Grand River: Voelz Delight equals track record in OSS Gold Series

Front-end control was the name of the game at Grand River Raceway on Monday, Aug. 2, as the winners of both C$101,400 3-year-old pacing filly Ontario Sires Stakes Gold Series divisions controlled the tempo on their way to victory.

Taking top billing on the 31st annual Industry Day program was Voelz Delight, who captured the first Gold Series division in a track record equalling 1:52 4/5, matching the record set by Neon Moon during the 2018 edition of the Elora oval's signature event.

Starting from post three, driver Sylvain Filion fired the Bettor's Delight daughter to the front and led the field of eight through fractions of 26 4/5, 54 1/5, and 1:22 4/5. Jody mounted a late charge, but Voelz Delight sailed home a one length winner in the 1:52 4/5 clocking. Race favorite Dabarndawgswatchin settled for third.

"Last week she had a bad week, the last Gold (July 23). Some kind of a virus was going through the barn, and she wasn't 100 percent, and she still raced real good, but I knew she would come back good today," said trainer Ben Baillargeon of the filly's third-place effort on July 23. "She warmed up good and I told Sylvain, 'If she gets to the front, you're the boss.' She had nothing to prove really, to nobody. She's a true Gold horse, she proved herself last year, and she proved herself this year again. Some people, looks like they had doubts in her today, but now we just proved them wrong."

Baillargeon trains Voelz Delight for owner-breeder Richard Berthiaume. The win was the filly's second in Gold Series action this season and her third lifetime. In seven sophomore starts the filly boasts a record of five wins and two thirds for earnings of C$146,328.

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Scarlett Hanover padded her lead atop the division standings with a 1:53 win in the second C$101,400 Gold Series division. Driven by Ed Hensley, Scarlett Hanover rolled through fractions of 26 3/5, 55 2/5, and 1:23 3/5, and then held off favorite Western Wish in the stretch to record the one length victory. Best Head West completed the top three.

"She's got really good gate speed, so she uses that to her advantage, and today it seemed like the front-end was holding up, so it worked out good," said trainer Ashleigh Hensley of the 2020 Battle Of The Belles champion, who is undefeated in four starts at Grand River Raceway. "It was nice to see a lot of people out there, and it was good day for it."

Hensley trains the Bettor's Delight daughter for Burke Racing Stable LLC., Frank Baldachino, J&T Silva- Purnel & Libby, and Weaver Bruscemi LLC. Through five starts this season, the 2020 division champion has two wins, both in Gold Series action, and one second for earnings of C$127,390.

--press release (Ontario Sires Stakes)--