TORONTO, ON — Two and a half months after capturing his first Gold Elimination victory, freshman trotting colt Zorgwijk Kingpin finally landed a Gold Final title with a 1:56.1 performance on Friday evening at Woodbine Racetrack.

The Southwind Lustre son and driver Trevor Ritchie started from Post 6 and found themselves sitting on the outside in fourth position when Text Me reached the opening quarter in a snappy :27.3. Ja El Express stepped out to provide Zorgwijk Kingpin some cover heading for the :58 half, and the position of the top four colts remained unchanged as they swept by the three-quarters in 1:27.1 — Text Me led, with Pointe To Pointe tucked in behind him on the rail, and Ja El Express was first up on the outside, with Zorgwijk Kingpin hot on his heels.

Around the final turn Pointe To Pointe began to fade, but the other three colts maintained their position. Each driver shifted his mount into high gear for the stretch drive and it was fan favourites Ritchie and Zorgwijk Kingpin who delivered the sharpest finishing kick to reach the wire three-quarters of a length ahead of their peers in 1:56.1.

Pacesetter Text Me stayed game for second, while Keystone Swagger circled around a fatigued Ja El Express to earn the third-place share of the $130,000 purse.

Ingersoll resident Ron MacLean trains Zorgwijk Kingpin for his partners Murray Neilson, Scot Wood and Joseph Serratore of London. Friday’s Gold Final trophy was the first one hoisted by any of the partners, who have been savouring every moment of Zorgwijk Kingpin’s success this season.

Through nine starts the striking chestnut gelding has secured one Gold Final trophy, three Gold Elimination trophies, three second-place finishes, one third, and one fourth for earnings of $208,716. He heads into the Nov. 14 Super Final sitting atop the division standings with a total of 245 points, 21 points ahead of runner-up Text Me.

The top 10 point earners will return to Woodbine Racetrack on Saturday, Nov. 14 for their lucrative $300,000 Super Final. The Toronto oval will play host to Super Finals for all eight Ontario Sires Stakes divisions, going postward at 7:30 pm for a total of $2.4 million.

For complete results please go to: http://www.standardbredcanada.ca/racing/results/data/r1106wdbsn.dat.