by Sandra Snyder, for the Ontario Sires Stakes

Campbellville, ON — Heading into Sunday’s (July 22) C$130,000 Gold Final at Mohawk Racetrack, trainer Louie Eftimiadis is hopeful that 2-year-old pacing colt Believeinbruiser has finally fought off the virus that has plagued him for the last four weeks.

“He’s acting better this week, more like himself. He’s a lot brighter and more alert,” says Eftimiadis. “We might have battled and actually clobbered the mucous.”

Believeinbruiser emerged onto the freshman pacing scene with a commanding 12 length win in a June 8 qualifier at Mohawk Racetrack, but then came up flat in his first start at the Campbellville oval on June 25. Eftimiadis had the son of Western Maverick and Believeinyourdream scoped following the race and the young pacer came up a four out of five on the mucous scale.

After a course of antibiotics and a two-week break, Eftimiadis tested Believeinbruiser for a second time in a July 8 2-year-old event at Georgian Downs and was still unsatisfied with the results. With an eye on the Gold Series season opener last Sunday, the Newmarket resident engaged in a more aggressive treatment and opted not to train the colt. His pre-race advice to driver Mike Saftic was to try and make the final in the least stressful way possible.

“Basically I asked him to give the colt a nice trip,” recalls Eftimiadis, who trains Believeinbruiser for breeder Gerald Mijal of Westland, Mich. “I said, if we can get into the top three that would be the first obstacle, and we would worry about the final the next week.”

Saftic eased the colt off the gate, slipped to the outside heading for the half and then turned the colt loose heading for home. Believeinbruiser responded with a :26.3 last quarter that propelled him to a 1:55.1 victory, half a length in front of Woodmere Astroid.

“The most encouraging thing about last week’s race was that he came home in :26.3, pretty well without cover for the last quarter,” notes Eftimiadis. “So if there is mucous in there, my god, what can he do?”

Believeinbruiser was one of two colts Saftic landed in Sunday’s Final, and the Campbellville resident chose to drive John Pentland trainee Fun Of The Game, so Eftimiadis and Mijal will be looking to Luc Ouellette for another come from behind trip from post eight in Mohawk’s eighth race.

“If Bruiser is healthy and ready I don’t think post will make a difference, because I don’t think we want to be near the front portion,” speculates Eftimiadis. “If we can get the same kind of trip, and if he can come home in :26.3, I don’t think we’ll have any problems.

“It’s going to be an interesting race.”

The other elimination winners, Fun Of The Game and Deuce Seelster, will start from posts four and 10, respectively, and Eftimiadis believes Woodmere Astroid bears watching from the advantageous post one.

Post time at Mohawk Racetrack on Sunday is 7:20 p.m., with the 2-year-old pacing colts ready to shine in race eight.

Mohawk Racetrack Gold Final
Race 8 – C$130,000
Post – Horse – Sire – Driver – Trainer
1 – Woodmere Astroid (Astreos) – C. Christoforou, Jr. – R. Fellows
2 – Keystone Horatio (Rustler Hanover) – Ra. Waples – J. Kopas
3 – Romantic Thriller (Mach Three) – S. Condren – S. Kerwood
4 – Fun Of The Game (Grinfromeartoear) – M. Saftic – J. Pentland
5 – Macnamarra (Camluck) – R. Mayotte – E. Adams
6 – Samurai Seelster (Camluck) – J. Jamieson – C. Jamieson
7 – Great Intentions (No Pan Intended) – M. Baillargeon – M. Etsell
8 – Believeinbruiser (Mach Three) – M. Saftic – L. Eftimiadis
9 – Doctor J Holiday (Apaches Fame) – J. Hudon, Jr. – J. Hudon, Jr.
10 – Deuce Seelster (Western Maverick) – P. MacDonell – D. McCall
AE1 – Keep In Control (Grinfromeartoear) – J. Jamieson – C. Jamieson
AE2 – Allamerican Tiki (Grinfromeartoear) – J. Jamieson – C. Jamieson