Despite being stung through a sizzling :25.3 opening quarter, millionaire pacing mare Voelz Hanover eventually made the lead and held on to pull off a 15-1 upset in the third edition of the $195,000 Forest City Pace at Western Fair Raceway on Saturday night
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When the wings of the gate folded, there was a five-horse dash for the early lead with Blissful Smile (Scott Zeron) making a break and bothering heavy favourite Anndrovette (Tim Tetrick), who left from the outside starting spot in the first tier.
Among the early leavers was Warrawee Koine (Jason Brewer), who tried to protect the rail, but the persistent Post 2 starter, Voelz Hanover and Mario Baillargeon, cleared to command at the :25.3 opening quarter with the rest of the field trailing multiple lengths behind.
Voelz Hanover proceeded to the half in :55 and three-quarters in 1:24 with Ginger And Fred (Trevor Henry) catching the top two in third and moving first up while the backfield sprang to life and began to angle wide. Ticket To Rock (Jody Jamieson) went three-deep from second over with Chancey Lady (Robert Shepherd) shifting out four-wide and Dreamfair Eternal (Chris Christoforou) on her back.
Voelz Hanover began to draw away around the final turn though and held off the late closers to win in 1:54.2 by three-quarters of a length. Chancey Lady, the 31-1 longest shot on the board, came on for second while second choice Dreamfair Eternal finished third. Ticket To Rock was fourth and Warrawee Koine was fifth.
"We drew good to start with and I thought the good mare [Breeders Crown champion Anndrovette] didn't draw that good, the six-hole," noted Baillargeon after the win. "I was surprised a little bit that we got to the opening quarter in :25.3, but then again that's racing. I was able to shut her down for the next half-mile a little bit and when you're in front at Western Fair, it's the place to be."
The victory was Voelz Hanover's biggest of the 2011 season and marked the fifth time she has visited the winner's circle in 28 starts. She now sports a career record reading 24-17-13 in 95 outings with $1,147,264 earned.
"She's really versatile and she's a classy mare," added Baillargeon. "She's been able to stay sound all those years. She likes the front end. The place to be tonight was the front end and they didn't get to her."
Mario's brother Benoit trains the Astreos-Vassar Hanover mare for owner Richard Berthiaume of Pointe-Aux-Trembles, Que.
Voelz Hanover paid $33 to win.
Saturday's undercard featured a $12,000 Fillies & Mares Preferred Pace in which Sean Hibbert's Jinglejanglejingle went wire-to-wire to win in 1:56.3 by over one length. The favourite paid $4.80 to win. Misty Moonstone (Scott Zeron) fired three-wide from the backfield and came on for second while Call Me Yours (Stuart Sowerby) finished third off a pocket trip.
The five-year-old Four Starzzz Shark-Village Jangle mare, driven by Jody Jamieson for trainer Richard Moreau, has won 11 races in 25 starts this year while banking more than $111,000.
To view Saturday's harness racing card, click on the following link: Saturday Results - Western Fair Raceway.