,000 and have banked $83,819 on his behalf through three starts.

After qualifying in 2:04.4 at Hippodrome de Montreal on June 22, Majestic Son made a miscue in the July 5 Gold Series season opener at Georgian Downs. Steacy took him back to Montreal for a second qualifier on July 13, which saw him tour the seven-eighths mile surface in 2:03.1, and then sent him to Grand River for the July 22 Gold Eliminations.

Majestic Son delivered an impressive six length victory in the elimination round, sprinting through a :29 last quarter to stop the teletimer at 2:04.

Grand River fans were impressed with the colt’s Gold Elimination triumph and sent him off as their top choice on Monday. Majestic Son and MacDonell repaid their confidence with a $5.00 win pay out, a $4.00 return on a place wager and a $3.40 dividend on each show ticket. Fifth choice Mr Lemon returned $7.40 to place and $4.00 to show and fourth choice Indiana Hall paid $5.10 to show. The Majestic Son – Mr Lemon exactor returned $42.00 and adding Indiana Hall to the mix for a triactor play earned fans $290.80.

Majestic Son and his peers will face off for the third time on Aug. 21 at Rideau Carleton Raceway, while their Grassroots peers travel to Grand River Raceway on Monday, Aug. 15 for their fourth event of the season.

Fans at the Elora oval were also treated to an impressive performance by Gold Series regular Button Up in the $300,000 Battle Of Waterloo Final. The Northern Luck son and driver Michael Horner outclassed the field of two-year-old pacing colts, hitting the wire seven lengths on top in 1:56.2. Trainer Mark Horner of St. Marys and Steve Calhoun of Chatham own the talented young pacer, who will make his next Ontario Sires Stakes appearance on Aug. 13 at Flamboro Downs.

For complete results please go to:

http://www.standardbredcanada.ca/results/data/rgrvrmo.html#N7