The first harness racing card of 2019 at Flamboro Downs featured two Preferred Trots, with public choices delivering to their supporters in each event.
Absolut Seelster was the absolute best in the $11,500 Preferred 2 trot. Driver Scott Young placed the pari-mutuel pick on the point and received an abundance of respect, trotting comfortably through panels of :29, :59 and 1:28.4 before powering home in :29.2 to trip the timer in 1:58.1. Pocket sitter Waikiki Hanover (Marc St. Louis, Jr.) could only get to within two-and-a-quarter lengths of the tempo-setter as the runner-up with Exemplar (Alfie Carroll) rallying for show.
Trained by Ben Baillargeon for Tom & Elizabeth Rankin, six-year-old Absolut Seelster (Angus Hall - Amazing Adventure) surpassed the $200,000 mark in lifetime earnings with the victory. The win was the 22nd lifetime for the trotting mare, whose bankroll now sits as $201,872.
Another mare favoured to knock off her male rivals was Lady Caterina, the betting favourite in the $8,500 Preferred 3 Trot, and the result was the same as her last outing in this class. Driver Marc St. Louis, Jr. placed Lady Caterina on top of her five rivals, made four left turns and hung on by a neck to hold off a strong (but not strong enough) pocket sitter in Mister Muscle (J. R. Plante) in a brisk 1:57.2. Tiki Taka (J. B. Renaud) was best of the rest to pocket show dough.
Trained by Alan D. Fair and owned by Elizabeth Fair, Lady Caterina (Holiday Road - The Lady Money) won the 16th race of her career and lifted her lifetime purses to $189,761.
Ten different trainers won on the 10-race card, with Scott Young the only driver to win multiple races.
To view the results from Thursday's card at Flamboro Downs, click the following link: Thursday Results - Flamboro Downs.