On Tuesday, October 25, Godiva Seelster captured her third consecutive win against Open mares at Pompano Park.
Godiva Seelster, as six-year-old daughter of Camluck recorded her third straight win in Open competition for mares since arriving at Pompano Park.
Godiva Seelster led for every long stride of her mile and scored a handy win that measured three and a quarter lengths over South Wind Trini (driven by Brad Kramer) in 1:52.3. She sealed the deal with a :27.2 final quarter off of panels of :28, :56.3 and 1:25.1. De Valeria (Aaron Byron) recovered from a brief miscue at the start and finished third, while Safe From Terror and Asset Management completed the quintet.
The win was the ninth this year for Godiva Seelster in 22 starts – 34th lifetime – and sent her seasonal bounty to $90,558 and $310,275 career-wise.
Trained by Dan Hennessey for owners Paul and Patricia O'Neil, Godiva Seelster now has missed only one cheque in her last 94 starts over the past four seasons, which prompted Hennessey to say after the event that, "she may have been 1 to 5 on the tote board, but you cannot take anything for granted in this game.
"She's just a great mare that knows how to take care of herself – both in the barn and on the racetrack. She was very sharp again and you just cherish the moment as they can become very sparse on occasion."
Godiva Seelster paid $2.60 to win.
In the Open Trot, the Florida-bred Prairie Fortune, who is owned by Laurie Poulin along with trainer Mike Deters, got the job done by grinding out a brave 1:55.1 win for John MacDonald.
The four year-old altered son of Arapa Victory, came from 10 lengths out of it early on and trotted his final three quarters in 1:24.4 to roll on by his foes in the lane to score by one and three-quarter lengths over Shes All In (Rick Plano). Boli (Wally Hennessey) finished third after having cut the mustard from the outside post. Boli had clocked panels of :28.2, :57.2 and 1:26.1. McKenzies Star and Sailer Eddie picked up the minors in the octet.
After the event, driver John Mac Donald related, "all this horse seems to do is draw outside but he can grind a long way and that's what he did tonight – grind forward. I was lucky enough to follow some live cover the last lap and, when I tilted him three wide, he responded. He was very sharp here.
Prairie Fortune now has two dozen win in 44 lifetime starts and sports a 22-9-7-2 scorecard this year, good for earnings of $69,965. He's banked $183,245 during his career.
Prairie Fortune returned $3.60 to his faithful as the 4 to 5 favorite.
Four FSBOA-sponsored Sunshine State Stakes events, each of which were worth $12,000, were held on Tuesday night, as well, and Gold Star Aurora, Prairie Panther and Diamond Lily won their non-wagering events.
Racing will continue on Sunday night with three carryovers awaiting – in the Pick-5, Pick-6 and Super Hi-5 finale.
First-race post time is set for 7:20 p.m.
(With files from Pompano Park)