Rideau Carleton: Hensleys clean up in OSS Gold Series

Ashleigh and Ed Hensley swept the 3-year-old pacing filly Gold Series divisions at Rideau Carleton Raceway on Sunday, Aug. 22, as Jody got her first win at the Ontario Sires Stakes program's top level, and Scarlett Hanover earned her third.

First onto the Rideau Carleton oval for Team Hensley was Jody, who lined up at post one in the opening C$99,000 Gold division. After leaving well, driver Ed Hensley opted to yield the early lead to Dabarndawgswatchin, who led the field of five to a 26 2/5 quarter. Hensley soon had Jody on the move, however, and the Betterthancheddar daughter was comfortably in command at the 55 second half. Jody continued to set the pace through the 1:23 three-quarters and then dug in down the stretch to keep a head in front of Voelz Delight at the 1:52 finish. Race favorite Western Wish rounded out the top three.

"It was nice because she was up near the front tonight. The last few starts she's been back quite a ways, so she had to make up a lot of ground," said trainer Ashleigh Hensley. "Tonight she was good, and it just worked out."

The win was the filly's fourth of the season and her first in Ontario Sires Stakes (OSS) action. In the first three Gold Series Legs, Jody logged a pair of seconds and one fifth. She currently boasts a point total of 105 and sole ownership of third spot in the division standings.

"She's a really nice-looking filly. She's a nice size; she's just a little bit temperamental," said the trainer. "We've only had her for just over a month, so we kind of had to learn her quirks and stuff, because she is kind of a funny mare. We finally got a win with her, so that was good."

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The Hensleys were back in the winner's circle six races later with Scarlett Hanover. Starting from post five in the second C$99,800 Gold division, Ed Hensley employed a near identical strategy with the favorite, sitting third as Best Keepsake rolled out to a 26 4/5 opening quarter and then taking command. Scarlett Hanover paced by the half in 54 4/5 and the three-quarters in 1:23 1/5 before cruising home a 1 1/4 length winner in 1:51 4/5. Pocket-sitting Game Of Shadows finished second, and Best Head West closed well for third.

"Tonight, it seemed like she was feeling back to herself, the way she was last year," said Ashleigh Hensley. "She had been racing good so far all season, but she wasn't real sharp, and tonight she seemed like she was back to herself, so that was good.

"She's just so professional, everything about her," the trainer added. "Can't say too much bad about her, she just makes us look good."

The win was Scarlett Hanover's third in Gold Series action this season. The Bettor's Delight daughter is the reigning division champion, winning one Gold Leg and the Super Final at two, and currently sits atop the standings with 175 points. She will have one more opportunity to pad her lead when the fillies wrap up their regular season at Woodbine Mohawk Park on Sept. 24.

Burke Racing Stable LLC., Frank Baldachino, J & T Silva- Purnel & Libby, and Weaver Bruscemi LLC. own both Jody and Scarlett Hanover.

--press release (Ontario Sires Stakes)--