Early blast is winning move for Grandeur Seelster in $60,000 Grassroots Final

MILTON, October 1, 2022 – Woodbine Mohawk Park harness racing announcer Ken Middleton called Grandeur Seelster’s (All Bets Off–Glamour Seelster) 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 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, and trainer Marcel Barrieau the filly 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.

To read about all of the 2022 Ontario Sires Stakes Grassroots Finals and view the replays, click here.

For complete race results, click here.

by Mel Keith, for Ontario Racing