Woodbine Mohawk Park: Bronx Seelster shines in Ontario Sires Stakes Gold Series dash

Ontario-sired 2-year-old pacing colts took over Woodbine Mohawk Park on Monday evening, competing in two Gold Series divisions.

Bronx Seelster moved to the top of the division standings with his second straight Gold Series victory in the evening’s eighth race. Driver Trevor Henry eased the colt away from post seven and settled him in fifth as Arcane Seelster led the field to a 26 4/5 opening quarter. Heading for the 56 1/5 half Henry moved the fan favorite into the outer lane, and then edged the colt out three-wide heading by the 1:24 2/5 three-quarters. Just three-quarters of a length behind pace-setter Arcane Seelster at the top of the stretch, Bronx Seelster sprinted home to a 1 3/4 length victory in 1:52. Caviart Rockland also closed hard to be second and The Regulator was third.

“I like the little horse, he’s all right, and he raced great tonight,” said Henry from the winner’s circle. “He’s just a little horse, but he’s got a good brush to him.”

Henry piloted Bronx Seelster to the win for trainer Wayne McGean and Capers 3 Stable, who offered up C$22,000 for the colt at last fall’s London Selected Yearling Sale. The son of Big Jim and Tarport Baccarat now has two Gold wins and one second in overnight action on his resume through four lifetime starts, giving him earnings of C$86,500.

“January on I liked the colt, and I had opportunity to go away on trips and I wouldn’t go, because I liked this colt,” admitted McGean to Woodbine Mohawk Park’s Chad Rozema. “And he came along the way I thought he would really; he’s all right.”

Bettors Wish earned the win in the other C$98,800 Gold division when Stag Party was ruled to have interfered with him near the halfway marker. As a result, Stag Party, who crossed the line one-half length in front, was placed back to second and Bettors Wish was moved up to first. Sunshines Finest was two lengths behind the duelling leaders when they crossed the wire in 1:51 2/5.

The win was the second lifetime for Bettors Wish, who captured a July 5 overnight event at Woodbine Mohawk Park before finishing third to Stag Party in the July 12 Gold Series opener. Paul MacDonell has piloted the Bettor's Delight son in all three of his outings on behalf of trainer Chantal Mitchell.

Chris Ryder, Bella Racing Ltd., Fair Island Farm Inc., and Kenneth Solomon share ownership of Bettors Wish, who was a $20,000 US purchase at the 2017 Lexington Selected Yearling Sale.

--press release (Ontario Sires Stakes)--