WINDSOR, ON — Heading into Sunday evening’s Gold Final at Windsor Raceway, owner Cliff Siegel was confident one of his colts would earn a sizeable share of the $130,000 purse.
When the Brooklyn, NY resident learned the results of the 11th race from the border oval, he was delighted with the outcome, but surprised by the victor. Rather than elimination winner Sir Luck, who Siegel felt was the top threat in the race, it was his second string entry Boulder Creek who captured the Gold Final trophy with an outstanding sprint to the finish.
Leaving from Post 8, Daniel Dube eased Boulder Creek off the gate and settled him in eighth spot, content to watch favourites Stonebridge Premio and Ron Pierce set the pace with a :26.2 quarter, a :56 half and 1:24.3 three-quarters. At the three-quarters Boulder Creek was sitting eighth on the outside, behind a parade of challengers and by the time the field turned for home the Pacific Rocket son was still fourth lengths to the rear.
However, after babying his charge around the five-eighths mile turns, Dube was ready to set Boulder Creek loose and when he hit the accelerator the colt responded with a tremendous finishing kick that powered him to a three-quarter length victory over Armbro Acquire and Stonebridge Premio. Fans were treated to an outstanding finish as the colts drove for the wire in cavalry charge style, with only a length and a quarter separating Boulder Creek from stablemate Sir Luck, who finished sixth.
Fans who opted for the less famous half of Siegel’s two-horse entry pocketed a hefty $36.30 on a win ticket, $13.30 for a place wager and $7.70 on a show voucher. Armbro Acquire, the fans’ second choice, returned $5.50 to place and $2.10 to show, while Stonebridge Premio paid $2.80 to show. The Boulder Creek – Armbro Acquire exactor was worth $184.30 and adding Stonebridge Premio to a triactor play earned you $1,215.50.
The win was Boulder Creek’s eighth in a season that has seen him lock horns with the best three-year-old pacing colts in North America. Trained by Bill Budd, the winner of $808,294 secured a spot in the season ending Super Final with the win, moving into a four-way tie for third with stablemate Sir Luck, Armbro Acquire and Winning Breed.
The colts have one opportunity left to add to their point totals — Oct. 13 and 20 at Mohawk Racetrack — before the top 10 point earners head to Mohawk for the Nov. 8 Super Final.
Ontario Sires Stakes excitement returns to Windsor Raceway next Sunday, Oct. 12 with the final regular season Grassroots event for the two-year-old trotting fillies and a Trillium Series appearance for the lightning fast three-year-old pacing fillies.