Gentry Seelster has positioned himself for a series sweep after emerging as the only entrant to win in both legs of the Governor's Cup Series at Northside Downs.
Northside hosted two divisions in the Governor's Cup Series second leg on Saturday (Nov. 5) with Gentry Seelster solidifying his spot as a likely favourite for next week's final. After sitting the pocket throughout the mile one week ago, driver Mark Pezzarello opted for front-end tactics for Gentry Seelster on this occasion and the five-year-old responded willingly. After fractions of :28.4, :58.3 and 1:28, Gentry Seelster comfortably paced home in :30.1 to trip the timer in 1:58.1, 1-1/2 lengths better than a pinned-on-the-pylons Runaway Mystery (Harold Leblanc Jr.). Revenant (Shawn Lynk) closed well for show, just missing out on the runner-up spot.
Now a 15-time career winner, Gentry Seelster (Mach Three - Goddess Princess) is co-owned by trainer Ian MacNeil along with Joseph MacNeil of Ingonish, N.S. and Bernard MacNeil of Miscouche, P.E.I. The stallion now sports a career bankroll of $46,993. He paid $3.90 to win.
A Better Man certainly lived up to his name in the second division, scoring for his connections to help punch his ticket to next week's final. Finishing second to Kiss Me Im Irish last week, driver Gerard Kennedy positioned A Better Man closer to that rival by sitting the pocket to Kiss Me Im Irish (Pezzarello) through panels of :27.2, :57.1, and 1:27. When the first-over challenge of favoured Betterthanbutter (Zach Mullins) started to fade around the final turn, Kennedy found the required daylight to angle out for a stretch drive and A Better Man was up to that task. He sprinted past Kiss Me Im Irish for the 1:58 decision, a length better than the pacesetting mare, with Eastcoast Invader (Roddy Gillis) completing the top trio.
Owned and trained by Joe Lewis of Sydney, N.S., A Better Man (Betterthancheddar - Beluga Hanover) picked up his sixth win of the season and 17th lifetime. The six-year-old's earnings now stand at $87,110 after the win, where he paid $7.20 on a $2 win ticket.
Red Rum She Wrote wasn't in the Governor's Cup, but the five-year-old Vintage Master mare made every call a winning one with a 1:58.2 score in the $1,400 Winners Over Pace. She picked up her eighth win of the season for owner-trainer-driver Martin Bates of South Bar, N.S. She paid $7.60 to win.
To view the full results from Saturday's card of harness racing at Northside, click the following link: Saturday Results - Northside Downs.