Odds On Racing - Harness Racing

Gold Elims Saturday at Mohawk

September 23, 2006

Twin B Survivor, Sipwiththepres and Sergei Seelster captured their respective Ontario Sires Stakes Gold eliminations for two-year-old pacing colt and geldings Saturday at Mohawk Racetrack.

Twin B Survivor (Apaches Fame – What An Attitude) rallied to a career-best clocking of 1:52.3 in his $37,975 split for driver Paul MacDonell and trainer Jack Darling, who shares ownership on the youngster with partner Dan Smith of London, ON. Twin B Survivor has compiled a 3-1-4 record in 10 starts this year good for earnings of $121,876, which more than covers his $37,000 price tag from last year's Forest City Yearling Sale.

"We didn't want to get mixed up in early action," said driver Paul MacDonell. "He races much better coming from off the helmet. He's got a beautiful gait, a great attitude and he wants to pace to the wire all the time."

Sipwiththepres (Presidential Ball – Sippin Time) won the second split for driver Rick Zeron, who guided the Mark Austin pupil to a career-best clocking of 1:52.3. Mike Cecile of Windsor, ON, owns and bred Sipwiththepres, who now sports a juvenile record of 3-2-1 in seven starts good for earnings of $45,028.

"He's a big, green colt," said Zeron. "He sometimes wants to get going faster than his legs will let him go. My colt has been coming good last quarters, so I figured when I hit the three quarter pole tonight I had a 27 and change final quarter in me. I knew Phil [Hudon and Test Flight] was coming at me late, but my colt was comfortable."

Sergei Seelster (Rustler Hanover – Stormy Ellie) scored a new career clocking of 1:52.3 in his $37,975 elimination for driver Mark MacDonald and trainer Nat Varty. The gelding, who races for partners Gary Smith of Burlington, ON, and Lloyd Nicholson of Campbellville, ON, held off Au Revoir Ace (2nd) and Semalu Express (3rd) en route to notching his fourth win in nine starts this year.

"He raced really good," MacDonald said. "I was a little concerned that he had three weeks off coming in, but Nat [trainer Varty] had him in good shape. The speed was hot up front, but they came back to us in the lane and we picked them up late."