CAMPBELLVILLE, ON — Two-year-old trotting colt Windsong Espoir made his first appearance in the Ontario Sires Stakes program on Sunday evening at Mohawk Racetrack, cruising to an effortless four and three-quarter length Gold Elimination victory.

Hit The Mark was credited with the :28 opening quarter, but was quickly displaced by Windsong Espoir, who cruised to a :58 half and 1:27.4 three-quarters before accelerating down the stretch to the 1:56.2 victory. Reigning Gold Final winner Pizzazzed finished second and another first time Gold starter, Shoeless White Sox, was six lengths back in third. Nesta and Andiron Springs rounded out the money earners from the first elimination.

Milton resident Steve Condren piloted Windsong Espoir to his fifth straight victory in six starts for trainer Brad Maxwell of Cambridge, Peter Heffering of Port Perry, Jerry Vanboekel of Bright, breeder William Loyens of London and Hope Stable of Port Perry. The son of Kadabra and $149,923 winner Diamond Image finished third in his racing debut — an Aug. 16 leg of the Bridger Stakes at Mohawk Racetrack — and since then has collected wins in the Bridger Final, the Champlain Stakes and his elimination and the final of the William Wellwood Memorial.

The colt will put his win streak on the line from Post 7 in next Sunday’s $130,000 Gold Final.

In the second elimination Sergeant York picked up his first Gold Series win in an identical 1:56.2 clocking. The Duke Of York son and driver Keith Oliver sat in the pocket and watched Red Star Conman reach the quarter in :28 before handing the lead off to favourite B Strike Three, who sprinted to a :56.4 half and a 1:26.2 three-quarters.

Turning for home B Strike Three was one and three-quarter lengths on top, but the former Gold Final winner did not have enough gas left to hold off Sergeant York in the stretch. At the wire Sergeant York was awarded the victory by a nose, with B Strike Three settling for second and Keystone Titan landing in third. O U Gus was fourth and Define The World finished fifth.

Larry Walker of Morriston trains Sergeant York for breeder Tony Holmes and his partner Walter Zent of Lexington, KY. The win was the third of the season for the colt, who captured his elimination and the final of Hanover Raceway’s Balanced Image Trot earlier this month and a Flamboro Breeders Stake division in his July 4 racing debut.

A half-brother to $217,683 winner Southern Senorita, Sergeant York will be handicapped in his bid for a fourth lifetime victory next weekend, having drawn the outside Post 10 for the Gold Final.

The top five finishers from each elimination will return to Mohawk Racetrack next Sunday, Sept. 30 for their second last freshman Gold Final, lining up behind the starting gate as follows:

Post 1 Andiron Springs

Post 2 B Strike Three

Post 3 O U Gus

Post 4 Keystone Titan

Post 5 Nesta

Post 6 Pizzazzed

Post 7 Windsong Espoir

Post 8 Shoeless White Sox

Post 9 Define The World

Post 10 Sergeant York

Also Eligible 1 Northern Zephyr

Also Eligible 2 Red Star Conman

Also Eligible 3 Strong Hall

For complete results please go to:

http://www.standardbredcanada.ca/results/data/rmohssu.html