Race favourite Dutch Seelster tried to go down the road in Monday’s $7,500 Preferred 3 for pacers at The Raceway at Western Fair District, but Goldstar Badlands had other ideas.

The seven-year-old son of Badlands Hanover-Rockin Lady used his patented closing kick to pull off a mild upset at odds of 5-1 for the tandem of driver Scott Young and trainer Heather Toll.

Young got away seventh with Goldstar Badlands while Dutch Seelster shot to the top and had the field chasing him past the quarter pole in :29.4. He marched past the half in :59.4 and picked up the tempo before stepping past the three-quarter pole in 1:28.2. Goldstar Badlands, in the meantime, was commencing a wide bid from the backfield.

Dutch Seelster was still in command at the head of the lane, but Goldstar Badlands used a tenacious rally to grab the lead and then the win in 1:58.1. Shippen Out hung tough from first over and wound up finishing second while Dutch Seelster faded to finish third.

Morley Bradshaw of Wilsonville, Ont. owns the veteran pacer who won for the 21st time in his career. He’s banked $157,816 to date.

(Standardbred Canada)