Michaels Power shot up the passing lane in the 36th edition of the $581,500 Confederation Cup to prevail in a thrilling three-horse photo finish on Sunday afternoon at Flamboro Downs.
After finishing second to the pylon-skimming Pet Rock in his elimination heat earlier in the day, Michaels Power and driver Scott Zeron turned the tables on that foe in the final.
With the inside post advantage, favourite Pet Rock and Brian Sears established the early lead, but Zeron fired 3-1 second choice Michaels Power off the gate from post six and took over command during a :26.1 opening quarter. Refusing to sit a pocket trip, Pet Rock reclaimed the top spot and led the field in front of the grandstand to the half in :55.4.
At the midway point, I Found My Beach and Randy Waples advanced first up from fifth with Secretsoftheknight and Doug McNair following their cover. Pet Rock reached three-quarters in 1:23.4 as the field began to bunch up with another elimination winner State Treasurer and catch-driver Paul MacDonell rallying three-wide from the backfield and early trailer Dynamic Youth and Andrew McCarthy following that move.
But at the top of the stretch, Zeron sent Michaels Power up the passing lane and edged by Pet Rock to prevail in 1:52.4. Dynamic Youth surged home from the back of the pack into the win photo forcing Pet Rock to settle for third.
"In the elimination I tortured him a little bit and I just tripped out beautifully in the two-hole and slipped up the passing lane," said Zeron, who earned his first Confederation Cup trophy and third win in a row on the card. "I had to leave. I had his nose right on the gate and was gunning him out of there as fast as I could.
"He's just a spectacular animal," continued the 23-year-old Oakville, Ont. reinsman. "Every time he comes on the track he gives it his all. Nobody knows how a horse is going to handle two heats and he proved that he could do it no problem. I'm so excited!"
The Camluck-Michelles Jackpot gelding is trained by Casie Coleman for owner and breeder Jeffrey Snyder. Michaels Power has won 10 of his 12 races this year, including the Upper Canada Cup, Somebeachsomewhere Stake, Canadian Breeders Championship and two Ontario Sires Stakes Gold Finals, earning the bulk of his $970,650 career bankroll.
"He's been unbelievable and anybody who knows this horse knows he's not the soundest. He does have bad feet," said Coleman. "My mom takes care of his horse and she does an unbelievable job trying to keep him sound. He has just been phenomenal all season. This horse doesn't jog on a regular track and doesn't train during the week. He's not the soundest creature on his feet, but he just keeps on going hard."
The Confederation Cup victory was the Cambridge, Ont. resident's second. She also won the 2005 edition with American Ideal.
"It's just as sweet, if not even sweeter," said Coleman of her second victory. "To win a race like this and to do it twice is just a dream come true. It's unbelievable."
Michaels Power is expected to race next in the Ontario Sires Stakes Gold Series in Ottawa.
To view Sunday's harness racing results, click on the following link: Sunday Results - Flamboro Downs.
I was at Flamboro downs on
I was at Flamboro downs on Sunday for the Confederation Cup & heard Charlie Juravinski ask Ted McMeekin to please do the right thing pretaining to the racing Industry.We all know that he won't . He is holding a community appreciation day On Thursday August 16 from 4.oopm -7.00pm and I think that we, together as an Industry, should be there by the hundreds to show him how much we do appreciate all the hard work he has done on our behalf. At the very least we could get a free meal,paid for by the government. He says that everyone is welcome. I'm sure that means all of us .It is at Waterdown Memorial Park,200 Hamilton Street North at Parkside Drive, Waterdown, Ontario.He asked us to bring our own lawn chair and I thought that he would like to see a few signs & Panphlets as well, maybe some horses and trailers too. Hope to see you all there.