Grand River: Pacing fillies go after Ontario Sires Stakes Gold

There were a pair of Ontario Sires Stakes Gold Series divisions up for grabs at Grand River Raceway on Monday, Aug. 3, part of the Elora oval’s annual Industry Day celebrations.

Driver Doug McNair kicked off the afternoon’s festivities in the first race, firing 3-year-old pacing filly Karma Seelster away from post four in the opening C$105,600 Gold Series split and repelling all challengers on the way to a 1 1/4 length victory in 1:53. Sound Idea closed to be second and pocket-sitter Betalady rounded out the top three.

"We had two good horses along the inside that both have been racing pretty good, but I just figured I had the handiest one of them all, just for leaving the gate and pacing the turns. So I thought if I could get her out of there on the right foot they'd have a little trouble catching her, and they did," said McNair, referring to favorite Sex Appeal at post one and reigning division champion Alicorn at post two. "She can make up ground on the turns, where a lot of them are just trying to hold their position. It really helps her when they race on a half. Going for $100,000 you've got to take advantage of it."

The driver's father, Gregg McNair, trains Karma Seelster for Eileen and Keith Waples and Karen Hauver. The win was the Sportswriter daughter's first of the sophomore campaign and extends her unbeaten streak at Grand River Raceway to four. Last season the filly swept her elimination and the final of the Battle of the Belles and came back nine days later to win a Gold Series leg.

Lauras Love took the other C$105,600 3-year-old pacing filly Gold Series division with a gritty first-up effort. The favorite and driver Bob McClure wore down pace-setter Rose Run Vantage to secure the one length victory in 1:54 2/5. Pocket-sitter All Day Sunshine was third.

"He (McClure) said she was all grit, she wasn't pacing great,” said trainer John Pentland. "She's a really nice filly, like she's a winning horse, not just because she's got all those wins on her card, but because she's tough to beat. She wants to win."

Pentland shares ownership of the Betterthancheddar filly with Gracie Mae Barr. Mondays win was Lauras Love's first in Ontario Sires Stakes action, but her seventh of the season.

--press release (Ontario Sires Stakes)--