Chief Of Staff equalled the track record for aged pacers at Leamington Raceway with a 1:54.4 score in the afternoon's fifth race on Sunday, Sept. 6.
Trainer Michael Stamp's nine-year-old Chief Of Staff added his name to the track record books alongside gelding Beavercreek Artist, who set the aged pacing record in September 2018, and the mare Arizona, who matched the mark in October 2023.
Leaving from the inside post in a $5,800 conditioned optional claiming pace, pylon starter Chief Of Staff was out-sprinted off the gate but quickly re-took the lead from the fast-leaving Jewels Diamondeyes (Garrett Rooney) at the :27.3 quarter mark for driver Robert Doyle. The 3-5 favourite had no other challenges the rest of the way as he cruised by the half-mile pole in :57.2 then accelerated to three-quarters in 1:26.1 and left his rivals four lengths behind in the homestretch. William Ross (David Edwards) overtook Jewels Diamondeyes in the race for place.
Chief Of Staff has won three of his last four starts at Leamington and now has 32 victories lifetime with earnings just shy of $220,000. Stamp co-owns the gelded son of Art Major out of Milliondollarsmile with Janet Larcombe of Petrolia, Ont.
To view Sunday's harness racing results, click the following link: Sunday Results - Leamington Raceway.
(Standardbred Canada; photo of Chief Of Staff winning on Aug. 30 at Leamington Raceway)