from the Ontario Sires Stakes

Milton, ON — The Ontario Sires Stakes 2-year-old pacing colts took over Woodbine Mohawk Park on Monday evening (July 23) and Bronx Seelster moved to the top of the division standings with his second straight Gold Series victory in the evening’s eighth race.

New Image Media photo

Bronx Seelster took early command of the 2-year-old pacing colt and gelding division with his second straight Gold Series score.

Driver Trevor Henry eased the colt away from post seven and settled him in fifth as Arcane Seelster led the field to a :26.4 opening quarter. Heading for the :56.1 half Henry moved the fan favorite into the outer lane and then edged the colt out three-wide heading by the 1:24.2 three- quarters. Just three-quarters of a length behind pacesetter Arcane Seelster at the top of the stretch, Bronx Seelster sprinted home to a 1-3/4 length victory in 1:52. Caviart Rockland also closed hard to be second and The Regulator was third.

“I like the little horse, he’s all right, and he raced great tonight,” said Henry from the winner’s circle. “He’s just a little horse, but he’s got a good brush to him.”

Henry piloted Bronx Seelster to the win for trainer Wayne McGean and Capers 3 Stable, who offered up C$22,000 for the colt at last fall’s London Selected Yearling Sale. The son of Big Jim and Tarport Baccarat now has two Gold wins and one second in overnight action on his resume through four lifetime starts, giving him earnings of $65,740.

“January on I liked the colt, and I had opportunity to go away on trips and I wouldn’t go, because I liked this colt,” admitted McGean to Woodbine Mohawk Park’s Chad Rozema. “And he come along the way I thought he would really; he’s all right.”

Bettor’s Wish earned the win in the other $75,088 Gold division when Stag Party was ruled to have interfered with him near the halfway marker. As a result Stag Party, who crossed the line a half-length in front, was placed back to second and Bettor’s Wish was moved up to first. Sunshines Finest was two lengths behind the dueling leaders when they crossed the wire in 1:51.2.

The win was the second lifetime for Bettor’s Wish, who captured a July 5 overnight event at Woodbine Mohawk Park before finishing third to Stag Party in the July 12 Gold Series opener. Paul MacDonell has piloted the Bettor’s Delight-Lifetime Star son in all three of his outings on behalf of trainer Chantal Mitchell.

Chris Ryder, Bella Racing Ltd., Fair Island Farm Inc. and Kenneth Solomon share ownership of Bettor’s Wish, who was a $20,000 purchase at the 2017 Lexington Selected Yearling Sale.