Ontario Grassroots graduate Poseidon Seelster sped around the track during the Thursday (March 18) qualifying session, posting the fastest pacing mile of the total 12 qualifiers held in the morning.
Driven by Bob McClure, the four-year-old Sunshine Beach gelding dashed to the lead to clip the first quarter in :27.3. He slowed to a :57.3 half as First Class Horse revved out of fifth and rolled up to snag the pocket moving to the final turn.
Off three-quarters in 1:27, Poseidon Seelster kicked away from First Class Horse, firing a :26 final quarter to stop the clock in 1:53 and finished 13 lengths in front. Sunny Bo, breaking at the start, recovered to finish third. Don Lindsey trains and co-owns Poseidon Seelster with Paul Kleinpaste, William Alempijevic and Garth Bechtel.
Northern Baccarat opened the qualifying session with a wire-to-wire mile in 1:58.1. The four-year-old Bettors Delight gelding set a clip of :29, :59.4 and 1:29.4 before capping the pace in a 1:58.1 mile. Sylvain Filion drove the winner for trainer Darryl Holmes.
In the following qualifier, High Gear No Fear posted the fastest trotting mile on the morning. Steered by Doug McNair, the four-year-old Whom Shall I Fear gelding sat second to a :28.4 opening quarter before circling to the lead by a :58.4 half. Opening his lead to three-quarters in 1:28.1, the Stephen Bossence trainee rolled to a 10-length advantage that Luc Blais trainee Steuben Hanover cut into, shrinking the margin of victory to five-and-a-half lengths in a 1:57 mile. Southwind Avenger, winner of the 2018 Valley Victory, finished third in his 2021 debut.
The Thursday morning qualifying session is available in its entirety below:
To view Thursday's qualifying results, click on the following link: Thursday Results - Woodbine Mohawk Park (Qualifier).