ELMIRA, ON — Elmira Raceway rang in Canada Day with five Grassroots divisions for the two-year-old pacing fillies and Nadine Seelster kicked off the festivities with an impressive 1:59.4 victory in the second race.
With trainer Jim Ainsworth in the race bike, Nadine Seelster left the starting gate from Post 4 and landed in fourth spot on the rail heading for the :30.1 opening quarter. By the 1:00.4 half Ainsworth had the Camluck filly up and moving on the outside and by the 1:30.3 three-quarters she was three lengths ahead of the field.
As she turned for home Nadine Seelster had increased her lead to 10 lengths and at the wire she was all alone, 16 lengths in front of Armbro Arrow with Crossridge Ideal almost a dozen more lengths back in third.
Ainsworth trains Nadine Seelster for his father Larry of Petrolia, Norman Walker of Sarnia, Ross Holmes of Ilderton and Martwest Racing Stable of Mississauga. The partners selected the sibling to $202,371 winner Ernie and Bert and $137,789 winner Camaroom out of the Forest City Yearling Sale last fall for $45,000 and made a $10,346 deposit against their investment after Monday’s win.
Local favourite Streetwise Hanover captured the second division in a mile that looked as though it were contested by veteran pacers at the Meadowlands. With three lead changes between the start and the three-quarters, there was always someone rolling up the outside to challenge for the top spot.
Trainer Murray Brethour sent Streetwise Hanover after the lead just before the halfway marker, but her stint on the front end was short lived as favourite Party N Canada was hot on her heels looking to control the tempo. Brethour opted to sit behind Party N Canada and his patience paid off as Streetwise Hanover was able to break free through the stretch to grab the one length victory in 2:01.4.
O See My Bo and Warrawee Echo also paced home strongly to pick up the second and third-place finisher’s share of the $20,692 purse.
Paul Lindsey of Fergus shares ownership on Streetwise Hanover with Lorne Brethour of Sunderland and Barry McClennan of Cavan, although she may be taking up residence in a new barn over the coming weeks as the partners hang a for sale sign in front of her stall.
Marlee Seelster captured the sixth race with an impressive effort up the outside for veteran reinsman Ross Battin. The Rustler Hanover daughter toughed it out on the outside through the later half of the mile before outpacing Believe In Dreams to the wire for the 2:00.4 victory. Local filly My Terrific Girl, owned by Elmira’s Carman Nickel, finished third.
Frank O’Reilly of Orton trains Marlee Seelster for his partner John Fielding of Toronto. The win was the filly’s first in two starts. She posted a fourth-place finish in the Trillium Series at Georgian Downs on June 25.
The last two divisions went to Pat Me Up in 2:00.3 and Change Of Address in 2:01.2.
The freshman pacing fillies return to Georgian Downs on July 20 for their second Grassroots event of the season. Ontario Sires Stakes excitement returns to Elmira Raceway on July 29 when the two-year-old trotting colts compete in Gold Series Elimination action.