Gaines Hanover, a pupil of Richard Moreau, overcame great odds to unseat the favourite in the $36,000 Preferred Trot at Woodbine Mohawk Park on Monday, May 13. He accomplished this at a mile pace that was a career best.
Of the six feature trotters, a dense field consisted of three millionaire earners. The first millionaire to lead the field to the quarter in 26.2 was Fashion Frenzie (Louis-Philippe Roy), with Tyler Borth and Amigo Volo ($2.47 million) trailing behind. At the top of the mile, millionaire Logan Park (Doug McNair) completed the top three. In :55, Fashion Frenzie took the trotters in half. Logan Park took over from the outside at that point and led the team to the three-quarters in 1:24.1.
Gaines Hanover was on an outer flow bid and was making "gains" of his own through the first half and third quarter. 'Gaines' and 'Logan' were nosed apart coming into the last turn, meeting on the same level. Gaines Hanover won by three-quarters of a length in 1:52 at the wire as they fought their way to the finish line. Bob McClure's Pemberton took the show, and Logan Park had to settle for second.
The four-year-old Cantab Hall-Gatka Hanover gelding is owned by Gestion J Y Blais Inc. Gaines Hanover won his eighth race in 24 career starts as well as his second straight race in three starts this year. His career bankroll now stands at $728,756. 'Gaines', the 8-1 upset winner, had to pay $17.10 to prevail.
After winning with Gaines Hanover, Captain Fireball ($8.20) and James MacDonald in 1:51.4, and Flyingevenbettor N ($77.40) and Doug McNair in 1:51.3, Moreau earned a training triple on the evening program.