12-1 upset in Mohawk Park Preferred

Quebec Hanover (Walner) capitalized on a pocket trip to capture the $36,000 Preferred Trot at Woodbine Mohawk Park on Monday (Feb. 2) for his first career Free for All-level harness racing win.

Louis-Philippe Roy teamed up with the gelding named for his home province and commanded early speed to secure a pocket spot from the rail. New Rules (Trevor Henry) strode past him to take the lead entering the first turn and reached the first station in :27.3.

New Rules rolled unopposed to the half in :56.1 and through three-quarters in 1:24.4 but came under fire from Quebec Hanover, who shifted out to challenge at the top of the stretch. Quebec Hanover, still a length back at the eighth pole, began to kick on at that point and charged past his opponent to prevail by two lengths in 1:54.2.

New Rules had to settle for place. Odds-on favourite Amigo Volo (James MacDonald) finished third. The winner returned $27.60.

QUEBEC HANOVER REPLAY

Quebec Hanover has found success at the higher-level conditions in recent months but had been stymied in each Preferred attempt prior to Monday’s win. The gelding is 13-for-55 lifetime with $232,709 in earnings. Benoit Baillargeon trains the five-year-old and co-owns him with Claude Hamel of Orford, Santo Vena of Cedar Valley, and Nunzio Vena of Bolton.

Also on the card, Royalty Beer (Royalty For Life) remained undefeated this season as he made the leap to the Mohawk Park ranks. Coming off back-to-back Preferred wins at The Raceway at the Western Fair District, the gelding went coast-to-coast for Roy to win by a half-length in 1:55.3.

ROYALTY BEER REPLAY

The six-year-old, conditioned by Jean-Francois Maguire, has gotten every call in five outings in 2025. The former Quebec champion has won 23 of 78 lifetime races and has earned $356,227. Ecuries Maguire of Sainte-Marie owns the six-year-old homebred.

Racing is set to resume at Woodbine Mohawk Park on Thursday, Feb. 6 at 6:30 p.m. EST.

For complete race results, click here.

by Nicholas Barnsdale, for Harnesslink