Favourites Defeated In Gold Elims

Published: October 20, 2008 12:00 pm EDT

The last Gold Series event of the season for the three-year-old pacing fillies got underway earlier tonight at Woodbine Racetrack, and many fillies were under the gun to make this one count in their quest to advance to this year's OSS Super Finals.

Voelz Hanover knocked off heavily favoured Chancey Lady in the first $40,000 elimination. The Ben Baillargeon-trained daughter of Astreos stopped the teletimer in a career-best clocking of 1:51.2.

Mario Baillargeon hustled Voelz Hanover to the lead from Post 4 and had the field to the quarter pole in :27 seconds. Chancey Lady, who left the gate and tucked into the three hole, was out and driving in the turn and took over command just as the field moved into the backstretch.

Chancey Lady hit the half in :55.3 and rolled them to the three-quarter pole in 1:23.3 before being confronted and overtaken by Voelz Hanover, who drew off to win by just over two lengths. Chancey Lady held for the runner-up award and Im Just Special was third.

It was the fourth win of the campaign and the 11th lifetime score for Richard Berthiaume's Voelz Hanover, who boasts $442,134 in lifetime earnings.

The victory was Voelz Hanover was part of a four-win performance for the team of driver Mario Baillargeon and trainer Ben Baillargeon.

Ms Goliath went to the front and didn't look back in the second elimination, winning in a time of 1:52.4 for driver Sylvain Filion.

The daughter of Goliath Bayama chopped out panels of :27, :56.1 and 1:25 en route to the 1:52.4 score over race favourite Style Semalu and Shipps Bikini.

Jason Libby trains the speedy filly for Ecurie Synergie of Montreal, Quebec. It was her sixth win of the campaign, and the eighth of her career. The $20,000 payday lifted her lifetime earnings to $132,625.

The top five finishers from each of this evening's Gold Series eliminations will advance to the $140,000 OSS Gold Series final, which goes next Monday evening at Woodbine Racetrack.

The post position draw will be delayed, however, as a result of an appeal being launched by driver Mike Vanderkemp. He claimed his filly, Southwind Swallow, was interfered with in the stretch in the second elimination. The ORC Judges ruled there was no interference. A hearing is scheduled for tomorrow.

To view Monday's results, click here.

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