True Seelster moved easily first over and captured Wednesday’s $16,800 championship of the Donna Dunn Memorial for three- and four-year-old filly and mare pacers at Hollywood Casino at The Meadows.
True Seelster paced patiently in third until the three-quarters when Brady Brown moved her off the cones and asked her for go. The three-year-old daughter of All Bets Off-Tanis Seelster overpowered the leader, Imelda Hanover, and prevailed in 1:54.2, matching her career best. Beth Dutton shot through the Lightning Lane for second, two lengths back, while Imelda Hanover saved show.
Owners George Kehm and Jerry Kehm purchased True Seelster from trainer Brady Jenson before the start of the series and sent her to the stable of trainer Mark Goldberg.
“Brady Jenson did all the work with her,” said Goldberg. “We were just happy to be able to get her.”
Goldberg said True Seelster would be pointed to an April series at The Meadows but could have richer engagements in her future.
“She’s eligible to sires stakes in Ontario,” said Goldberg. “Depending on how she does, we might send her to Canada for some of those.”
Burke Ends Seven-Year Drought — As Driver
It’s hardly unusual to see Ron Burke in the winner's circle; he’s the sport’s all-time leading trainer after all. But Burke winner's circle sightings as a driver are rare, since he usually names others to pilot the horses he conditions. His last purse start had been the 2022 Hall of Fame Trot at Goshen on July 3. His most recent pari-mutuel driving victory had come on March 16, 2016.
That all ended Wednesday at The Meadows when Burke steered the three-year-old trotting colt Rose Run Yorick to victory in his career debut. The son of What The Hill-Shes Nutz brought $160,000 as a yearling; alas, poor 'Yorick' didn’t make it to the races at two.
On Wednesday, he trotted like a seasoned pro for his trainer, coming off the pylons late to split horses and win in 2:00.3 for owners Burke Racing Stable, Hatfield Stables, Knox Services and Weaver Bruscemi. Remains to be seen whether the trainer will allow this Burke guy to keep the driving gig.
Hunter Myers collected three wins — including a pair for trainer Stacey Currie — on the 13-race card.
Thursday’s (March 23) program at The Meadows features a pair of series finals — the $17,600 championship of the Dale McConnell Memorial for three- and four-year-old trotting colts, horses and geldings, and the $17,200 championship of the Mary Wohlmuth Memorial for three- and four-year-old filly and mare trotters. On the wagering front, the 13-race card offers a $912.36 carryover in the final-race Pentafecta. First post is 12:45 p.m. (EDT).
(MSOA)