Voelz Hanover captures OSS Gold

One year and five days after she captured her last Gold final trophy, Voelz Hanover earned a second piece of Ontario Sire Stakes hardware with an impressive 1:52 score at Woodbine Racetrack on Thursday evening.

The 3-year-old filly paced into the history books one year ago--Oct. 25, 2007--when she toured Hiawatha Horse Park’s five-eighths oval in a world record 1:51.3 in the last freshman Gold final of the season. Heading into Thursday’s contest, the Astreos daughter had won three sophomore Gold eliminations and come achingly close to another Gold final title on two occasions, but had been unable to pick up the grand prize. That all changed on Thursday.

Starting from post four with Voelz Hanover, driver Mario Baillargeon allowed three-time Gold final champion Chancey Lady to sprint away from post 10 to a :26.2 opening quarter. The Milton resident settled Voelz Hanover on the rail in third and sat patiently as Chancey Lady maintained a snappy tempo to the :55.1 half.

Heading for the 1:23.2 three-quarters, Baillargeon sent Voelz Hanover up the outside, where she made steady inroads on Chancey Lady. By the time she turned for home, Voelz Hanover had a half length lead on her rival, which she extended to 2 3/4 lengths with a strong finishing kick.

Shipps Bikini sprinted home in impressive fashion to go from sixth at the top of the stretch to second at the wire, and elimination winner Ms. Goliath turned her pocket trip into the third-place finisher’s share of the $140,000 purse. Chancey Lady faded through the stretch to finish fourth and Style Semalu rounded out the top five.

Rockwood resident Benoit Baillargeon trains Voelz Hanover for Richard Berthiaume of Pointe-Aux-Trembles, Que. The talented youngster’s second Gold final title pushed her sophomore record to five wins, three seconds and two thirds in 15 starts for earnings of $260,541(C) and a personal best 1:51.2 recorded in last week’s elimination round.

In seven Gold Series appearances this season, the filly boasts a record of four wins, one second and one third for a total of 237 points, putting her second in the standings, 71 points behind division leader Chancey Lady.

The top 10 point earners will now begin preparations for the Nov. 15 Super Final at Woodbine Racetrack. The fillies will battle for $300,000(C) and the 2008 division title. (OSS)

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