Patriarch Hanover dethrones Oney Hall

Patriarch Hanover (Father Patrick) ended Oney Hall’s (Deweycheatumnhowe) seven-race win streak with a late-closing harness racing victory in the $39,000 Free-for-All Trot on Monday at Woodbine Mohawk Park.

Doug McNair steered Patriarch Hanover into the five-hole as Oney Hall, sent off at 2/5, made his familiar early move to the front. The field remained single-file through :27.3 and :56.1 first-half fractions, and Patriarch Hanover was the first to move as Trevor Henry stepped on the gas with Oney Hall approaching three-quarters in 1:23.4.

Patriarch Hanover advanced uncovered around the final turn as Oney Hall kicked away from pocket-sitter Forbidden Trade (Bob McClure) by three lengths. The winner of six straight in Mohawk Park’s top class ran out of stamina in deep stretch though, and Patriarch Hanover sprinted past him late for the upset victory in a new career mark of 1:51.4.

Oney Hall, who was off the prior week, was a half-length behind at the finish. Dream Nation (Scott Young) got up for third. The win price was $20.70.

Patriarch Hanover’s win was his first in the top class at Woodbine Mohawk Park since Feb. 7. The Richard Moreau trainee is three-for-15 on the season and has now won 15 times from 78 career starts. Brad Grant of Milton owns the stallion that has earned $488,351 lifetime.

Moreau trained three more winners on the evening.

Woodbine Mohawk Park also hosted two Ontario Sires Stakes Gold divisions during the Monday card. One featured another heavy favourite’s defeat.

Also on the card, driver Charles Longo, a contestant in this year’s North American Amateur Driving Club, recorded his first victory of the season and first at Woodbine Mohawk Park of his career. The resident of New York – where he usually competes – steered Treasured Tee to a 1:57.1 win in the third race. Longo is four-for-27 lifetime.

The Campbellville circuit will feature three divisions of the Ontario Sires Stakes Grassroots first leg for three-year-old trotting fillies on Thursday. Two Pop-Up Series races for pacing fillies and mares will also go to post.

For complete race results, click here.

by Nicholas Barnsdale, for Harnesslink