by Sandra Snyder

Campbellville, ON — Mohawk Racetrack fans may have given the edge to his fellow Ontario Sires Stakes Gold elimination winner Kinetic King, but Monday’s (July 23) Gold final story was written by Murmur Hanover.

Starting from post two, driver Mario Baillargeon sent Murmur Hanover after the early lead and the 2-year-old trotting colt out muscled Toocool Forschool to the :13.3 opening eighth. At the :28.2 quarter Murmur Hanover was a comfortable two length leader and that margin was never threatened as the colt sailed along to a :58 half.

As the colts trotted by the 1:27.3 three-quarters, Roger Mayotte tipped Kinetic King out of the pocket and the colt made a costly break that interfered with several colts in his wake. Michael Vanderkemp and Anthony MacDonald were able to keep Secret Ingredient and Sparky Gypsy on stride and went around Kinetic King to earn second and third, but were well behind Murmur Hanover, who cruised across the wire 3-1/2 lengths on top in 1:57.1.

Kinetic King crossed the wire in fourth but was placed back to seventh, behind elimination winner Filthy Paddy, who was forced off stride in the chaos. Filthy Paddy was then advanced up to fifth due to a late break by elimination winner Ark Went In, who was awarded sixth spot in the final accounting.

Mario Baillargeon crafted Murmur Hanover’s flawless trip for his brother, trainer Benoit Baillargeon, and owner R. Berthiaume Inc. The win was the second straight for the impeccably bred son of Majestic Son and Mrs Ronerail, a full sister to $705,820 winner Dr Ronerail.

Berthiaume acquired Murmur Hanover from last fall’s Harrisburg Yearling Sale for $70,000 and Baillargeon sent him out to qualify for the first time at Mohawk on June 22. Murmur Hanover demolished the qualifier competition with a 12 length victory in 2:00, but was not as successful in the Gold Series season opener at Flamboro Downs where he made a couple of miscues in his elimination.

The veteran conditioner requalified the colt at Mohawk on July 6 and driver Mario Baillargeon engineered a flawless runner-up mile in 2:01.3. The colt was also in perfect form in last week’s Gold elimination, delivering a 4-3/4 length, gate-to-wire effort that stopped the Mohawk teletimer at 1:58.

Murmur Hanover will have an opportunity to pick up a second Gold elimination trophy when the 2-year-old trotting colts make their third Gold Series appearance at Grand River Raceway on July 30.

Gold Series action continues at Mohawk Racetrack this Saturday (July 28) with eliminations for the exciting 3-year-old pacing colts, who recently impressed Campbellville area fans in last weekend’s Canadian Breeders Championship.