Karma Seelster dethrones So Much More

Karma Seelster ended So Much More’s three-race victory streak in the Woodbine Mohawk Park $30,000 Preferred Pace class for harness racing distaffers on Friday with a late surge up the rail.

She grabbed the pocket from post six entering the first turn for driver Doug McNair and settled in for the ride as she remained on the pylons through the first quarter mile in :26.3, half in :55.1, and three-quarters in 1:22.4. So Much More (James MacDonald), the overwhelming favourite, popped out of the four-hole in the third quarter and chipped away on the outside.

Karma Seelster was boxed in by the first-over So Much More entering the stretch but found room when leader Ivana Flybye N (Jody Jamieson) moved off the rail at the eighth pole. Karma Seelster surged with clear racetrack in front of her. She dispatched Ivana Flybye and resisted a final push for four straight from So Much More to win by a neck in 1:50.2.

So Much more had her heart broken in second. Ivana Flybye N finished third. The winner paid $13.60.

KARMA SEELSTER REPLAY

Karma Seelster’s win was her first of the season in two starts. The Sportswriter four-year-old finished worse than fourth once in 2020 as the then-filly competed in Mohawk stakes events. She has won eight races, including the $138,518 Ontario SBOA Final, in 18 career starts and has now earned more than $555,000. Gregg McNair trains for Eileen Waples, Karen Hauver, and Shady Hill Racing Stable of Durham.

Sylvain Filion recorded the fifth grand slam by a reinsman at the Mohawk meet in its sixth race day. He scored each win in sequence, starting in the third with Hp Mama B (1:54.3), then taking the fourth with Ourlittlemiracle (1:53), fifth with Nice Kitty Hanover (1:53), and sixth with Voelz Delight (1:53.1). MacDonald is responsible for two of the four-win days; Jamieson and McNair recorded the others.

Bob McClure also had a fruitful day in the bike as he racked up a driving triple.

Woodbine Mohawk Park hosts 10 races on Saturday, Jun. 19, including a $34,000 Preferred Pace. Racing will begin at 7:00 p.m. EDT.

For full race results, click here.

by Nicholas Barnsdale, for Harnesslink