Callie Rankin converted a pocket trip into yet another victory for his bread and butter trotter, Brawn Seelster, who took home the lion’s share of Monday’s featured $18,400 Preferred at Western Fair Raceway.
Brawn Seelster won for the 11th time this season and for the 31st time in his career for Rankin and partner Jeff Goreski of Richmond Hill, ON.
The six-year-old son of Berndt Hanover tracked tempo-setter Stonebridge Diablo through splits of :29.3, 1:01 and 1:30 before slipping out and using a :31 second closing quarter to prevail by a neck. Trottin Troy rallied to finish second and Stonebridge Diablo held on for third.
Brawn Seelster, who has banked in excess of $133,000 this season, now boasts lifetime earnings of $343,290.
St Lads Seraph came from the back of the bus to take home weekly bragging rights in the $15,200 Fillies & Mares Preferred for the duo of trainer Sandra Spencer and driver Brad Forward.
The three-year-old daughter of Northern Luck, who was the runner-up in this year’s OSS Grassroots Championship, got away seventh before staging a solid rally in the final three quarters of the mile.
She was third over and sixth at the half before being stacked up three-wide while sitting third at the three-quarter pole. A :29.4 final frame was more than enough for the filly to drive off to a three-length decision in a time of 1:59.1. Tymal Vector was second and Lulas Filly finished third.
Spencer shares ownership on the talented sophomore with Kathleen Brogan of Windsor, ON. Together, they have watched the filly put together a 3-3-3 record in 17 starts this season. Her $82,205 seasonal stash lifted her lifetime earnings to $178,489.
Blueridge Finance snapped out of a 14-race losing skid thanks to a 1:58.3 score in gate-to-wire fashion in the $12,800 Preferred 2 for the team of trainer Daniel Taneyhill and driver Marc St. Louis Jr.
The three-year-old son of V P Finance whacked out panels of :27.3, :57.4 and 1:27 before cruising home in :31.3 en route to posting the 1:58.3 victory. It was more than two lengths back to runner-up Blissed Out, who photoed out third-place finisher Twin City Turbo in the eight-horse affair.
Darlene Conway of Abingdon, VA holds the papers on the colt, who won for the fifth time in his career while bumping his overall bankroll to $105,975.
To view Monday’s results, click here.