WINDSOR, ON — Priceless Gem proved he is the real deal on Sunday evening at Windsor Raceway when he captured his first Gold Series Final and equalled the track and Ontario Sires Stakes record for the second week in a row.
The Mr Lavec son and driver Ray Schnittker fired straight to the front from Post 2 and rolled through fractions of :27.1, :57 and 1:26 en route to the 1:55 victory. The duo faced pressure several times through the mile, from second choice Balagar in the early going and third-choice Duke Of York in the latter stages, but they maintained their composure to record the win.
Dream Lavec snuck through in the stretch to take home the runner-up’s share of the $130,000 purse and Duke Of York stayed trotting for third. Doug McIntosh trainee Semper Fi Hall delivered another consistent performance to finish fourth.
Schnittker, of Campbell Hall, NY, shares ownership on Priceless Gem with Seal Stable of Mattituck, NY and Kelks Inc. of Lockport, NY. The trio paid $35,000 for the colt as a yearling in 2000 and have banked $124,830 on his behalf through two seasons. The Jennifer Sjoberg trainee has a record of four wins and one third in 11 starts this season.
Based on his 1:55 win in last week’s elimination Windsor Raceway fans sent Priceless Gem off as the favourite and he returned $4.10 to win, $3.00 to place and $3.10 to show. Longshot Dream Lavec was worth $13.80 and $6.40 on place and show tickets and Duke Of York paid $3.20.
With Hambletonian Eliminations just three weeks away (July 27) owners of the top Ontario-bred totters have a tough decision to make. Ship their colts to the Meadowlands in search of harness racing’s holy grail or enjoy the lull in the Sires Stakes action before the next event at Flamboro Downs on Aug. 10 and 18.
Ontario Sires Stakes excitement does not return to Windsor Raceway until Sept. 20 when the two-year-old pacing fillies while make their way to the five-eighths mile oval for their second last Gold Series event.