Driver Doug McNair has said 'I do' to steering a pair of mares in the opening leg of the Damsel Pacing Series on Friday evening at Woodbine Racetrack.
With three $30,000 divisions drawn for Woodbine's 12-race Friday card, the young driver will guide one of his father’s trainees, Synergy Seelster, as well as the Joe Pereira-trained Whirlwind.
Synergy Seelster is fresh off a third-place finish in the HorsePlayer Interactive Series final, a result that left McNair somewhat disappointed.
“She did race well, but I thought she’d mow down the leader,” he said. “They went a pretty big quarter then we ended up following the horse I wanted to follow (Jamaica Hanover). We had pretty good cover, but the cover got weak just before we got around the last turn, so we had to go three-wide a little bit early. But she should have fired home a little bit better than she did.”
The 22-year-old reinsman is looking for a better outcome this time around. He feels that if the four-year-old lass is sharp, she will be a top contender in the series.
The seven-time career winner has had a solid start to her aged campaign with a record of 2-1-1 in six outings, banking $41,450 in seasonal earning for owners Lindsey and Connie Rankin of Lexington, Michigan.
The mare also recently took a new lifetime mark. On February 3, Synergy Seelster stopped the teletimer in 1:52.1 to win the opening round of the HPI Series at the Toronto oval.
“‘Synergy’ has really surprised us the last month and a half,” said McNair. “She has been a very nice mare for us this winter.”
Although McNair says the daughter of Mach Three--Silver Seven always gives 110 per cent every race, she is still quite green.
“She is kind of funny to drive,” he said. “In a race, she stops and starts all the time. Once she learns to go ahead on her own without stopping and starting, she will be that much better I think.”
But to tell if she is on her game, McNair noted to keep an eye on her in the ninth-race post parade.
“I think usually you can tell sometimes in post parade how good she can be by whether or not she is grabbing on or if she is moping out there,” the resident of Guelph, Ont. explained. “Usually, if she is grabbing on a lot, she is going to be pretty good.”
Synergy Seelster will start from Post 6.
In Race 6, McNair will also be handed the reins for Post 5 starter Whirlwind.
The daughter of Royal Mattjesty--Western Whirl was claimed for $15,000 on November 17, 2011 by Pereira and New York owner The Merks Stable.
The five-year-old mare is winless this year, but has one second-place finish and three third-place finishes with $15,490 in seasonal earnings.
According to McNair, the eight-time career winner has her work cut out for her, but could surprise.
“It is probably a pretty tough series for her, but you never know until you try them,” he said. “She is nice to drive. She is free-legged, so sometimes you just have to watch her behind the gate. She will make the odd break, other than that she is perfect to drive. She has been racing super lately, so that’s why they have given her a shot at the series.”
The $40,000 second leg --- for pacing mares that are four- or five-year-olds who are non-winners of $150,000 lifetime as of midnight, December 31, 2011 --- is scheduled for Friday, March 2, with the $100,000 final set for Saturday, March 10.
To view the harness racing entries for Friday at Woodbine, click the following link: Friday Entries - Woodbine Racetrack.
(WEG)