Poof She’s Gone lowered her lifetime mark to 1:53.1.

Seasoned and ready in the first Hambletonian Oaks elimination, Poof She’s Gone soared late in the stretch to win in a lifetime best 1:53.1 despite fractions set mildly by Bar Slide. That one had three lengths over the field in the stretch but Poof She’s Gone, who was four wide, had David Miller flying with her to win. Bar Slide held second while Bramalea Hanover, sent away at 16-1, also closed and took third.

The winner came strong late, as trainer Richard “Nifty” Norman says she likes to race.

“She loves to wind up in the stretch,” he said.

Norman also said that Poof She’s Gone was racing after an easy week since she was “not a hundred percent healthy since coming in from Canada.”

“She felt good in the last turn,” said Miller, “and this is the best she has raced in a couple of starts.”

Poof She’s Gone is owned by Melvin Hartman, Herb Liverman, David McDuffee and John Fielding. She returned $9.80 to win.

Springtime Volo won the middle elimination for George Brennan.

Springtime Volo started to close in on the field at the three-quarters and challenged Southwind Samurai four wide to win the second Hambletonian Oaks elimination. The time for the mile was 1:54.3.

At the finish line, Southwind Samurai broke stride but remained in second by the judges’ ruling that she complied with the breaking rule. In The Mean Time finished third by closing late to earn a berth in the final along with Fashion Feline, the richest fourth place finisher in the trio of eliminations.

Levi’s Lady left fast to lead in a slow first quarter (:28) and Costa Rica found a good spot but once Southwind Samurai took over it was a chase, especially for Springtime Volo, who sat sixth during the early shuffling. Levi’s Lady and Crown Laurel broke and Springtime Volo made the mad dash with George Brennan to get to the top first.

“The breakers actually helped me,” Brennan said. “We had a lot of ground to make up to get ‘Springtime’ and they helped clear the way.”

Trainer Jan Johnson said Springtime Volo is a nice filly, she just “has had to prove it a little more. She was shuffled back at the half but she likes to come on late.”

Kentuckiana Farms and Jorgen Jahre, Jr. own Springtime Volo.

Lisa photos

Boinga lit up the toteboard in the final elimination, paying $75.80 to win.

Unraced since June 12, Boinga blew out in the final lengths of the stretch to win the third Hambletonian Oaks elimination in 1:54.4 as a 36-1 shot.

Behindclosedoors and Cantab It All started the field racing into a slow :28 quarter while favorite Ultimate Cameron had to grind to get the top but she got there and cut another slow quarter, going to the half in :57.

In the stretch Behindclosedoors made a go at Ultimate Cameron but Boinga shook loose for Ron Pierce and won the elim from behind, as the other two elims were also won. Behindclosedoors got second and Ultimate Cameron held for third.

Trainer Brian Roland thought Boinga would be good tonight. He said, “We had some trouble bringing her back but she was good tonight.”

“I thought I had a chance in the last eighth,” said Pierce. “I didn’t think they looked strong up front.”

Anthony and Carol Risi and Bernard O’Brien own Boinga.