Woodbine Mohawk Park: Karma Seelster tallies in her SBOA Stakes final

After winning her elimination a week ago, Karma Seelster came back this Saturday to prevail as the favorite in the C$138,518 S.B.O.A. Stakes final for sophomore pacing fillies at Woodbine Mohawk Park. The final time was 1:53.

Driver Doug McNair shot out from post five with Karma Seelster and had the lead at the 27 2/5 opening quarter, but Rose Run Victory (Ed Hensley), who also was victorious in an elimination event, moved up two-wide and took over past that point. Rose Run Victory would get to the half in just 56 3/5, and though Lauras Love (Bob McClure) challenged first-up from third on the far turn, the pace didn't quicken as three-quarters went on the board in just 1:26.

Rose Run Victory figured to be tough off that tepid middle-half, but instead she lugged out and was overtaken in the stretch, giving Karma Seelster the inside path to rally through. Karma Seelster did exactly that, taking back over the top spot, and then she held off a closing bid from second-over Rose Run Vantage (Scott Young) to score by a head. Lauras Love, Rose Run Victory, and Queso Relleno (Blake MacIntosh) completed the top five.

"She finishes second or third quite a bit. Going for money like that, it adds up," said McNair. "It's a little frustrating sometimes as a driver. You get a trip like that, and sometimes she'll shoot through and just kind of hang around and finish second or third. She really put out tonight. She raced great.

"I figured the way Hensley's filly raced last week, she was probably the one to follow. As soon as I made the front, he was on the move right away. In the last turn I just thought we were probably racing for second and third off those fractions, but things opened up, and she raced great."

Gregg McNair trains Karma Seelster, a daughter of Sportswriter, for owners Eileen Waples, Keith Waples, and Karen Hauver. Karma Seelster is now a seven-time winner from 26 starts, and she has pocketed C$539,775. She paid $5.70 to win.