Tokyo Seelster upsets Hp Mama B

Tokyo Seelster (Kadabra) took down one of Canada’s best pacing mares, Hp Mama B, in a conditioned harness racing event on Monday (Apr. 24) at Woodbine Mohawk Park.

Tokyo Seelster was third getting away but was shuffled back one more place by the forward move of Oney Hall. Roy kept the former mare at the pylons until finding a slim gap to pull second-over on the final turn.

Hp Mama B provided cover into the lane and took the lead in mid-stretch. But Tokyo Seelster closed relentlessly and overhauled the O’Brien Award-nominated mare nearing the wire to win by three-quarters-of-a-length in 1:52.4.

Hp Mama B was second best. Shadrack Hanover (Bob McClure) closed for third.

TOKYO SEELSTER REPLAY

It was a new lifetime best for Tokyo Seelster and 13th career win in 63 starts. The five-year-old has earned $382,252 to date. Richard Moreau trains the stallion for Michael and Sam Sergi of Canton.

Also on the card, announcer Ken Middleton tempted fate with a cheeky call centering around longshot Toronto in the seventh race as it appeared the NHL’s Toronto Maple Leafs were going down in flames. With Tampa Bay up 4-1 in the third period, Toronto (Always B Miki) scored at 19-1 at Woodbine Mohawk Park. Middleton announced “Toronto will win — and that’s the only time you’ll hear that tonight!”

TORONTO REPLAY

The Maple Leafs then scored three unanswered goals to send the game to overtime, and an Alexander Kerfoot deflection gave them the win. Racing Twitter unleased an avalanche of retribution on the Boston Bruins fan. Needless to say, it’s unlikely Middleton will hear the end of this anytime soon – at least as long as the Leafs remain in the quest for the Stanley Cup.

For complete race results, click here.

by Nicholas Barnsdale, for Harnesslink