National Seelster ripped out of the pocket for driver Andy Miller and ripped past a prohibitive favourite Thursday night, throwing down the gauntlet with the fastest of three efforts during Yonkers Raceway’s New York Sire Stakes Hugh Grant Pace.
Leaving alertly from post position six in his $56,125 division for three-year-old pacing colts/geldings, National Seelster made the first lead. He then gave up the baton to 1-4 choice Arque Hanover (Jason Bartlett) right at a :27.1 opening quarter-mile. Southwind Massimo (Pat Lachance) was away third.
Arque Hanover found a 56-second intermission and 1:23.4 three-quarters, with no outer pressure whatsoever. He took a length lead into the lane, but National Seelster was more than ready for his second move. He went up and over Arque Hanover, winning by a length-and-quarter in a certifiably-snappy 1:51.1. Arque Hanover held second over Southwind Massimo.
For second choice National Seelster, a son of Bettors Delight trained by Chris Ryder for co-owners Robert Mondillo and Oompas Farm, it was his seventh win in 13 seasonal starts. He paid $13.20.
“He’s just a perfect colt,” Ryder said. “Does whatever you ask, gets around any surface. We may try the Adios next, depending upon how many of those ‘killers’ are there.”
Thursday’s other Grant events were won by Betting Exchange (Jim Morrill, Jr., $2.10) getting off the seasonal schneid in 1:53.3, and Americanprimetime (Bartlett, $19.80), holding off 59-1 Rockin In Heaven (Dave Miller) in a season’s best 1:52.4.
The former, Bettors Delight colt trained by Tom Fanning for co-owners himself, Howard Taylor and Susan Kajsfasz, zipped well past $300,000 in career cash with the win over Penji Hanover and K Rock.
For fourth choice Americanprimetime, a son of American Ideal trained by Rick Dane, Jr. for owner Rock And Roll Stable, he’s now 2-for-9 this season. He defeated Artistic and A Bettor Hat.
(Yonkers Raceway)