Scarlett Hanover and Voelz Hanover good as gold in Ontario return
At 2h17, on July 6, 2021 • By NEWSROOM/ONTARIO SIRES STAKES
Super Final champion Scarlett Hanover made her sophomore debut in the Ontario Sires Stakes on Monday, July 5 and marched straight back into the Woodbine Mohawk Park winner’s circle.
Reunited with driver Ed Hensley and trainer Ashleigh Hensley after wintering south of the border, Scarlett Hanover lined up at post four in the first C$100,600 Gold Series division. Sent off as the favorite, she let Best Head West lead the field of seven to a 29 1/5 opening quarter and then swept to the front. Unchallenged through a 57 4/5 half and 1:25 3/5 three-quarters, Scarlett Hanover kept Best Head West at bay in the stretch to record a neck victory in 1:53. Nightlife Seelster rounded out the top three.
The second C$100,600 Gold division saw Voelz Delight get her third win of the season with a pocket trip behind favorite Jody. Starting from post three, driver Sylvain Filion and Voelz Delight hustled off the gate and were sitting second behind Alumni Seelster when that filly reached the 27 1/5 quarter. Filion opted not to remain behind Alumni Seelster and moved Voelz Delight to the front but was quickly overtaken by Jody. Jody powered through a 55 4/5 half and 1:24 three-quarters, but when Voelz Delight tipped out in the stretch she pulled away to a three-quarter length victory in 1:52 2/5. Jody settled for second and Ourlittlemiracle was third.
“She comes to play most every race. She didn’t change much from last year you know, but she tries. She’s a good mare,” said trainer Ben Baillargeon, adding that the track seemed a bit heavy on Monday. “Horses are getting tired tonight over that track for some reason, so I think it’s a very good mile, 1:52 2/5. I am really happy with her, like I said, she comes to play.”
Baillargeon trains Voelz Delight for owner-breeder Richard Berthiaume. As a 2-year-old the daughter of Bettor’s Delight and C$1.7 million winner Voelz Hanover captured one Gold Leg in an eight-race season that saw her amass a record of two wins, two seconds, and three thirds for earnings of C$164,943. In the season-ending Super Final she finished second, just a head behind Scarlett Hanover.
The 3-year-old pacing fillies will return to Woodbine Mohawk Park for their second Gold Series start on Friday, July 23.
