Grand River Raceway: Bronx Seelster conquers in Battle of Waterloo

Bronx Seelster overcame a first-over trip and was resurgent in the lane after being passed on the far turn to triumph in Monday afternoon's C$262,315 Battle of Waterloo for rookie pacing colts and geldings at Grand River Raceway. The final time was 1:53 1/5, which just missed the track record by a fifth of a second.

Wager On Me (Jody Jamieson) would blast out to assume early command from post three, but Twin B Watching (Doug McNair) came out from third, and he would take over the top spot passing the 27 1/5 opening quarter. Bronx Seelster (Trevor Henry) had gotten away fourth from the trailing post nine, and he would come first-over as the field raced off the second turn, giving a second-over trip to Bettors Wish (Paul MacDonell).

Twin B Watching got to the half in 55 3/5, but Bronx Seelster was moving quickly on his outside, and Bronx Seelster was able to clear to the lead as they raced in the backstretch for the final time. That left Bettors Wish first-up and just a head back at the 1:24 1/5 three-quarters, but Bettors Wish would continue his brush despite losing cover, gaining an advantage on Bronx Seelster late on the far turn and still having a slight lead as they entered the lane.

In the stretch Bronx Seelster came under a heavy drive from Henry on the inside, and he was able to pass Bettors Wish back, then held sway to the wire, winning by a neck. Bettors Wish had to settle for second, with Sports Teen (Louis-Philippe Roy) third after gapping Bettors Wish's cover at three-quarters. Fast N First (James MacDonald) and Better Moonon Over (Chris Christoforou) rounded out the top five.

"He was tough today. It's all his; it had nothing to do with me," stated Henry. "Halfway through the last turn he was beat. I figured we were going to be second, but when we came off the turn and we kind of wheel-to-wheel, he just dug in. I wanted to let Paul in front of me going into the first turn, but he was grabby and I couldn't take him back enough to get Paul in front of me. That's where I wanted to be, but I had to come first-up. He did all the work, and he raced awesome."

A Big Jim colt, Bronx Seelster is trained by Wayne McGean for owner Capers 3 Stable. This was Bronx Seelster's fourth victory from six tries, and he pushed his earnings to C$225,157. Bronx Seelster, bred by Seelster Farms Inc., was a $22,000 purchase at the London Selected Yearling Sale. He is out of the Bettor's delight mare Tarport Baccarat (1:59 3/5, C$5,610), which makes him a half-brother to Bourbon Seelster (Camluck, 1:51 1/5, C$197,705). The dam Tarport Baccarat is also a full sister to Mr Apples (1:49, C$668,808).

Sent off at 4-5, Bronx Seelster paid $3.70 to win.

"He'd lay back a little bit, but when you'd ask him to go he'd always show a little go," remarked McGean about Bronx Seelster's early training. "The way I looked at it, (drawing the trailing post nine) is better than the eight anyway. Trevor moved him first-up, and I said it's going to be hard, but he just dug in. Around the last turn, like Trevor said, it looked like he was beat, but he just came right back on. I'm ecstatic. It's unreal."