CAMPBELLVILLE, ON — Freezing temperatures and snow did not deter Dreamfair Vogel from posting his fifth straight victory at Mohawk Racetrack on Saturday evening.
The three-year-old pacing colt and driver Randy Waples eased off the starting gate from Post 4 in the $130,000 Gold Final and landed in fourth spot as Camystic took the field past the opening quarter in :27.2. Heading down the backside of the seven-eighths mile oval Waples sent Dreamfair Vogel up the outside and the duo gained control just past the :55 half.
After holding steady through a 1:24 third quarter, Waples kicked the colt into gear heading around the final turn and put five lengths between himself and the field. Armbro Warranty sprinted down the stretch, but did not have enough room to catch Dreamfair Vogel as the division leader hit the wire one length on top in 1:52.3. Early pacesetter Camystic and Luckyisasluckydoes finished two more lengths back in a dead heat for third.
“He can take a lot of air and he proved that tonight,” said Waples. “I’m glad we had an easy trip last week because it wasn’t that easy this time. He’s just a real nice horse. I knew he’d be sharp coming into this race and he’s a lot tougher than people think.”
The gritty pacer pushed his 2002 earnings just over $300,000 with the win for owner-breeders John and Mary Lamers of Ingersoll, who entrust trainer Bill Robinson with Dreamfair Vogel’s day-to-day care. The colt wrapped up the regular season atop the division standings with 287 points earned through two Gold Final wins and three Elimination victories.
Sent off as the overwhelming favourite by Mohawk fans, Dreamfair Vogel returned just $2.60 to win, $2.10 to place and $2.10 to show. Armbro Warranty delivered a tidy $14.20 to place and $7.30 to show while Luckyisasluckydoes paid $2.70 to show. The Dreamfair Vogel and Armbro Warranty exactor was worth $50.70. As a result of the dead heat the triactor paid $177.00 when you added Luckyisasluckydoes to the top three and $147.20 with Camystic. The four horse superfecta returned $781.25 on the selection of 4 – 9 – 2 – 6.
The top 10 sophomore pacing colts now turn their attention toward the Nov. 16 Super Final at Mohawk Racetrack when they will compete for a tidy $300,000 and Dreamfair Vogel’s peers will attempt to call a halt to his four race provincial win streak.