Driver Randy Waples dusted himself off after hitting the track in a mid-card incident and returned to the sulky in the very next race to win the featured $30,000 Fillies & Mares Preferred Pace with Voelz Hanover on Saturday night at Mohawk Racetrack.
The accident took place in the sixth race when Waples' mount Jj Shark broke a line before the start and collided with Hilarious Halo (Steve Condren) and Peenie (Luc Ouellette) behind the gate. Waples bailed out of the bike in front of the grandstand and Jj Shark hooked wheels with Hilarious Halo. Those two horses headed in the direction of the paddock before being apprehended. The horses and drivers involved managed to escape serious injuries.
In the following race, Waples had no issues leaving the gate this time as he fired post nine starter Voelz Hanover to the lead during a :26.4 opening panel and carved out middle splits of :54 and 1:21.1 with favourite Shelliscape (Jack Moiseyev) engaging in a head-to-head battle on top. However, Voelz Hanover fought back around the final turn and opened up a few lengths on the field in the stretch to earn her first sub-1:50 win in 1:49.3. Swinging Beauty (Doug McNair) and Tea Party Princess (Mike Saftic) came on for second and third.
Voelz Hanover, whose last pari-mutuel start was one month ago, paid $8 to win as the 3-1 second choice. The millionairess notched her seventh win in 18 seasonal starts. Normand Bardie Jr. trains the eight-year-old Astreos mare for Richard Berthiaume of Pointe-Aux-Trembles, Que.
Driver Doug McNair enjoyed a six-win night at the track scoring with Astor ($5.60) for trainer Tony O'Sullivan, Fresh Herb ($16.90) for Andrew McCabe, Drain Daddy ($4.70) in the accident-marred race for Therese Vrablic, Machs Beach Boy ($15.90) for Brad Shakes, Aracache Hanover ($6.20) for his father Gregg, and Shelbys Cobra ($3.50) for Gabriella Sasso.
McNair is among the top five drivers on the WEG circuit and currently ranks within the top 10 in all of Canada with 156 wins so far this year.
To view Saturday's harness racing results, click on the following link: Saturday Results - Mohawk Racetrack.