from the Ontario Sire Stakes

Elora, ON — Local horse Platoon Seelster earned his first Ontario Sires Stakes Gold Series victory of the season at Grand River Raceway on Wednesday night (July 15), and a sizeable number of Mount Forest and Harriston residents joined the 3-year-old trotter in the winner’s circle.

“A bunch of family were out, and friends,” said driver Ryan Holliday. “Everybody’s pretty excited about him, so he’s got quite a fan club.”

Iron Horse Photo

Ryan Holliday guided 3-year-old trotting colt Platoon Seelster to a 1:57.2 Gold win.

Starting from post four — the first inside post they have seen in Gold competition this season — Holliday fired Platoon Seelster to the front and hit the opening quarter in :28.3. Through the :58.4 half and 1:29.2 three-quarters Platoon Seelster continued to lead the pack, with Muscle Up The Goal tucked in behind him and Namesmuscle in the outer lane. Turning for home Muscle Up The Goal attempted to power up the passing lane, but Platoon Seelster battled to a nose victory in 1:57.2. Muscle Up The Goal settled for second with Rubber Duck getting up for third. Fan favorite Dont Rush ran into traffic trouble in the outer lane and finished fifth.

“I didn’t really care if I cut it but I wanted to be up close you know, because you need to be on the half-mile tracks,” said Holliday of the front-end tour. “I was happy to cut it.

“He is a tough little horse,” the Mount Forest resident continued. “He may not be the best one, but he gives everything he’s got, every single time out there.”

Holliday engineered the win for his father, trainer David Holliday, his wife, co-owner Caroline Holliday, and co-owner Dennis Hannath. The reinsman says the group is enjoying every experience with the son of Federal Flex, who moved into the top spot in the division standings with Wednesday’s win.

“Everybody says it’s easy when you get a good one, they’re right,” Holliday reflected. “He’s simple, all he wears is a set a trotting boots, he tries good, he eats good — he does everything good. He’s just a good horse, a pleasure to be around.

“We’re just trying to take it all in; we’ve never had one like this.”

Platoon Seelster will now enjoy a mini-vacation in a field at the Holliday farm before beginning preparations for the fourth Gold Series event at Mohawk Racetrack on Aug. 17.

The other two Gold division winners also earned some special treatment from their connections.

In the second $53,900 division driver Chris Christoforou employed the tactics that had proved fruitful for Holliday and sent Covert Operative straight to the front from post three. The duo rolled through fractions of :28, :57.4 and 1:27.3 before battling down the stretch to a half-length victory over fan favorite Citizen Hall in a 3-year-old trotting gelding track record 1:57. Caulfield rounded out the top three.

Christoforou engineered the win for trainer Per Henriksen and owners Andrea Lea Racing Stables Inc. and ASA Farm. The win was the Deweycheatumnhowe son’s fifth of the season, but his first ever in Ontario Sires Stakes action.

In final division Sylvain Filion also went with the proven formula and put Eternal Quest on the lead from post one. The favorites rang up fractions of :29.2, 1:00.1 and 1:29.4 before sailing across the wire 2-1/4 lengths on top in 1:58.1. Setanta and Winning Wizard finished second and third.

Chad Milner conditions Eternal Quest for Murray Ferguson Jr. Through five starts this season Eternal Quest, a son of Pilgrims Taj, has now posted one Gold Series win, one Grassroots win and three runner-up finishes in overnight races.

Ontario Sires Stakes action continues at Grand River Raceway next Wednesday (July 22) with the second Grassroots event for the 2-year-old trotting fillies.