by Sandra Snyder

Campbellville, ON — Murmur Hanover bounced back from a disappointing performance in the last Ontario Sires Stakes Gold Series event with an impressive win in Gold elimination action at Mohawk Racetrack on Thursday evening (August 16).

Starting from post two with regular reinsman Mario Baillargeon in the race bike, Murmur Hanover powered out to a :13.4 opening eighth and was two lengths ahead of the field by the :28.4 quarter. Baillargeon opted to let Kinetic King take control heading by the :58.4 half, but was leading the outside lane by the 1:27.3 three-quarters.

Murmur Hanover took command for a second time around the final turn and cruised down the stretch to a 4-1/4 length victory in a personal best 1:57. Its Payday Friday and Filthy Paddy followed Murmur Hanover up the outside into second and third.

The win was the third in five Gold Series starts for Murmur Hanover, who swept his elimination and the final of the July Gold Series at Mohawk. The son of Majestic Son-Mrs Ronerail missed the last Gold final after making a break in his July 30 elimination over the Grand River Raceway half-mile.

Benoit Baillargeon conditions Murmur Hanover for R Berthiaume Inc., who offered up $70,000 for the colt at last fall’s Harrisburg Yearling Sale.

The second C$40,000 Gold elimination saw Majestized pick up his second trophy of the season. Jack Moiseyev and the colt, another of Majestic Son’s offspring, dogged the heels of Third Pat before reeling in the pacesetter in the stretch to score a 1-1/2 length victory. Ark Went In and fan favorite Gotta Secret came on from the back field to earn the second and third-place shares.

The 1:57.4 clocking was a new personal best for Majestized, who earned his first trophy in elimination action for the June 27 Gold Series season opener at Flamboro Downs. Linda Duncan conditions Majestized for Johnny Waite and Kimberley Waite.

The last elimination saw Flanagan Memory upset reigning Gold final champion Creampuff Macdaddy, who had to settle for third from the outside post 10. Flanagan Memory hit the wire in a personal best 1:57, 2-1/2 lengths ahead of Schoolhouse Rock.

Sylvain Filion piloted Flanagan Memory to the win for trainer Rene Dion and his partner Liette Flanagan. The Kadabra son was making just his second start in the Ontario Sires Stakes program, his other coming in the July 16 Gold eliminations at Mohawk.

The top three colts from each elimination, plus one fourth-place finisher selected by random draw, will return to Mohawk Racetrack on Thursday (August 23) for the fourth Gold final event of their season.