The 2025 Dresden Raceway meet came to a close on Monday, Aug. 4 and it concluded with a bang as Macapelo Seelster paced to a new track record for three-year-old pacing fillies to head a trio of $25,000 Ontario Sires Stakes Grassroots splits.
Leaving from the rail as the 1-9 favourite with Garrett Rooney in the bike, Macapelo Seelster was aggressive off the wings, briefly releasing the top to Tricky Wicky (Phil Hudon) before moving back around to grab command of the field of seven through a quarter of :28.2. Macapelo Seelster maintained a 1-1/2-length advantage to the half in :58 before leading to three-quarters unchallenged in 1:27.2.
Macapelo Seelster began to shift gears once turning for home, growing her lead to 4-1/2 lengths on the wire with a :27.4 final quarter to stop the clock in 1:55.1. Tricky Wicky held for second, with Ibetyouakiss (J.R. Plante) finishing third, 7-3/4 lengths back of the winner.
Trained by Peter Brickman for owner Erin Swainson Brickman of Sebringville, Ont., Macapelo Seelster has won three of nine on the year. The daughter of Big Jim-Macapelo has won five of 18 starts lifetime, with career earnings of $173,841.
The mark of 1:55.1 lowered the previous track record of 1:55.2 established by Armbro Wand in August of 2002.
In the other two Grassroots splits, Lady Cafe Au Lait (Daryl Thiessen, $3.60) swooped three-wide at three-quarters en route to a 1:56.2 score for trainer Victor Puddy and All My Wishes (Garrett Rooney, $2.20) led gate-to-wire in a 3-3/4-length romp in 1:56.3 for trainer Chantal Mitchell.
In addition to the Grassroot Series, the Monday card at Dresden also hosted a lone $8,000 Prospect Series division for two-year-old pacing colts. Cabo San Lucas (Damian MacLellan, $3.20) delivered a half-length front end score in 1:58.4 for trainer Kyle Fellows.
Later in the card, Monteverdi and driver Nicholas Steward overcame the second-tier starting position in post eight to deliver an 18-1 upset in the $7,000 Preferred 3 Trot.
Monteverdi landed in the pocket early, following Shouldaknownbetter (Lorne House), who protected his rail starting spot to cut the quarter in :30. The lead duo continued to race clear through middle half fractions of 1:00.3 and 1:30.2. Monteverdi left the contest turning for home, before trotting home in :30 to track down Shouldaknownbetter and win by three parts of a length in 2:00.3. Bucktober (Scott Wray) finished third, 2-1/2 lengths behind the winner.
Trained by Jeff Graham, Monteverdi has won four of 15 races on the season for owner Karry Howard of Wardsville, Ont. The 11-year-old Cantab Hall-Cameo Credit gelding is a 34-time winner for his career, with lifetime earnings of $346,579.
A win by Grand Circuit late in the card gave trainer Cameron McQueen a share of the training title alongside Donald Rankin Jr., as both conditioners racked up 10 training victories for the meet. George Robinson finished third in the standings with nine victories.
With a grand slam on the closing day card, Garrett Rooney tallies 38 victories over the course of the meet to lead all drivers. Four closing-day wins also by Robert Doyle gave him rally to grab a share of second with Donald Rankin Jr. with 12 wins.
To view Monday's harness racing results, click the following link: Monday Results - Dresden Raceway.
(Standardbred Canada)