by Kyle Fitzgerald, for Colonial Downs

New Kent, VA — An extra quarter-mile and a second turn were not enough to separate Tom Bruce and Corporate Strike, who dead heated after 1-1/4 miles in 2:27.2 in the $8,450 Colonial Downs Trot late closing series final on Monday night (October 1) at Colonial Downs.

Tom Bruce and Corporate Strike took strikingly different paths to the Colonial Downs Trot final and equally divergent paths in the rare race around the full 1-1/4 mile Colonial Downs oval on Monday. Tom Bruce employed front-stepping tactics to garner a second in the opening leg and a win in the second leg of the series while Corporate Strike was a complete non-factor in the first two legs after breaking stride before the start in each of the legs.

On Monday, Tom Bruce displayed his customary early speed to shoot to the front as soon as the gates opened while Corporate Strike was content to rate well off the pace in seventh during the early stages.

Tom Bruce hit the first turn with a clear lead over Belle Of The Ball, but driver Wilbur Yoder patiently let Rompaway Yum Yum rush to the lead on the turn. Rompaway Yum Yum cut the opening quarter in :28.1 with Tom Bruce maintaining his rail position in second. Corporate Strike was able to save ground around the turn for driver Jim Marohn, Jr.

Rompaway Yum Yum maintained his lead as the field followed single file down the long Colonial backstretch. Rompaway Yum Yum got to the half in :58.1 and crossed the three-quarter fraction in 1:27.4 as the field hit the second turn.

Yoder and Marohn were content with their positions around the turn as Rompaway Yum Yum continued to control the pace. Belle Of The Ball made a first-over move on the turn for driver Dean Collins and Henrytheeighthiam followed from fourth.

Belle Of The Ball was nearly on even terms with Tom Bruce, 1-1/2 lengths behind Rompaway Yum Yum at the top of the lane.

Marohn swung Corporate Strike to the outside to launch his move against the tiring leader in the upper stretch. Rompaway Yum Yum began to tire at the three-sixteenths pole but Belle Of The Ball could not go by, leaving Tom Bruce trapped behind a wall of horses while racing along the rail.

Rompaway Yum Yum was still in front at the eighth pole but Corporate Strike blew right by and looked home free. Belle Of The Ball retreated, giving Tom Bruce a clear lane to finally launch his rally in deep stretch. Corporate Strike was a length clear inside the sixteenth pole but Tom Bruce quickly accelerated once clear and was gaining with every stride.

Corporate Strike finished strongly in the middle of the track but Tom Bruce was even faster in the final strides to draw on even terms at the wire in a finish that proved too close to call, triggering the first dead heat of the 2007 Colonial Downs harness meet. Idadazzle rallied to get third, a half-length behind the winners.

The Colonial Downs Trot final was Tom Bruce’s third win of the year for owner Katherine Ann Smith and trainer Roland Dunavant, Jr. The 9-year-old Overcomer gelding has now won two straight at the New Kent oval. Corporate Strike improved his record to five wins from 28 starts on the year. Dino Milucci trains the 4-year-old Striking Sahbra gelding for owners David Fili, Jr. and Diane L. McSwain.