March 1 - For racehorse trainer Mary Hartmann, her decision not to scratch her charge, Presious Passion, from Sunday's $150,000 Mac Diarmida Stakes (Gr 2) at Gulfstream Park in Florida paid off, as the 7-year-old gelding led from start to finish in the 1 3/8 mile turf race for four-year-olds and up.

Hartmann reportedly contemplated scratching Presious Passion on account of the 'good' quality of the turf at Gulfstream Park, but she and owner Frank Generazio sent the gelding out anyway. And as the 5/2 favourite he didn't disappoint as he ran a good race with his regular jockey, Elvis Trujillo, aboard.

From the start Presious Passion seemed to be in the mood to run, as he broke sharply from the gate into an early lead. The rest of the field seemed comfortable to sit behind Presious Passion, despite the fact he set some pretty slow fractions. But coming into the stretch that all changed as the field sped up.

With the finish line looming and the stronger horses in the pack bearing down on them, Trujillo urged Presious Passion for more and he delivered by keeping the challengers at bay right up until he crossed the line first, 1 1/4 lengths clear of Winchester in second who led in Feels All Right (IRL) in third.

'That's my boy!' said a thrilled Hartmann from the winner's circle. 'I had a big thought about scratching this morning, but after discussing it with Mr. Generazio, he felt that we needed to give this horse a race before going to Dubai. Although if he did not run today I would've trained him to the race if necessary.'

Hartmann was referring to the fact that Presious Passion has been invited to run in the prestigious $5 million Dubai Sheema Classic at Meydan Racecourse on Saturday, March 27, one of the most lucrative races in the world. But Presious Passion's fortunes have been mixed during his lengthy career.

The highlight of which was his second place in last year's Breeders' Cup Turf at Santa Anita in California. However, his connections and fans were disappointed when he finished a lack luster fifth in his last outing, the $200,000 W.L. McKnight Handicap (Gr 2) in December last year at Calder Racecourse.