With the top two colts opting out of Friday’s Gold Eliminations, fans can expect fierce competition from the 17 freshman trotting colts headed to Flamboro Downs

for a pair of $40,000 battles.

Among the colts hoping to make his mark in the late season Gold events is Cool Creek Magic, who was sidelined by a minor injury through most of the summer.

“He missed two Sires Stakes, but there’s not much you can do about it,” says trainer Kevin O’Reilly.

To maintain the colt’s fitness level while he recuperated, O’Reilly and his staff swam Cool Creek Magic every day for a full month. Their efforts seemed to pay off as the colt delivered a solid qualifier at Mohawk Racetrack on Sept. 6 and won an overnight event at Grand River Raceway on Sept. 12 with a 2:04.2 effort.

“I took him to Grand River to give him a practice mile on a half,” notes the Moffat resident, who trains Cool Creek Magic for Aristi Varsakis of Hamilton. “He seemed to get around Grand River pretty good.”

Before entering the youngster in Friday’s Gold Elimination, O’Reilly also sent him out for another tour around the Mohawk oval in a Sept. 16 schooler. With only two starts under his belt, one of them a break in the July 7 Gold Series season opener, the horseman figured one more opportunity to trot away from a starting gate would stand Cool Creek Magic in good stead.

Rick Zeron piloted the colt in the schooler and will be back in the race bike from Post 6 in the first Gold Elimination Friday.

“Rick said he was perfect to drive in the schooler the other day,” notes O’Reilly. “He’s a good mannered little guy, you can do anything you want with him.”

The easy-going youngster, who was a $35,000 purchase out of last fall’s Canadian Yearling Sale, will need a top four finish to advance out of Friday’s Gold Elimination and O’Reilly says his plans for Cool Creek Magic will evolve on a week to week basis.

“We’ll try and pick up some money here hopefully, and if he’s good enough he’ll go to Woodbine,” says the trainer, referring to the last Gold Series event at Woodbine Racetrack on Oct. 7 and 14. “But I don’t mind waiting on him. I think he can do, he feels like he’s got a little talent.”

Among the colts that Cool Creek Magic will face in Friday’s Gold Elimination are Prestidigitator (Post 3), who heads into the contest off a run of top four finishes against the top colts in North America, Balanced Image Stake winner Keystone Orion (Post 4), and consistent Gold Series player Summer Indian (Post 7).

The second elimination features former Gold Final winner Good Sound Advice from Post 6, along with the consistent Dalglish from Post 3 and former Gold Elimination winner Heres The Magic at Post 5. The top four finishers from each elimination will make a return trip to Dundas for the Sept. 30 Gold Final.

Flamboro Downs sends its first race behind the gate at 6 p.m. on Friday, turning the spotlight on the two-year-old trotting colts in Races 2 and 3.

(OSS)

To view entries for Friday's card of harness racing, click the following link: Friday Entries – Flamboro Downs.