Finally, Century Inspector gets a win

Despite earning $129,120 as a two-year-old and placing in some of Canada’s biggest stakes, Century Inspector (Hes Watching) was still looking for a win heading into his sophomore harness racing campaign.

In his second start of the season on Thursday (May 26) at Woodbine Mohawk Park, the colt got it done with a confident steer from Jody Jamieson.

After taking the two-hole early, Jamieson made a decisive move to take the front with the Brett Lester trainee as they paced through the quarter in :28.1. Century Inspector established a two-and-a-quarter-length cushion as he headed the field to the half in :58.1 and three-quarters in 1:26.4 as the outer flow failed to make progress.

Gettin Intuit (Bob McClure) flew late from the back, but he was too late to catch Century Inspector, who got home a winner in 1:54.3. The former was a length-and-a-quarter short after closing from 18 back at the quarter. Twin B Raptor (James MacDonald) finished third.

Century Inspector’s win was his first in 13 career tries. He has now banked $141,870. At two, talented colt finished third in the Champlain Stakes, Nassagaweya Stakes, Battle of Waterloo Final, and an Ontario Sires Stakes Gold division. He was second by a head in his Battle of Waterloo elimination. Eric Rosene of Bolton acquired the colt in March 2022 and sent him to the care of Brett Lester. He finished second in a conditioned event on May 16 to kick off the season.

Another long-time maiden, Silver Diamond (Wheelin N Dealin), also got her first picture taken as she stormed to a four-length victory in the opener for driver Louis-Philippe Roy. Jean Tourigny trained the three-year-old trotting filly to her first win in 18 starts. She has appeared in the Ontario Spring Series, the Ontario Harvest Series, and multiple Ontario Sires Stakes Grassroots events. Owners Silver Stables and Marie Gaboury of Venise-En-Quebec have earned $38,868 from the filly after spending $27,510 on her at the 2020 London Selected Sale.

Denmark Seelster made an improbable comeback in the fourth race of the night – the six-year-old son of Big Jim went last-to-first at 13-1 after falling behind by 17¼ lengths at the quarter. He remained last of nine at five-eighths due to indecisive traffic in front of him and was still 10 lengths behind as they turned for home.

Bob McClure fanned the gelding to the centre of the track, and Denmark Seelster exploded past seven rivals in the final eighth to win going away in a lifetime-best 1:53.1. He was two-and-a-half lengths clear of Wisk Key K (Trevor Seelster) at the wire.

The winner was making his six-year-old debut for trainer Joshua McKibbin and owner Ralph Spoltore III of Waterloo. He has won five of 49 career starts and has earned $44,100.

Woodbine Mohawk Park continues racing on Friday, May 27 at 7:00 p.m EDT.

For complete race results, click here.

by Nicholas Barnsdale, for Harnesslink