Ontario-bred Tempus Seelster owned three wins in the Fillies and Mares Open at Saratoga Casino Hotel when she drew the rail in Friday night’s feature.
Billy Dobson is the regular driver for the five-year-old Jim Nickerson-trained mare, who was again tasked with defeating the weekly Open favourite Spreester.
Spreester (Frank Coppola Jr.) got away last in the six-horse feature while Tempus Seelster cut the mile. After first half fractions of :27.2 and :56.1, Tempus Seelster dug in when approached by a first-over Glenferrie Bronte N (Bruce Aldrich Jr.). All the while Spreester was second-over, following her live cover into a striking spot. Tempus Seelster was confronted by both mares turning for home but would not be denied, stopping the timer in 1:52.4 for a new seasonal mark. Spreester wound up as the runner-up in the $14,500 Open while a beaten favourite for the fifth consecutive week. Glenferrie Bronte N earned the show spot.
Tempus Seelster paid $5.30 as the betting public’s 8-5 second choice. The exacta and triple came back $14.60 and $58.50, respectively.
The Seelster Farms-bred Big Jim mare is owned by Holland Racing Stable of Niagara-On-The-Lake, Ont.
Dobson piloted four winners on the card, two of which for Nickerson.
(With files from Saratoga Casino Hotel)