Odds On Racing - Harness Racing

Rare Jewel Wins Molson Pace

June 1, 2007

Chris Christoforou took no prisoners with Rare Jewel in the $255,000 Molson Pace Final at Western Fair Friday night and it paid off, as they scored a length win in 1:53. There was a lot of buzz building around the star-studded event, the best field of horses ever assembled at the Western Fair track, and the race did not disappoint.

With Post 2, Christoforou and Rare Jewel got to the front at the quarter in :27.1, but they had favourite Maltese Artist (Jamieson) sitting on their backs. Zooka (MacKenzie) who was an elimination winner last week took his shot, coming first up at the half. Unable to clear, he and Rare Jewel tussled through a half of :56.1 and a three-quarters of 1:24. The backfield got in motion going to three-quarters, with Western Ace (MacDonald) and Buckeye One (Zeron) making three wide bids.

At the top of the stretch, Christoforou let Rare Jewel out abit, stretching their lead to a length and a quarter. Maltese Artist, who had been enjoying the perfect trip, was unable to get by Rare Jewel and fell short by a length at the wire. The three-wide move by Buckeye One paid off, as he was able to close up to third.

The 1:53 winning time tied the overall track record, which is now held by eight different horses. It was the fourth victory in 2007 for the Brett Robinson trainee. Owned by Norm Vartanian of Hamilton, Ontario, the six-year-old Artiscape gelding has career earnings of $747,757.