Nirvana Seelster displayed the determination that’s helped him earn over $1 million in his career to give trainer Bill Budd a milestone victory Saturday night (Dec. 21) at Woodbine Mohawk Park.
Budd entered Saturday’s card a win shy of 2,000 for his career and his longtime stable star Nirvana Seelster fittingly came through with a game victory in the $34,000 Preferred Pace.
Driven by Bob McClure, Nirvana Seelster shot to the lead and went unchallenged through solid fractions of :26.4, :55.1 and 1:22.4. East End angled from the two-hole at the head of the lane and took a short lead with an eighth of a mile remaining.
Nirvana Seelster refused to give up and battled back at the inside to regain the lead late, winning a wild finish in 1:51. East End finished second by a head, while Ellis Park was third by a neck.
Owned by Bruce Davy, Nirvana Seelster scored his fourth win in 30 starts this season and 45th of his career. The eight-year-old gelding has earned over $1.2 million. This was his first Preferred-level victory since Sept. 15, 2018.
Budd, 68, has been a fixture on the Woodbine and Ontario racing scene for decades. The Waterdown, Ontario resident started working for Bill Wellwood in 1969 and has made over 10,000 starts as a trainer with his horses earning more than $19 million.
Sir Luck and Boulder Creek are two of Budd’s most notable students during his training career.
Budd’s stable is enjoying a strong season, posting 52 wins and earning more than $1.1 million. This marks the third season his stable has surpassed $1 million.
Traceur Hanover joined harness racing's millionaires club with a runner-up finish in Saturday’s seventh race.
The seven-year-old pacer needed a win or runner-up finish in the $21,000 event to surpass $1 million. Traceur Hanover delivered a game effort, battling Islandspecialmajor right to the wire to finish second by three-quarters of a length.
Traceur Hanover was purchased by owner Richard Berthiaume for $100,000 as a yearling in 2013. The son of Western Ideal won the Breeders Crown as a two-year-old in 2014 and has since became a mainstay on the Woodbine circuit, competing in top-level classes for several seasons.
The Baillargeon trainee has nine wins and 19 top-three finishes in 37 starts this season for $185,030 in earnings. His career numbers now sit at 35 wins and $1,002,379 earned to go with a mark of 1:49.2.
(Woodbine Mohawk Park)
To view Saturday's harness racing results, click on the following link: Saturday Results - Woodbine Mohawk Park.