Grandeur Seelster romp highlights final Grassroots prelim

A big win for Grandeur Seelster (All Bets Off) stood out as the two-year-old pacing fillies wrapped up their Ontario Sires Stakes harness racing regular season with four divisions on Wednesday (Sep. 14) at Grand River Raceway.

She flew out from post seven in the second division before retreating into the four-hole for Austin Sorrie. The filly then brushed to the front, completing the move at three-quarters, and opened up by five lengths to score in 1:55.3. Best Actress (Louis-Philippe Roy) nailed Bettors Punch (Jonathan Drury) at the wire for second.

GRANDEUR SEELSTER REPLAY

Grandeur Seelster has entered every Grassroots leg this season with two wins and $34,762 in earnings from those outings plus a conditioned start. Marcel Barrieau of Cambridge trains the filly, whom he purchased for $37,000 at the London Selected sale with co-owners Gestion Mastel Inc. of Longueil and Courtney Gallant of Stratford.

One Last Wish (Bettors Delight, Paul MacDonell) tallied her second career win in the opening split, meeting every pole first in a 1:56.2 victory. Division leader Carla Cam (Chris Christoforou) got up for second over Pa Delight (James MacDonald).

ONE LAST WISH REPLAY

Ken Sucee conditions One Last Wish, a homebred for Brian Legge of Toronto and David Legge of Ajax. The filly is two-for-eight in her rookie campaign with $27,736 in earnings.

Cheese So Pretty (Betterthancheddar, James MacDonald) scored in similar style in division three, marching first-up from fifth in the second panel, climbing to the front, and kicking clear down the stretch for a two-and-three-quarter length win in 1:58.1. Brynley Seelster (Jody Jamieson) held off Chakka (Tyler Borth) for second.

CHEESE SO PRETTY REPLAY

The winning filly has hit the board in six straight starts and won three in that span. The Tony Beaton trainee has a pair of victories in the Grassroots. She has three total tallies in nine tries for a $47,016 bankroll. Beaton, a Waterdown resident, co-owns the filly with David Mercer of Westmount and David Lumsden of Ancaster.

Twin B Echo (Artspeak, Jamieson) soared late at the pylons and pipped leader Glenboro (Travis Cullen) to take the final division in 1:58.1. Bala was also there at the wire but a neck short in third.

TWIN B ECHO REPLAY

It was Twin B Echo’s second win in six starts to date and first in the Ontario Sires Stakes. John Darling trains the filly for Jack Darling Stables of Cambridge, which purchased her for $55,000 at the Ontario Select sale.

The fillies will contest their Grassroots semi-finals on Thursday, Sep. 22 at Woodbine Mohawk Park.

Action resumes at Grand River Raceway at 6:30 p.m. EDT on Friday, Sep. 16.

For complete OSS standings, click here.

For complete race results, click here.

by Nicholas Barnsdale, for Harnesslink