Returning to the Preferred ranks and backed by the bettors, Voelz Hanover went wire-to-wire to win Friday's featured $30,000 event at Mohawk Racetrack.
Overcoming her outside post position, the 6-5 favourite out-sprinted her five foes off the gate and rolled through fractions of :26.1, :55 and 1:23.3 en route to a 1:50.1 victory in the $30,000 Fillies & Mares Preferred Pace. Ferrari Sena, the second choice at the betting windows off the bench and a winner in the Preferred class just over a month ago, pulled the pocket at the three-quarters mark, but was no match for Voelz Hanover on this night. The class-climbing Hope For Paddy came from last to show as the third choice.
Randy Waples drove the eight-year-old Astreos mare for trainer Corey Johnson and owner Richard Berthiaume of Pointe-Aux-Trembles, Que. The win was her ninth in 25 starts this year and lifted her seasonal bankroll to $152,700.
Voelz Hanover, who finished seventh against stakes company in her last start on Sept. 21 in the Milton, paid $3.60 to win.
The 38-time career winner is just shy of the $1.5 million earnings mark.
To view Friday's harness racing results, click on the following link: Friday Results - Mohawk Racetrack.