In a remarkable turn of events in the world of harness racing, the 15-year-old pacer Mariner Seelster achieved an extraordinary victory on Friday evening, February 9th, at The Meadowlands, propelling his career earnings past the million-dollar mark.
Competing in a Meadowlands Amateur Drivers Club event, the Ontario-bred pacer surpassed eight rivals, all of whom were five to ten years his junior, crossing the finish line with an impressive lead of over five lengths in a swift time of 1:53 flat. Guiding Mariner Seelster to this exceptional triumph was the skilled driver Tony Beltrami.
Beltrami and Mariner Seelster swiftly overtook two early frontrunners after a brisk first quarter of 27.4 seconds, securing a commanding lead. Demonstrating strategic brilliance, Beltrami provided the seasoned pacer with a momentary respite, allowing him to reach the half-mile mark in 57 seconds. However, their respite was short-lived as Kick The Dirt Up launched a rapid challenge. Although momentarily relinquishing the lead on the backstretch, Mariner Seelster exhibited remarkable tenacity, rallying back and surging ahead towards the three-quarters mark in 1:25.2. From that point, Mariner Seelster left his competitors in the dust, leaving no doubt about his dominance.
This victory marked an astonishing 71st win in Mariner Seelster's illustrious career, with the majority of the $15,541 purse adding to his well-deserved earnings, which now stand at an impressive $1,005,029. Bred by Seelster Farms Inc. of Lucan, Ontario, this exceptional pacer, a son of Camluck and M T Freedom, currently trains under the expertise of Travis Alexander. Mariner Seelster proudly represents the ownership consortium of Fiddlers Creek Stables, Alexander Racing Stable, D Elegance Stable Ix, and T L P Stable.
Mariner Seelster, the 2-1 favourite, rewarded his supporters with a payout of $6.20 for a win, while the early leader Elm Grove Qwiggly made a triumphant comeback with a daring three-wide move on the backstretch, securing the second-place position. Aintnobettor A and Valor closely followed, claiming third and fourth place respectively, in an intensely competitive race.