Having swept the February edition of a Pop-Up Series, Del Diggity has found her niche at Woodbine Mohawk Park as the Garry Merner student found her way to the winner's circle during the first leg of a new Pop-Up Series for claiming pacers on Tuesday, June 4.
With each division carrying a purse of $10,000, the Pop-Up Series opened up on Tuesday for the first leg and will be followed by a second leg on Tuesday, June 11 with the $15,000 final and $10,000 consolation slated for Tuesday, June 18. The series is offered for $8,000 claiming pacers, both horses and geldings as well as fillies and mares.
Doug McNair and Del Diggity got away fourth to the :28 quarter, but quickly swept to take command of the field of fillies and mares. After controlling the timer through panels in :58 and 1:26.1, Del Diggity opened up to a 3-3/4-length victory in 1:53.4 over Acefortyfour Daisy (Sylvain Filion) and Italia Seelster (Louis-Philippe Roy).
The six-year-old So Surreal-Beach Sunset mare won her ninth race from 16 starts this year and her 23rd victory from 101 career starts, increasing her bankroll to $150,075. Del Diggity returned $2.80 to win. Owned by Andrea Leon for the win, Del Diggity was claimed for $10,000 by Kevin Skilton and Tyler Schlatman.
Brookdale Seb ($43) heavily upset his field of eight male pacers in a division of the Pop-Up Series, scoring at 21-1 odds.
Scott Young and the Michael Stamp student got away sixth through an opening panel in :26.3 and half in :55.2 before moving to the outside, fourth-over behind cover. Still fifth at the top of the stretch, Brookdale Seb had to turn on the afterburners to charge to a 1:53.4 victory by a head over Delightful Magic (Bob McClure) and Journalistic (McNair).
Brookdale Seb (Shadow Play-Dew It Again) is owned by Michael Stamp and Janet Larcombe. He recorded his second win of the year from 18 starts and ninth career victory in 58 starts. He equalled his lifetime mark in the mile.
Battle With Desire ($14.90) collected a gate-to-wire triumph in the third Pop-Up Series division of the evening, a $10,000 second split for the fillies and mares.
Trevor Henry and the Bernard Willis student controlled the tempo with panels in :27.1, :55.4 and 1:25 before going on to win by 1-1/2 lengths in 1:53.1. Timewaitsonnoone (James MacDonald) took second with Missy Rocks (Roy) third.
Owned by Brian Lamarche, the seven-year-old Thinking Out Loud-Thrillionaire mare won her first race of the year in three starts and 16th career tally from 90 starts.
Kinkaid Seelster ($6.80) closed out the card with a win in the fourth and final Pop-Up Series split, the second division for the males.
Roy and Brett Lester teamed up to send the six-year-old gelding to the gate from post eight. Kinkaid Seelster was caught on the outside through the opening panel in :27.3 before finding real estate on the pylons in the lead en route to the half in :56.3. He was met for a challenge by Papiamento (McNair) at the three-quarters in 1:26, but was ready for the battle. Kinkaid Seelster won by a length at the wire in 1:54.2. Southern Flight (MacDonald) took second and Papiamento completed the triactor.
Kinkaid Seelster (Big Jim-Keystone Tiffany) earned his third win of the year from 20 starts and ninth career tally. In 83 starts, he has banked $94,799. The winner was owned by Mickey Sudar, Ronald Nobes and Terry Cameron. Claimed for $8,000, he will now race for new connections, including Tess Waxman, Macks Stable Macks Stable and Troy Learn.
To view Tuesday's harness racing results, click the following link: Tuesday Results - Woodbine Mohawk Park.
(Standardbred Canada)