A road trip to Rideau Carleton Raceway proved to be a profitable one – and an historical one - for Michaels Power, who became the fastest three-year-old pacing colt to cover the oval thanks to his 1:50.2 victory in Sunday’s $130,000 OSS Gold Series Final.
Scott Zeron stepped forward off the gate with Michaels Power, who was joined by Goban and I Found My Beach in the race to the quarter pole. I Found My Beach worked his way to the lead as the opening interval flashed up in :26.3, but he didn’t enjoy life on the lead for very long. Zeron popped out the pocket and played give-and-go with I Found My Beach as the field moved in the front of the grandstand.
Michaels Power cleared to the top without a tussle and proceeded to slice out middle splits of :55.1 and 1:22.3 before using a :27.4 kicker to win by 2-1/4 lengths over I Found My Beach in 1:50.2. Secretsoftheknight vaulted off cover and rallied to grab third prize in the seven-horse affair.
The 1:50.2 performance was three-fifths of a second quick than Doonbeg’s former track standard of 1:51 – a record that stood since July 13, 2006.
“This race is overshadowed by him winning the Upper Canada Cup, the Somebeachsomewhere and the Confederation Cup, but this was the race that put him over $1 million in one season,” said driver Scott Zeron. “Casie’s [trainer Coleman] never had a horse and I’ve never driven a horse that’s made over $1 million in one season so it’s a memorable race today.”
Sent off as the 1-5 favourite in the rich tilt, the homebred son of Camluck-Michelles Jackpot improved his 2012 record to 11-1-0 in 13 starts for trainer Casie Coleman and owner/breeder Jeffrey Snyder of New York, NY. The 13-time winner pushed this year’s earnings to $1,020,500 while his lifetime total soared to $1,035,650 with the win.
To view results for Sunday's card of harness racing, click the following link: Sunday Results – Rideau Carleton Raceway.