Despite the serene surroundings, there was a storm brewing in the swiftest qualifier on Friday, Oct. 18 at Woodbine Mohawk Park.
After a 12-week hiatus, seven-year-old speedster Poseidon Seelster was back in action on Friday for trainer / co-owner Don Lindsey and co-owners Paul Kleinpaste, Will Alempijevic and Garth Bechtel. The 18-time winner faced a field of four, with sophomore Storm Shadow looking to atone from his Ontario Sires Stakes Super Final miscue six days ago.
Poseidon Seelster and driver Anthony Haughan look the early lead, hitting the first panel in :29.3. Austin Sorrie didn't like that pocket spot for Storm Shadow, and right-lined as the field hit the backstretch. From there, the three-year-old chopped out middle panels of :57.3 and 1:25.2.
Once that third station was reached, Haughan had Poseidon Seelster out of the pocket to challenge. Down the stretch, Storm Shadow and Poseidon Seelster traded blows with the veteran emerging on top by virtue of his :27.3 final panel to hit the wire a head the best in 1:53.1.
Poseidon Seelster (Sunshine Beach - Porsche Seelster) sports a mark of 1:48.2 with more than $716,000 in earnings.
The full video stream is available below.
For results from the qualifying session, click the following link: Friday Results - Woodbine Mohawk Park (Qualifiers).
(Standardbred Canada; photo from a previous win)