Rose Seelster has not missed a Gold final this season, but trainer John Kopas describes the two-year-old pacing filly as a late bloomer and feels she is just rounding into form for Friday's Gold Series eliminations at Mohawk Racetrack.
"She was a nice filly to work with, but she was kind of a slow developer. She is just starting to come into her own," says the Milton resident. "I was very much encouraged with her last race. I think she's finally starting to find her way."
Rose Seelster heads into Friday's contest off a third-place finish in an overnight test at the Campbellville oval on September 4. Starting from Post 5, the
filly led through the middle stages of the race before losing a sprint to the wire and settling for third, one and a half lengths behind the winner. Rose Seelster clocked her own mile in 1:53.3, a full second faster than her former best effort.
"I made a bridle change and it seemed to help," notes the veteran horseman. "I was very pleased with the race she put in. I think she was race timed in 1:53.3 or 1:53.4."
Kopas conditions Rose Seelster for Glengate Farms of Campbellville, ON, Ariel Stables of North York, ON, and Paul Massicotte of Montreal, Quebec, who offered up a sale topping $100,000 for the daughter of Camluck and $100,112 winner Ravishing Lady at last fall's Forest City Yearling Sale.
"She's a typical Camluck," notes Kopas. "She's solidly 15.2 (hands high) and looks just like Camluck."
Although she has been a solid player on the Gold Series circuit through the first two events, Rose Seelster has yet to find her way to the winner's circle and has only returned $26,600 of her purchase price. Regular reinsman Mario Baillargeon will steer the young pacer from Post 6 in Friday's first $40,000 Gold Elimination, and Kopas would love to see the pair come up with a win.
"Mario has been racing her a little more aggressively," says the trainer. "Any more, you pretty much have to be up near the front, and she's quite capable of getting there. She's very versatile, you can do just about whatever you want with her."
The pair face a field of nine fillies on Friday - three Gold Series regulars, two moving up from the Grassroots program, and four making their Ontario Sires Stakes debut. The most accomplished member of the group is Northern Duchess, a second and third-place finisher in the first two Gold Series Finals, but she will be handicapped by Post 9 in Friday's fifth race.
Baillargeon will also have an eye out for Trillium Series winner Bale Me Out from Post 2 and Richard Norman trainee Fashion Week from Post 1.
The other elimination features St Lads Popcorn, who rides into the third Gold Series event on a five race win streak. St Lads Popcorn, who is owned and trained by Cambridge, ON resident Jack Darling, will begin defence of her Gold final title from Post 4 in the seventh race.
Post time for Mohawk Racetrack's Friday evening festivities is 7:30 p.m., with the two-year-old pacing fillies battling for a top five finish in Races 5 and 7. The top five finishers from each elimination will return to the Campbellville oval on September 19 for their third $120,000 Gold final.
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(OSS)