When Duane Marfisi agreed to train pacing filly Precious Cammill for the Wright family of Hamilton, Ont., the horseman had no idea that his connection to the young pacer

predated her birth.

"Morris and Brett Wright, who I’ve known for 20 years, approached me to take on this yearling," recalled Marfisi, who will harness Precious Cammill in Gold elimination action at Flamboro Downs on Thursday, September 17. "It turns out I looked after her grandmother as a groom. They brought in a win photo of me holding her grandmother.

"So I call her granddaughter," added Marfisi, with a laugh.

Precious Cammill’s granddam is Kith N Kin, who Marfisi cared for during her $59,313 racing career. The freshman pacing filly is the first foal from Kith N Kin’s most successful offspring, $119,997 winner Precious Relation. Through six starts, Precious Cammill has already earned $63,860 from two wins and two seconds.

After a June 29 qualifier, Marfisi gave the filly her first test in a July 6 overnight at Mohawk Racetrack. Precious Cammill finished fourth in her debut, then followed it up with an impressive fifth-place finish in the first Gold elimination of the season at Mohawk on July 13. Unfortunately, the Million Dollar Cam daughter fell ill before the $130,000 Gold final and the Wright’s opted to scratch her, a move Marfisi believes has positioned the filly for success through the final months of the campaign.

"I have to give hats off to the owners; she made the first Gold final and got sick, and I told them if she was mine I wouldn’t race her, and that’s what they did," recalled Marfisi, who conditions the filly for breeders Morris and Brett Wright of Hamilton and Connor Wright of Dundas, Ont. "Their goal is to have a three-year-old next year. They’ve had five generations of this family and everything is about the horse."

After a three-week break to regain her health, Precious Cammill returned to action with a 1:56 victory in an August 3 overnight at Mohawk. On August 9, she finished second in her Gold elimination at Mohawk, and recorded another second-place finish in the August 16 Gold final. Back in overnight action on September 3, the filly delivered an impressive 1:53.2 victory, cruising home four lengths ahead of the competition.

On Thursday afternoon, regular reinsman Randy Waples will steer Precious Cammill from Post 6 in the first of two $40,000 Gold eliminations, and Marfisi does not expect the half-mile track or the post position to bother the talented youngster.

"On Saturday (September 12) we trained her over Flamboro, just to get used to it. Randy came and drove her and everything went well," the horseman reported. "She’s willing and she’s great gaited, so the half-mile is not going to change anything. She’s just a natural."

The pair face a field of five other Gold Series veterans, and Marfisi expects Waples to be focused on landing a return invitation to Flamboro for the $130,000 Gold final on September 24.

"All we’re aiming for is the Gold final, and I’m sure Randy will drive her that way," said the resident of Guelph, Ont.

The top four finishers from each elimination will return to Flamboro Downs for the September 24 Gold final.

Thursday’s Gold eliminations are slated as Races 5 and 7 on the program, which has a 1:00 p.m. first-race post time.

To view Flamboro's harness racing entries for Thursday, click here.

(With files from the OSS)