Poseidon Seelster won a tight thriller, while Special Mission posted an impressive score in Saturday’s (March 30) New Holland Series finals at Woodbine Mohawk Park.
The New Holland Series ended on Saturday night with a $70,000 final in the pacing division and $71,000 final on the trotting side.
Poseidon Seelster flashed early speed, ended up in a pocket trip and slipped up the rail to win in a four-horse photo the New Holland Pacing Series final. Tyler Moore steered the Don Lindsey trainee.
The raced opened with a hot :26.1 quarter courtesy of Poseidon Seelster and Whichwaytothebeach, who cleared entering the backstretch. After posting panels of :55.1 and 1:22.4, Whichwaytothebeach carried the lead to the eighth pole before being swarmed. At the wire, Poseidon Seelster prevailed by a nose over a shaking loose Century Heineken, while Whichwaytothebeach and Frankie Frankie finished third and fourth by a neck.
A seven-year-old gelded son of Sunshine Beach-Porsche Seelster, Poseidon Seelster now has three wins in 11 starts this season. The Lindsey trainee was sixth and second in the New Holland preliminary legs. Saturday’s win boosts his career numbers to 18 wins and $659,090 in earnings for owners Lindsey, Paul Kleinpaste, William Alempijevic and Garth Bechtel.
Poseidon Seelster paid $22.90 to win.
The Blair Burgess-trained Special Mission blew his rivals out with a 4-1/4-length victory in 1:52.3 to take the New Holland Trotting Series final.
Driver Jody Jamieson made his move with Special Mission approaching the half, angling out from sixth to go first up. The five-year-old kept marching up, overtaking leader Pikachu Hanover. Special Mission opened on the field to win easily in a career-best equalling 1:52.3. Handsome Sebastian finished second while Franks Angel was third.
Special Mission (Walner-Special Hill) improved to five wins in eight starts this season with Saturday’s victory. The Burgess trainee has now made $76,520 this season for owners Daniel Roland and Bred Winr Stables. His career statistics now read nine wins and $100,680 earned.
A $2 win ticket on Special Mission returned $7.80. The five-year-old stallion will take a break from racing, according to Burgess, heading to Minnesota for some stallion duty with plans to bring the horse back to the track later this season.
An accident occurred in Saturday evening’s 11th race. Three-year-old gelding Brigus and driver Sylvain Filion made contact with the wheel of Vis A Vis Bluechip, driven by Paul Davies, in the stretch drive, causing Brigus to fall to the track. Four-year-old gelding Holy Jalapeno and driver Phil Hudon were unable to avoid the fallen horse and also fell to the track.
Both horses got up from the accident and are reported to be okay.
Hudon was examined on track and sent to a local hospital for further evaluation as a precaution. Filion got up and walked off the track under his own power.
To view Saturday's harness racing results, click the following link: Saturday Results - Woodbine Mohawk Park.
(With files from Woodbine)
Very classy Blair!
Very classy Blair!