'Prodigal' Takes Another Crown, Record

Ontario Sires Stakes divisional leader Prodigal Seelster captured his second straight Gold crown with another track record performance in the $170,000 final for three-year-old pacing colts and geldings Wednesday night at Grand River Raceway

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All eight colts entered in the fourth Gold event of the season advanced to tonight's final as eliminations were not necessary. With the scratch of inside starter Live And Learn, the field of seven shifted one spot to their left behind the gate.

Inheriting the inside post position, Dr Dew (Luc Ouellette) took command of the field off the gate with Camaes Fellow (Rick Zeron) and 1-5 favourite Prodigal Seelster tucking in behind while Cam B Zipper (Anthony MacDonald) made a break in stride.

Fresh off a 1:50.1 track record performance in his last Gold Final start at Kawartha Downs on Sept. 1, Prodigal Seelster moved underway and took over command as they raced past the :27.1 opening quarter mark. The son of Camluck-Platinum Seelster, driven by Scott Zeron, cruised past middle panels of :55.3 and 1:23.4 while establishing a solid four length lead.

Prodigal Seelster entered the stretch and continued to pour it on, adding one length to his cushion as he reached the wire in 1:52.2. The time of the mile lowered Primary Purpose's track record for sophomore male pacers set in 2009, but two-fifths of a second.

Bullet Speed (Scott Coulter) came on for second over Dr Dew and Camaes Fellow. Machal Jackson (J.R. Plante) was fifth while the winner's stablemate, Watermelonwine (Trevor Henry), remained sixth throughout the mile after starting from the outside spot.

Prodigal Seelster has now won six times in 14 starts this year while never missing a paycheque to earn $412,422 for Ontario owners by Larry Menary, Denis Breton, Kenneth Ewen, and the Double Or Nothing Stables.

"He had a lot of issues he had to overcome at the beginning of the year. Everybody's been pretty patient with him and patient with me and things are now lining up right now," explained the colt's trainer, David Menary, in the winner's circle. "He's really come around. I didn't want to miss the [North America] Cup. You always want to be in the big races, but it doesn't matter how much you go for, it's about how much you get."

Prodigal Seelster's appearance at Grand River Raceway was his first since he set a track record in the 2010 edition of the Battle Of Waterloo.

"He likes Grand River. Grand River has been always been good to him," said Menary.

Prodigal Seelster and Watermelonwine will head to the final Gold Series event at Woodbine Racetrack in October before the Super Final takes place. Prodigal Seelster is also eligible to the Breeders Crown.

One race later, 2-1 second choice Keepers Destiny and driver Paul MacKenzie journeyed first over to win this week's $11,000 Preferred 2 Pace for fillies and mares in 1:54.4 by three-quarters of a length over Meredith Maguire N (Luc Ouellette) and longshot Boomersbestbet (Jonathan Drury). The five-year-old daughter of Intrepid Seelster is trained by Phil Coleman for owner-breeder Merlin Howse of Langton, Ont.

To view results from Wednesday's harness racing card, click on the following link: Wednesday Results - Grand River Raceway.