MILTON, October 1 – Woodbine Mohawk Park announcer Ken Middleton called Grandeur Seelster’s opening panel a “first quarter smokeshow” in the $60,000 Ontario Sires Stakes Grassroots Final for two-year-old pacing fillies.
In the winners’ circle afterward, driver Austin Sorrie agreed the pace was a little hot in the early going:
“I thought I was going to be in trouble at the quarter pole,” said Sorrie.
But it was no trouble for fast-leaving Grandeur Seelster, who set a brisk pace in a 25.4 opening panel, with 61-1 Bettors Punch and Jonathan Drury pressing from the outside early, then settling in the pocket on the first turn.
The fillies raced single-file to the 54.3 half, with the 4-5 favourite confidently maintaining her short lead for Sorrie.
Cheese So Pretty and James MacDonald tipped from third to move first-over on the final turn, with Twin Delight and Bob McClure following her cover second-over from fourth.
Grandeur Seelster kept two lengths ahead of their best efforts, reaching three-quarters in 1:23.1 under minimal urging from Sorrie, who glanced back several times during the stretch drive. He had put the whip away entirely as the gate-to-wire leader stopped the clock in 1:51.1, a new lifetime best.
In the battle for place, three-wide Twin Delight pulled ahead of ground-saving closer Shake It Twice and Doug McNair and Bettors Punch, who held on for fourth.
“She was good last week, so I just hoped she was good this week,” said Sorrie after the win. “Starting out, she was real green, so it helped a lot driving her all summer. When she got real good, you knew when she was good.”
Grandeur Seelster was the only female OSS Grassroots Semi-finals Winner to repeat in the October 1 finals.
“If she’s as good as she was there, next year, she’ll be a good Gold filly,” said Sorrie.
Grandeur Seelster paid $3.60 to win in her fourth seasonal victory from eight starts.
Owned by Gestion Mastel Inc., Courtney Gallant, PEI; and trainer Marcel Barrieau the daughter of All Bets Off–Glamour Seelster was bred by Seelster Farms of Lucan, ON.
Caretaker Cindy Rapson looks after the former $37,000 yearling, purchased at the 2021 London Select Sale.