from Western Fair Media Relations
London, ON — “When you’re at front at Western Fair that’s the place to be,” said Mario Baillargeon moments after he guided Voelz Hanover to a front end, 1:54.2 victory to post a mild upset in Saturday night’s (Nov. 26) C$195,000 Forest City Pace at The Raceway at Western Fair District.
Iron Horse Photo
Voelz Hanover was a 1:54.2 winner in the Forest City Pace.
There was some confusion at the start of the race, which featured eight of the top pacing mares in North America this year, when Blissful Smile went offstride as the field paced midway through the first turn. Scott Zeron quickly took the mare wide, but that move greatly affected the race favorite and recent Breeders Crown winner Anndrovette, with Tim Tetrick at the lines, who were right behind them at that point. They were forced way wide to get around the breaking horse and lost considerable ground.
Meanwhile, up front there was a battle for the lead between Warrawee Koine and Voelz Hanover, who had left from posts one and two, respectively. Voelz emerged victorious by the speedy :25.3 opening quarter and was never headed through middle panels of :55 and 1:24.
Robert Shepherd had Chancey Lady closing well to take second with defending champ Dreamfair Eternal a closing third for Chris Christoforou. Ticket To Rock took fourth and Warrawee Koine took the final check.
It was the 11th win in 27 starts this year for Voelz Hanover, a 5-year-old Astreos daughter owned by Richard Berthiaume and trained by Baillargeon’s brother Beniot. She paid $33 to win.
“We drew good to start with and the good mare (Anndrovette) didn’t draw that good with the six hole. I was surprised we got to the quarter in :25.3, I guess that’s racing. I was able to shut her down for the next half-mile,” noted Mario Baillargeon afterwards.
With respect to the incident on the first turn he noted: “Scotty (Zeron) did a good job to get her out of the way. I think she just hit a knee going into that first turn and made a break. It didn’t bother my mare at all,” added Baillargeon who has a lot of respect for his charge.
“She’s won over a million dollars, they didn’t just give it to her. She’s very versatile and she’s a classy mare.”
It wasn’t the greatest introduction to the London, Ontario track for Tim Tetrick, North America’s leading driver this season in terms of money won. The London half-miler became the fourth Ontario track he has competed at so far in his career.
The featured event on the undercard, the C$12,000 Mares Preferred Pace, saw Jinglejanglejingler go gate-to-wire for Jody Jamieson. The 5-year-old Four Starzzz Shark mare carved splits of :28.3, :58.4 and 1:27.4 and held off a late rush by Misty Moonstone to win in 1:56.3. Owned by Sean Hibbard and trained by Richard Moreau, the mare now has 11 wins in 35 starts this year.