by Sandra Snyder, for the Ontario Sires Stakes

Campbellville, ON — Trainer Rousell MacKenzie is casting Friday’s 2-year-old trotting colt Gold Final at Mohawk Racetrack as a case of brains versus brawn.

MacKenzie will harness elimination winner B Strike Three from post one in the C$130,000 final and the Elora resident says what the Striking Sahbra son lacks in stature, he more than makes up for in brains.

“He’s a very, very intelligent horse,” emphasizes MacKenzie, who trains the diminutive colt for breeder Ben Robards III of Shepherdsville, Ky. “He’s good around the barn and good on the track.”

Started by MacKenzie’s long time friend Bret Shultz in Indiana, B Strike Three shipped into Ontario for the July 4 Flamboro Breeders Stakes and impressed his new trainer with a 6-1/4 length victory in 2:01. Next up on the young trotter’s schedule was a Gold Elimination at Grand River Raceway on July 16, where B Strike Three made a couple of miscues that MacKenzie attributes to a tooth ache.

“He just had a couple of impacted caps. He threw his head in the air and made a break,” explains the horseman. “He had a sore mouth, but we’ve got that under control now.”

MacKenzie adds that failing to make the final may have been a blessing in disguise for B Strike Three, because the colt came down with a virus shortly after the elimination. If the colt had raced it could have further compromised his immune system and made it tougher for him to bounce back from the illness. Instead, with almost three weeks between the July 16 race and last Thursday’s elimination, B Strike Three was able to step up and deliver an effortless four length victory, leading from gate-to-wire in the 1:58.4 mile.

“He was just getting over it last week, so maybe he’ll be better this week,” speculates MacKenzie.

“He’s a nice colt, he really is. He stays about his business, has a good work ethic, is good gaited and is a fast horse,” adds the trainer. “It’s my good fortune to train him.”

Rick Zeron piloted B Strike Three in last week’s elimination round and will return to the race bike on Friday. MacKenzie and Shultz selected the reinsman for his experience and ability with young trotters and so far the pair has been happy with the results.

“Rick Zeron is a tremendous driver,” asserts MacKenzie. “He can drive a trotter as well as anybody in the world.”

Among the colts Zeron and B Strike Three face in Friday’s seventh race are elimination winners Pizzazzed and Andiron Springs from posts two and 10. The runner-ups from the season opening Gold Final, Mr Mission and Sergeant York, will start from posts six and eight.

Post time for Mohawk Racetrack’s Friday evening program is 7:20 p.m.

Entries — Mohawk Racetrack Gold Final
Race 7 — C$130,000
Post – Horse (Sire) – Driver – Trainer
1 – B Strike Three (Striking Sahbra) – R. Zeron – R. MacKenzie
2 – Pizzazzed (Kadabra) – R. Hammer – R. Hammer
3 – O U Gus (Angus Hall) – W. O’Donnell – J. Duford
4 – Ja El Pronto (Shipps Speed) – Br. Richardson – Br. Richardson
5 – Borga Avin (Angus Hall) – J. Takter – J. Takter
6 – Mr Mission (Mr Lavec) – J. Jamieson – C. Jamieson
7 – Red Star Conman (Angus Hall) – Pa. Hudon – Pa. Hudon
8 – Sergeant York (Duke Of York) – K. Oliver – L. Walker
9 – Hot And Coldplay (Angus Hall) – L. Ouellette – C. Beaver
10 – Andiron Springs (Striking Sahbra) – T. Ritchie – T. Artandi
AE1 – Keystone Titan (Mr Lavec) – Da. Wall – J. Kopas
AE2 – Abe Linkin (Incredible Abe) – Da. Wall – Dr. J. Gough