It all comes down to the Burlington Stakes for trainer Tony O’Sullivan and his pacing protégé, Millionaire Cam
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A few short weeks ago, the colt was considered a serious contender for the $1.5 million Pepsi North America Cup. But then came a very expensive misfire in the final strides of Georgian Downs’s new signature event, the Upper Canada Cup, on May 23, 2009.
Sent off as the second favourite, Millionaire Cam put in a monumental effort in the stretch and looked as if he had the race won – but in a split-second that made the entire grandstand groan, he rolled off-stride right at the wire, under an aggressive drive from Jody Jamieson. When the judges had finished deliberating, Millionaire Cam was placed seventh, Stonebridge Terror was declared the winner, and just like that, Millionaire Cam’s chances in the NA Cup were considered old news.
“It changed our game plan a lot,” said O’Sullivan. “We might have to push a little harder now. Everyone was talking about him before the Upper Canada Cup, and now they just seem to be discounting him. It was a little demoralizing, to tell you the truth. But he’s going (to the North America Cup). I think he’s good enough.”
Though O’Sullivan has again named Jamieson to pilot his colt on Saturday night, he says the two have discussed how best to go forward. “The thing is, Millionaire Cam had never been hit before that night. I think he was just a little frightened by it and jumped off. He’s a very smart colt, but anything new, you have to introduce to him gradually.
“Jody felt bad about it and he admitted it, and not every driver would do that. He’s driven this colt all along and I believe he’ll be an asset going into the Burlington.”
Regrouping after the Upper Canada Cup, O’Sullivan entered Millionaire Cam in a three-year-old condition event at Mohawk on June 6, where he placed third to fellow NA Cup hopefuls, Art Colony and Carnivore, pacing his mile in 1:51.4. “He raced the way we wanted him to,” said O’Sullivan. “There’s been a little sickness going around the last month and I think it had affected him going into the Upper Canada Cup elimination. Everybody’s dealing with it, I think. But he looked good coming out of last week.
“The other good thing about this colt is he’s been a little more aggressive behind the gate lately. As a two-year-old he couldn’t do that, he was a bit lackadaisical – but then we coddled him deliberately at two, he didn’t race a lot.
“Now he’s starting to get the hang of it, and I really think he’ll be a major player in the Burlington as well as the North America Cup. He has answered the call every time we’ve asked him. He has a fantastic attitude, and that can overcome a lot. He really wants to do it.”
Four $100,000 divisions of the Burlington Stakes go postward on Saturday, June 13 at Mohawk. Millionaire Cam has drawn post position #8 in the third of the four splits, Race 8. Post time is 9:57 p.m.
To view Saturday's entries, click here.
(WEG)