Locally-debuting Tessa Seelster (George Brennan, $7.90) overcame one eight-hole and seven elders on Friday night, winning Yonkers Raceway’s $32,000 Filly and Mare Open Handicap Pace.
It turned out to be an outside-assigned, two-speed number, as ”Tessa” and Inittowinafortune (Jordan Stratton) both left around a dormant Regil Elektra (Brian Sears). Tessa Seelster made the lead well before a :27.3 quarter-mile. From there, she finished off her rounds (:57, 1:24.4, 1:53.2...plus an elongated inquiry regarding a possible cutting-the-cones violation). Inittowinafortune took her shot in the lane, but missed by a head, with slight 2-1 favourite Rockn Ruby N (Dan Dube), Regil Elektra and Dune In Red (Mark MacDonald) settling for the remainder.
For third choice Tessa Seelster, a four-year-old daughter of Shadow Play co-owned by trainer Ron Burke (as Burke Racing), Weaver Bruscemi and Jonathan Newman, she’s now three-for-three this season. The exacta paid $200, with the triple returning $1,392. The former Ontario standout was a six-figure purchase before this season by her new connections.
(Yonkers Raceway)