A new challenger approaches at Mohawk

Gaines Hanover (Cantab Hall) threw his hat into the Woodbine Mohawk Park Preferred Trot ring as he took down 1/5 favourite Logan Park in Monday’s May 13) $36,000 renewal of the harness racing class.

The 2022 Breeders Crown champion, driven by Sylvain Filion, trailed the six-horse field to the quarter in :26.2 but was first to the outside coming down the backstretch towards the half in :55. He made progress towards leader Amigo Volo (Tyler Borth) and got cover as Logan Park (Doug McNair) pulled first-up in front of him entering the final turn.

Logan Park was alongside the pacesetter at three-quarters in 1:24.1 and swiftly went by coming into the stretch, leaving Gaines Hanover to chase. The gelding proved up to the task and pulled nose-to-nose with Logan Park in mid-stretch. Logan Park scratched and clawed all the way home, but Gaines Hanover pushed his way to the front and took the three-quarter-length victory in a career-best 1:52.

Logan Park was second with a length in hand over Pemberton (Bob McClure) in third.

GAINES HANOVER REPLAY

Gaines Hanover was sixth in the Preferred-2 in his four-year-old debut on Apr. 29 but won a conditioned event comfortably last week. He raced at the Grand Circuit level for most of last year with a win in the Simcoe Stakes and place finish in the Goodtimes. He is now nine-for-24 lifetime with earnings of $728,756. Richard Moreau trains the gelding for Gestion J Y Blais of Montreal.

Racing continues at Woodbine Mohawk Park on Thursday, May 16 at 7:10 p.m. EDT.

For complete race results, click here.

by Nicholas Barnsdale, for Harnesslink