Seelster-Bred Fillies Sweep Golds

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A quartet of OSS Gold Series divisions were featured Thursday evening at Flamboro Downs, with three-year-old pacing fillies sparring in a set of $105,000 events and two-year-old pacing colts and geldings chasing the same in their set of Gold divisions.

Tessa Seelster was a hard-fought winner for Team Baillargeon in the first division for the fillies. Mario Baillargeon got away fourth with the Ben Baillargeon-trained lass while race favourite Solar Sister supplied first-half fractions of :27.1 and :56.1. Tessa Seelster came first-over on that foe in the backstretch, and she blasted her way to the lead at the three-quarter pole in 1:24.4. A :28.2 closing panel was enough for her to seal the deal by three-quarters of a length over Maplelea in 1:53.1. Third prize went to Capela.

The victory was the fourth of the season for the daughter of Shadow Play-Titania Seelster, who is owned by Richard Berthiaume of Point-Aux-Trembles, QC. The seven-time winner bumped her lifetime earnings to $165,734 with the victory.

Seelster Farms will sell the Big Jim brother to Tessa Seelster, Hip 133 Throttle Seelster, later this month at the Forest City Yearling Sale.

Glamour Seelster, who was unraced as a rookie, took the second division in 1:53 for Team McNair. Doug McNair settled into the three-hole with the Gregg McNair pupil while race favourite Wrangler Magic established the lead and got away with very sensible first-half fractions of :28.1 and :57. Glamour Seelster charged first-over in the backstretch and muscled her way to the lead at the three-quarter pole in 1:25. She then used a :28-second kicker to win by 1-1/2 lengths over Ms Mac N Cheese. Wrangler Magic faded and settled for third prize.

It was the 11th start of the season for the daughter of Jeremes Jet-Gold Not Silver, who now boasts a 7-1-1 record and purse earnings of $155,033. She is owned by Lindsey and Connie Rankin of Lexington, MI.

The first division for the two-year-old pacing colts and geldings went to Continual Hanover and driver Jody Jamieson in 1:55.1. The Jack Darling pupil got away fifth while Arsenic shot to the front and supplied speed panels of :27.2, :56 and 1:25.3. Continual Hanover followed the cover of Gotti to the half before sweeping three-wide around that tiring foe in the backstretch. Continual Hanover used a :29.2 closing quarter to edge past Arsenic by three-quarters of a length, while race favourite Nocturnal Bluechip finished a lapped-on third.

Jack Darling Stables Ltd of Cambridge, ON owns the son of Bettors Delight-Current Hanover, who pulled off the 8-1 upset. The triumph improved the rookie’s record to 3-2-0 from eight tries while lifting his cash stash to $80,700. He was a $120,000 purchase from last fall’s Harrisburg Yearling Sale.

Semi Automatic was a front-stepping winner in the final division for the tandem of driver James MacDonald and trainer Tony O’Sullivan. Chalk Player shot to the early lead and had Semi Automatic parked and driving after him at the quarter pole in :27.3. Semi Automatic worked his way to the lead and didn’t look back after tossing out middle splits of :56. and 1:25.2. A :29.3 closing quarter helped propel Semi Automatic to the win by 6-1/2 lengths over New Talent, with third prize going to Cruise Patrol.

Sent off as the 2-5 favourite, the son of Badlands Hanover-Topgun Lady won for the third time this season from just seven starts. The $52,500 payday increased his bankroll to $147,850.

To view results for Thursday's card of harness racing, click the following link: Thursday Results – Flamboro Downs.

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