GLOUCESTER, AUG. 10, 2007 — Rideau Carleton Raceway fans witnessed history in the making on Friday evening as the first-ever $240,000 Gold Final was contested in Ontario Sires Stakes record setting time.

Fans sent reigning Gold Final champion Milliondollarsmile off as their top choice in the three-year-old pacing filly Gold Final, and that filly saw the lead briefly at the halfway marker, but it was Michelles Power who came up with a quarter of a million dollar effort.

Leaving from Post 2 with regular reinsman Jody Jamieson at the controls, Michelles Power landed in fourth as early-speedstress Luck Of Michelle took the field of eight to a :27 opening quarter. Luck Of Michelle quickly yielded to Milliondollarsmile, who reached the half in :55.3, but Jamieson had already moved Michelles Power off the rail and the pair sailed effortlessly past the leaders and on to a 1:22.4 three-quarters.

Turning for home Michelles Power had four lengths on her rivals, and although Luck Of Michelle managed to claw half of that back, Michelles Power was an impressive two and a half length victor in a track and Ontario Sires Stakes record 1:51.1. Milliondollarsmile rounded out the top three in the $243,500 contest.

The mile destroyed the former 1:53.3 track record set by Burning Point in 2003 and shaved two-fifths of a second off the 1:51.3 mark taken by Red Star Biggirl at Windsor Raceway last season. It also improved on the 1:52 personal best Michelles Power took in a division of the June 17 Flamboro Breeders Stakes.

Bill Elliott trains Michelles Power for breeder Jeffrey Snyder of New York, NY. Through nine starts this season the daughter of Camluck and Michelles Jackpot has tallied four wins, two seconds and one third for earnings of $255,411.

At two, Michelles Power captured one Gold Final and the season ending Super Final for earnings of $479,019, just behind division leader Luck Of Michelle on the Ontario Sires Stakes earnings list.

Michelles Power will have an opportunity to defend her title at Mohawk Racetrack on Sept. 10, when the three-year-old pacing fillies resume their Gold Series rivalry.

Rideau Carleton Raceway fans will have their next opportunity to see history in the making when the two-year-old trotting colts swing into town for their third Gold Series event on Friday, Aug. 17.

For complete results please go to:

http://www.standardbredcanada.ca/results/data/rridcffr.html#N10