CAMPBELLVILLE, ON — Rain did not take any of the sparkle off the performances of Ontario’s top three-year-old pacing fillies at Mohawk Racetrack on Saturday evening.

In the first $40,000 Gold Elimination, Im Just Special and driver Tim Tetrick rolled off the starting gate to a :27.1 opening quarter and kept one eye peeled for pocket sitter Chancey Lady as they carried on through a :57.1 half and 1:25.4 three-quarters. However, the anticipated challenge from the fan favourite did not materialise, and when she kicked into high gear in the stretch Im Just Special sailed away to a three length victory in 1:52.4.

Chancey Lady had to settle for second in her first start since capturing the Aug. 9 Gold Final at the Campbellville oval, and Southwind Swallow closed well over the sloppy track to finish third. Fourth and fifth-place finishers Designated Leader and Changing Gears also advanced out of the elimination round to next Saturday’s $120,000 Gold Final.

The victory marked Im Just Special’s third straight appearance in the Mohawk winner’s circle. In recent weeks the Tom Artandi trainee captured the $179,300 Standardbred Breeders of Ontario Association Stake Final (Aug. 22) and the $249,853 Simcoe Stake (Aug. 31). Through 19 starts this season the Camluck daughter boasts a record of 10 wins, five seconds and two thirds for earnings of $457,710. She already owns a Gold Final trophy, captured at Georgian Downs on June 28.

Owned by Theodore and Susan Colby of Bronxville, NY, Im Just Special is a second generation product of the Colby family’s breeding program. She is the first foal from $149,078 winner Ladys Special Girl.

In the second Gold Elimination world record holder Voelz Hanover found her way to the winner’s circle for just the second time this season, stalking pacesetter Ms Goliath through fractions of :27.1; :56.4 and 1:25.4 before laying down a :26.4 final quarter to eke out the nose victory in 1:52.4. Ms Goliath was relegated to second after doing all the work and P W Lover was well behind the leaders in third. Belka Hanover and Style Semalu earned the nod for fourth and fifth from a group of four fillies that finished in lock step nine lengths behind the duelling leaders.

Mario Baillargeon engineered the narrow victory on behalf of trainer Benoit Baillargeon and owner Richard Berthiaume of Point-Aux-Trembles, QC.

Since making her sophomore debut in June, Voelz Hanover has struggled to regain the form that saw her capture seven of 14 as a two-year-old and post a world record 1:51.3 mile over Hiawatha Horse Park’s five-eighths mile oval. In 11 starts this season the Astreos daughter has accumulated two wins — both in Gold Eliminations — two seconds and two thirds for earnings of $125,541.

Voelz Hanover will be looking to capture her third win of the season in next Saturday’s $120,000 Gold Final at Mohawk Racetrack, joined by the top five finishers from each elimination.

For complete results please go to: http://www.standardbredcanada.ca/results/data/rmohssa.html.