Class horses San Pail and Sakic Seelster both prevailed in the first leg of the Glorys Comet Trotting Series for older horses as part of a Sunday card of harness racing with a duo of trotting series kicking off at Woodbine Racetrack

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Sakic Seelster, who had been struggling towards the end of the 2009 campaign, started off the new year with a sharp first-over victory in the opening $50,000 division for driver Mario Baillargeon in 1:56. He was able to grind out a half-length decision over a closing Maple Leaf Buddy (Jason Brewer) with the pacesetting Chick N Tell (Mike Saftic) finishing third.

Sakic Seelster kicked back $8.60 for the win.

The six-year-old gelded son of Eager Seelster - Armbro Super was a major force in the top trotting division last season, winning 10 of 22 starts for trainer Ben Baillargeon and owners Santo and Nunzio Vena of Ontario. Sunday’s win bumped his career earnings to just over $300,000.

In the second split, O’Brien Award finalists, San Pail (Randy Waples) and Armbro Chronicle (Sylvain Filion), finished one-two respectively in the 1:56.3 mile. They lined up that way off the starting gate and were never seriously threatened with Make You Mine (Per Henrikson) rallying effectively to round out the top three.

Last year’s Maple Leaf Trot champion won 12 of 14 during a brilliant five-year-old season while banking $730,250 for trainer Rodney Hughes along with Glenn Van Camp of Port Perry, Ontario. The son of San Pellegrino - Village Beauty returned a very popular $2.40 for the win.

The Glorys Comet Series will continue with second round action next Sunday afternoon at Woodbine.

A strong winning favourite and a big upset headlined Sunday’s first leg of the Lifetime Dream Trotting Series for four-year-old mares on another cold, blustery afternoon at Woodbine Racetrack.

In the opening $25,000 contest, Margarita Mary seized control in the first quarter and then cruised to a very impressive 1:57 victory for trainer/driver Rick Zeron.

The daughter of Andover Hall - Pacific Photo held pocket-sitting Selfish
Princess (Sylvain Filion) at bay by a length with a :28.4 final quarter through a very strong headwind in the homestretch. It was far back to longshot Paycheck Lavec (Jason Brewer), who rounded out the top three. Margarita Mary kicked back a popular $2.40 for the win.

The strapping mare, making her first start of the new year, enjoyed a very productive three-year-old campaign with eight wins from 18 starts and $131,127 in earnings for owners Alton "Toby" Lynch, Jr. of Delaware and Steve Elliott of Florida.

Queen Creek took advantage of a perfect trip in the second division to upset rivals for driver Mark MacDonald in 1:58.1. The daughter of Elk Creek - Dart Queen sat third throughout much of the mile and inherited the pocket on the final turn when race favourite Gabbys Gambol (Paul MacDonell) made a break in stride when tipping out from second.

At that point, MacDonald brought his charge wide and she easily got past pacesetting Kandor Hanover (Randy Waples) for the win with longshot Another Vixen (Shane Weber) rounding out the top three. The winner returned a whopping $52.70 for the win.

Queen Creek was a five-time winner last season in 22 starts for trainer Harry Zeron, Jr. and owner Sandra Beback of Depew, New York. Today’s win bumped her career earnings to just over $76,000.

The Lifetime Dream Trotting Series will continue next Sunday afternoon at Woodbine.

Fans of Race Night On The Score are reminded that the first show of the new year will be aired tomorrow from 7:00 p.m. - 9:00 p.m. covering the first five races on the program.

To view Sunday's results, click here.

(With files from WEG)