Grand River: Fields set for Battle of Waterloo, Battle of the Belles

Ontario-sired 2-year-old pacers of both sexes were in action on Monday evening at Grand River Raceway as a trio of C$10,000 Battle of the Belles (fillies) and two C$15,000 Battle of Waterloo eliminations (colts and geldings) took place.

The night's most impressive winner was Alicorn (Louis-Philippe Roy) in the first Battle of the Belles elimination as she took the lead past the 27 2/5 opening quarter and went on to equal the track record for a rookie pacing filly of 1:54 2/5. She defeated Sound Idea (Sylvain Filion) by 3 1/4 lengths, with Preeminence (Paul MacDonell) back in the third position.

Chantal Mitchell trains Alicorn, a Bettor's Delight-Mythical (Artsplace) filly who was bred by White Birch Farm and sold for $30,000 at the Standardbred Horse Sale, for owners Windermere Stable LLC. and Robert Muscara. A full sister to Medusa (1:49, $962,213), Alicorn has won two of her four starts and banked C$67,795. She was the 1-9 favorite and paid $2.20 to win.

The next Battle of the Belles elimination was not early as formful as 34-1 shot Queso Relleno (Jody Jamieson), who was seventh and last in the opening half, worked into contention in the third quarter, then used a 29 1/5 final kicker to get up and defeat Temagami Seelster (J. Harris) by a neck in 1:55 4/5. All Day Sunshine (Sylvain Filion) faded to third after leading most of the mile.

Trainer Blake MacIntosh also co-owns Queso Relleno, a daughter of Betterthancheddar-Hay Macarena (Artsplace), with partners Hutt Racing Stable and Sue Vernon Smith. Queso Relleno, who was bred by Winbak Farm and fetched C$26,000 at the London Selected Yearling Sale, broke her maiden in her second chance and has now pocketed C$10,787. Queso Relleno, who is a half-sister to the likes of Boat House Row (Riverboat King, 1:51 4/5, $235,248), returned $71.50 to win.

Rounding out the Battle of the Belles elimination winners was Karma Seelster (Doug McNair). She yielded for the pocket behind Off The Press (Bob McClure) passing the 27 3/5 opening quarter and remained in that position to the 57 1/5 half, but appeared to be in trouble when a first-over Highland Salsa (Harris) was able to clear Off The Press just past the 1:26 4/5 three-quarters. Fortunately for her chances, McNair had room on the last turn to squeeze Karma Seelster to the outside, and she was able to chase down Highland Salsa in the lane, winning by three-parts of a length in 1:56 2/5. Highland Salsa did end up second at 49-1, with Bettorbeasecret (Robert Shepherd) third at 44-1.

Karma Seelster, a Sportswriter-Kiddie Cocktail (Bettor's Delight) filly, is trained by Gregg McNair for owners Eileen Waples, Keith Waples, and Karen Hauver. Karma Seelster, who was bred by Seelster Farms Inc. and was purchased for C$127,000 at the London Selected Yearling Sale, has a record of 1-1-1 from three efforts, and she has put away C$40,368. A half-sister to Kendall Seelster (Shadow Play, 1:49 4/5, $638,831), Karma Seelster was the 1-5 favorite in her elimination and paid $2.70 to win.

As for the Battle of Waterloo eliminations, the first one of those went to 8-1 offering Beach Blanket Book (James MacDonald). Better B Swift (Filion) had control to the 27 1/5 opening quarter in this event, but Denali Seelster (McNair) popped out of the pocket past that point, took command, and went on to a 57 4/5 half and a 1:27 2/5 three-quarters.

A first-over Rhythm In Motion (Mario Baillargeon) was pressuring Denali Seelster at three-quarters, though, and towing Beach Blanket Book into contention from second-over. Beach Blanket Book would be able to deliver on the trip in the lane, as he surged by the leaders and prevailed by half a length in 1:56 4/5. Better B Swift came up the passing lane for second, with Sports Obsession (Jamieson) up for third. Denali Seelster faded to fourth, and Mr Cheeseman (McClure) got fifth.

The victorious Sportswriter-Beach Bonnet (Camluck) colt is trained by MacIntosh for owners Hutt Racing Stable and Mac And Heim Stables. A Winbak Farm-bred who brought $17,000 at Lexington Selected Yearling Sale, Beach Blanket Book got the initial win of his career in his fourth opportunity, and he has now earned C$28,844. Beach Blanket Book, a half-brother to Solar Surprise (Royal Mattjesty, 1:50 2/5, $184,068), returned $18.70 to win.

The other Battle of Waterloo elimination saw Aneto (McClure) in the lead through panels of 28 4/5, 58 4/5, and 1:26 4/5, and he would out-last a first-over Wind Blown (Harris) in the back-half of the mile to win by a head in 1:55 4/5. Bettorbuckleup (MacDonald) was third, followed by Tabloid Writer (Baillargeon), and Colima (McNair).

Aneto picked up his first win in his third chance, and he has now socked away C$20,556. The Southwind Farms LLC.-bred Bettor's Delight-JK Sure I Can (Rocknroll Hanover) colt was a $44,000 Standardbred Horse Sale acquisition and is trained by Tim Gillespie for owner Synerco Ventures Inc. He was the 2-1 favorite and paid $6.20 to win.

Here is how the fields will line up for next Monday afternoon's finals:

C$239,000 Battle of Waterloo

1-Wind Blown
2-Bettorbuckleup
3-Denali Seelster
4-Beach Blanket Book
5-Sports Obsession
6-Mr Cheeseman
7-Better B Swift
8-Tabloid Writer
9-Aneto

C$157,500 Battle of the Belles

1-Preeminence
2-Temagami Seelster
3-Queso Relleno
4-Alicorn
5-Highland Salsa
6-Sound Idea
7-Bettorbeasecret
8-Karma Seelster
9-All Day Sunshine