Millionaire Cam came on strong in the stretch to take the $140,000 Ontario Sires Stakes Gold Final for two-year-old colts and geldings on Saturday night at Mohawk Racetrack.
Stonebridge Terror (Brian Sears) and Shipps Xpectancy (Randy Waples) took their turns on the front end through the opening panels of :27.3 and :56.3 while the 3-1 second choice Millionaire Cam and driver Jody Jamieson settled in fifth.
The post time favourite Nebupanezzar (Steve Condren) found the front before the half as Jamieson tipped his charge out and advanced through the third quarter in 1:25.3. The two battled each other down the stretch, but it was Millionaire Cam who prevailed by three-quarters of a length in 1:52.4. Shipps Xpectancy was third.
"Last week I didn't expect that kind of effort (from Millionaire Cam, who won his OSS Gold elimination by nearly two lengths in a new lifetime clocking of 1:51.2). We were trying to qualify for the final and have a good effort going in, and he really stepped up and paced a big mile last week. I think that made him one of the favourites here tonight, at least in my mind," said Jamieson in a post-race interview.
"I moved him first over up the back side, and when I asked him to pace, boy, that was a :27.1 last quarter. He was just really good today.
"My only shot was for Nebupanezzar to get used up a little bit. He left a little bit and then moved to the front. The fractions weren't that hot, but I hadn't used my horse at all, so when I put him in gear, he really paced good. We only beat (Nebupanezzar) about half a length, but he was exceptional tonight."
In four starts, the son of Million Dollar Cam has picked up three wins and one second with earnings totaling $102,500. Tony O'Sullivan handles the training duties for Jeffrey Snyder of New York.
To view Saturday's results, click here.
(With files from WEG)