by Standardbred Canada

Mississauga, ON —Hannelore Hanover and Elegant Serenity headlined the second leg of the Miss Versatility Series for Grand Circuit trotting mares during an action-packed Canada Day (July 1) card of harness racing at Mohawk Racetrack.

After setting a 1:51 Canadian record in the Armbro Flight Stakes two weeks ago, Hannelore Hanover ($2.10) returned to Mohawk and was a dominant winner as the overwhelming 1-9 favorite in the evening’s $C30,000 first division of the Miss Versatility.

New Image Media photo

Hannelore Hanover capturing her Armbro Flight elimination at Mohawk on June 10.

With Sylvain Filion picking up the catch-drive, the popular Ron Burke trainee took control of the field from post five and carved out fractions of :28, :56.3 and 1:26 en route to a 5-3/4 length victory in 1:53.4. Charmed Life followed in second and Rules Of The Road came on for third.

“She’s an awesome, awesome mare. I had nothing to do with this. I just sat there and relaxed and she took me home,” said Filion on driving the 4-year-old Swan For All-High Sobriety mare for the first time. “That’s a good mile tonight and she did it on cruise control.”

An Indiana Sires Stakes champion last year, Hannelore Hanover now boasts eight wins in nine seasonal starts with her annual earnings climbing to C$261,000 for owners Burke Racing Stable LLC, Weaver Bruscemi LLC, and Frank Baldachino.

Elegant Serenity ($8.80) earned the first victory of this year’s campaign in the second division as she wore down 1-2 favorite Jewels In Hock in the stretch for trainer/driver Roger Mayotte.

Jewels In Hock worked past early leaver White Becomes Her through the :28.1 first quarter and proceeded to the half in :57.2 and three-quarters in 1:25.3. Meanwhile, Mayotte sent 3-1 second choice Elegant Serenity first over from fourth past the midway mark and engaged the leader in a head-to-head battle turning for home. Elegant Serenity gained the slight advantage halfway down the lane and held on to win by a neck in 1:54.4. White Becomes Her finished third.

“She had to do it the hard way, and going against the 1-2 favorite, that was a tough chore,” said Mayotte, noting a significant cross-wind in the stretch and the evening’s cooler temperatures.

The Kadabra-Elegantimage mare, who earned C$425,652 in her sophomore campaign, has hit the board in three of her four stakes starts this year for owner/breeder Doug Millard of Woodstock.

“She’s grown up a little more, and she’s a little stronger, but she’s a fighter,” said Mayotte.

The Miss Versatility will continue at The Meadowlands on Saturday (July 16) followed by legs at Tioga Downs on Sunday (August 14) and back at the Big M on Friday (September 9). The final will be contested on Thursday (September 22) at Delaware County Fair.