by Sandra Snyder

Campbellville, ON — When young trotters step in behind the starting gate things can get a little unpredictable, and Mohawk Racetrack fans had no luck predicting the winners of Monday’s (July 16) 2-year-old trotting colt Ontario Sires Stakes Gold eliminations.

None of the favorites were able to find their way to the winner’s circle, reigning Gold final champion Musclescorleone made a break and finished well out of the action, none of the elimination winners from the June 27 season opener at Flamboro Downs were able to repeat, and next week’s Gold final could feature an entirely different cast of characters than the July 4 final.

Filthy Paddy set the tone for the evening in the very first race; sent off as the longest shot in the eight horse field the colt advanced up the outside from seventh to grab the lead around the final turn and then dug in for a three-quarter length victory in 2:00. Toocool Forschool finished second and Schoolhouse Rock was third.

Jody Jamieson engineered Filthy Paddy’s impressive victory for trainer Robert Mackenzie, Jr. and his partner Kathleen Donnelly. A second generation product of Mackenzie’s breeding program, Filthy Paddy is a son of Striking Sahbra and Ai Suma.

Filthy Paddy started his Ontario Sires Stakes career in the Grassroots season opener at Clinton Raceway on July 8, finishing fifth after making an early miscue. Prior to Monday’s effort his personal best was a 2:05.4 win in qualifying action at Grand River Raceway on July 2.

Like Filthy Paddy, Ark Went In started his career at the Grassroots level and came back to finish second in his division after an early break. In rein to Randy Waples for Monday’s Gold elimination, the Ken Warkentin-Katarita son was flawless, taking command of the race at the halfway marker and battling to a neck victory in 1:58.4. Fan favorite Secret Ingredient had to settle for second, with former Gold elimination winner Mario Oneeighthree 7-1/2 lengths back in third.

Bjorn “Bernie” Noren conditions Ark Went In for Courant AB and qualified the colt twice at Mohawk prior to the July 8 Grassroots event. The colt, a $13,000 purchase at last year’s Harrisburg yearling sale, made an error in his June 22 qualifier, but was an impressive 7-1/2 length winner in 2:02.3 on June 29.

Fans ranked Kinetic King third behind Flanagan Memory and reigning Gold final champ Musclescorleone, but the gelding will not be so lightly regarded next week. Starting from post eight, driver Roger Mayotte allowed Kinetic King to ease away from the starting gate into the eighth spot and then made an impressive three-wide move at the halfway marker to take control.

Kinetic King opened up an eight length lead on the field before Mayotte took his foot off the gas and allowed the gelding to coast home to a 3-1/4 length victory in 1:59.1. Any Given Monday, another of Noren’s starters, finished second and early pacesetter Pedroia finished third.

A second generation product of owner-trainer Ted Nadhazi’s breeding program, Kinetic King is by Ken Warkentin and out of Nadhazi’s good Ontario Sires Stakes competitor Matriarch. Nadhazi prepped the gelding for his first start with a 2:01.2 qualifying win at Mohawk on July 9.

The last elimination saw Murmur Hanover control the tempo from start to finish, sailing home a 4-3/4 length winner in a sharp 1:58. Lightly rated colts Sparky Gypsy and Dewer Kash rounded out the top three in a race that saw three colts go off stride, including heavy favorite Cool Victory.

Mario Baillargeon piloted Murmur Hanover to his first win for trainer Ben Baillargeon and owner R. Berthiaume Inc. The colt is by Majestic Son and out of Mrs Ronerail, a full sister to $705,820 winner Dr Ronerail, and was a $70,000 purchase at the Harrisburg yearling sale.

Murmur Hanover started his career at the Gold Series level, finishing fourth in his June 27 elimination after making a pair of breaks, a disappointing result after he sparkled in a June 22 qualifier at Mohawk, circling the Campbellville oval in 2:00 to finish 12 lengths ahead of his peers. Baillargeon qualified the colt for a second time on July 6 and Murmur Hanover turned in a solid runner-up effort in 2:01.3.

The top two colts from each elimination are guaranteed a berth in next Monday’s C$130,000 Gold final, and they will be joined by two third-place finishers selected by random draw. Third-place finishers Mario Oneeighthree and Dewer Kash are the only potential second time Gold final starters and if chance does not favor them 10 brand new faces will line up behind the starting gate to battle for the Gold final title.