Pacing faster than he did in his last win at this level in early July, Poseidon Seelster powered past his rivals in the stretch en route to victory in the $36,000 Preferred Pace on Saturday, Nov. 11 at Woodbine Mohawk Park.
Bob McClure has the assignment behind the six-year-old on Saturday night, and he settled the lukewarm second choice away third early behind an aggressive Bee Two Bee (Travis Cullen) and Points North (Sylvain Filion). That trio stayed as the leading trio through the first three stations in :26.1, :54.3 and 1:22. Doug McNair attempted a first-over approach with Camara Moment, but that one packed it in around the far turn to stifle outer flow.
When the field turned for home, Filion and McClure angled their charges from the pylons and set sights on the pacesetter. Both Poseidon Seelster and Points North outkicked Bee Two Bee but Poseidon Seelster had the most late kick and his :26.2 final quarter was the difference in a 1:49 mile. Points North was a length back in second with Livinthebeachlife (Jonathan Drury) completing the triactor.
Co-owned by trainer Don Lindsey of Fergus with Paul Kleinpaste of Orangeville, Ont., Will Alempijevic of Brooklyn, N.Y. and Garth Bechtel of Meaford, Ont., Poseidon Seelster (Sunshine Beach - Porsche Seelster) now sports a career summary of 16-10-19 from 84 starts with a bankroll of $577,170.
The Saturday evening card also featured four $17,000 first leg divisions of the Ontario Sired Harvest Series for three-year-old male trotters and pacers.
Nothingbutadreamer made it four straight wins in the first division for trotters.
Sent off as the 1-2 favourite, Nothingbutadreamer got away in second during the :27.2 opening quarter put up by Ricardo (Doug McNair) before driver James MacDonald right-lined the sophomore from the pocket to the lead. After a :56.3 half and 1:25.4 third panel, Nothingbutadreamer faced a fresh threat with Ricardo angling out for the stretch drive. Those two trottters traded blows down the Mohawk stretch, battling into the final strides. Nothingbutadreamer reemerged on top at the wire, winning in a career best 1:53.4. Cactustotheclouds (Trevor Henry) held off rivals for third.
Harry Poulton trains Nothingbutadreamer (Muscle Mass - Myimpossibledream) for Thestable Nothinbutadremr of Guelph, Ont. The win is his ninth lifetime, lifting his earnings to $136,943. A $2 win ticket on the favourite returned $3.10.
In the second trotting division, Stonebridge Bomber ($3.40) made a serious brush from sixth at the :56.4 half to clear to the lead by the 1:26 third station. Driver Doug McNair asked the sophomore to open up some daylight on the field turning for home. A three-length cushion at the top of the stretch was enough to hold off a late rally from Century Jaguar (Henry) to win by three parts of a length in 1:54.3. Prince Archie (Steven Hudon) was best of the rest.
Stonebridge Bomber (Muscle Mass - Stonebridge Glider) notched his fourth career victory and his first for trainer / owner Aaron Byron and co-owner Gordon Mason of Rosseau, Ont.
Sitting more 10 lengths off the lead at the half, Leave It To Luther ($15.60) pounced off third over cover turning for home to swoop past his foes in the first $17,000 Harvest division for three-year-old pacers.
James MacDonald engineered the winning trip, besting Bar Down Jim (Travis Cullen) by a neck in 1:53.4. Show went to Sans Souci (Mike Whelan).
Making his 22nd career start for trainer Ryan Steward and owner Courtney Pollard, Leave It To Luther (Betterthancheddar - T R Lexus Cam) notched his eighth career win but had just two prior starts (and no wins) at Woodbine Mohawk Park before Saturday's appearance. The 1:53.4 mile time was a new lifetime mark by four full seconds.
Full Horse ($5.40) was full of horse in the second Harvest division for pacers. Settled in third for driver Louis-Philippe Roy through a :28 first quarter and :57.2 half, Roy right-lined Full Horse approaching the third station and applied pressure to pacesetting favourite Arizona Jackson (Jonathan Drury) as the field hit the three-quarter mark in 1:25.4. Full Horse wore down Arizona Jackson and, through a :27 closing panel, held off the late surge of Cheddar Duharas (Tyler Borth) by a half-length for the 1:53.1 decision. Arizona Jackson stayed for the show spot.
Luc Blais trains Full Horse (Bettors Delight - Lady Be Great) for owner Determination of Montreal, Que. The mile time shaved one fifth of a second of his previous lifetime best.
The Ontario Sired Harvest Series is for three-year-old colts and geldings who are non-winners of $30,000 in 2023 as of Sept. 30, 2023. The second leg of the series is slated for Saturday, Nov. 18 with the $40,000 (added) final one week later.
For results from the Saturday card of harness racing in Campbellville, click the following link: Saturday Results - Woodbine Mohawk Park.