DUNDAS, NOV. 3, 2001 — It was an exciting finish to the 2001 Ontario Sires Stakes season at Flamboro Downs on Saturday afternoon when the three-year-old pacing colts strutted their stuff for the last time in Gold Final action.
The $100,000 contest, Race 9 on Flamboro’s 3 pm matinee program, saw the talented Ton of Diamonds clock in at 1:53.4 as he crossed the finish wire ahead of a strong eight-horse field.
Conditioned by Milton resident Ben Wallace for owner Mottram Stable of Mississauga, the winning colt showed early speed as he left the starting gate from Post Position 3 and landed in second-place at the first quarter.
With veteran reinsman Mario Baillargeon in the race bike, the Albert Albert colt pulled into the lead at the halfway mark and went on to score his first Gold Final win.
Race fans had decided that Ton of Diamonds was one of the strongest contenders coming into the Gold Final and his victory over the Flamboro Downs half-mile returned $2.90 for the win, $2.60 to place and $2.20 to show.
Early pacesetter N Xample finished two and one half lengths back in second and a fast closing Mighty Killean picked up the third-place finisher’s share.
The Gold Final win keeps Ton of Diamonds atop the Gold Series division leader board with 233 points and assures him a place at the starting gate in the Series ending $250,000 Super Final at Mohawk Racetrack on Saturday, Nov. 10.
The top ten point earners from each provincial Gold division will gather at Mohawk Racetrack next weekend for the Super Final Championships, worth a total of $2 million. Fans unable to make it to Mohawk for this outstanding evening of harness racing can catch all the action on cable television’s The Score from 9 to 11 pm EDT.
Saturday’s Gold Final wraps up another exciting season of Ontario Sires Stakes action at Flamboro Downs. The provincial program will return to Dundas in 2002 with another group of the finest pacers and trotters in North America eager to make their mark in the Sires Stakes program.