With the date of the 2024 Pepsi North America Cup eliminations four weeks away, Trot Insider will profile some of the race's top contenders as horses ready to compete for one of Canadian harness racing's biggest prizes.

Fresh off of a two-year-old campaign in which he took O'Brien Award honours, Legendary Hanover returns at three with sights set on the 2024 Pepsi North America Cup. Legendary Hanover got off to a fast start at two, winning his first six races which included victories in the Nassagaweya, Champlain and Metro elim before tasting defeat for the first time with a runner-up finish in the $970,000 Metro final. In all, Legendary Hanover hit the board in eight of nine at two, winning six on his way to banking $405,100 for owners Eric Good, West Wins Stable and Mark Dumain. 

Legendary Hanover begins his three-year-old season in the third race on Saturday, May 11 at Woodbine Mohawk Park. Coming in at 9-2 odds, Legendary Hanover was ranked at No. 2 in TROT Magazine's 2024 Pepsi North America Cup Spring Book.

"We had an exceptional two-year-old year," said trainer Anthony Beaton. "He got of to a great start winning his first six and even though that first loss is always a tough pill to swallow, he raced tremendous in the Metro. Then in the Breeders Crown final, he was keyed up with the recall and cut his air off, it was a tough way to end a great season."

Where did Legendary Hanover spend his winter and when did he start training back for his three-year-old campaign?

"He was at Spring Station down in Kentucky at owner Eric Good's farm from after the Breeders Crown before we sent him down to Casie Coleman in Florida the first week of January to begin training back."

Have you noticed any changes in the colt physically from two to three?

"He looked tremendous when he came back to me. I've found that he's gotten taller and filled out quite a bit. He was a big horse last year, but he's a big boy."

What does his tentative schedule look like leading up to the North America Cup?

"We would like to get a start or two into him before the Somebeachsomewhere, which will take him to the elim from there."

Beyond the North America Cup, what does the schedule hope to look like for Legendary Hanover?

"He's paid into everything. He's got a full dance card for the year. In the past, we have typically not paid into the Meadowlands Pace, but he's paid into that along with races like the Adios and Max Hempt, we've just got to keep him sound and healthy all year."

What is his biggest strengths on and off the racetrack?

"He's a very mild-mannered and intelligent individual. Especially for a stud colt, he looks after himself and is very easy to get along with. He can get a little keyed up on race nights if anything, but you can do whatever you want with this horse."

"On track, he's a horse that just never gets tired. Also, for such a big horse, he has a very quick turn of foot and is a very high-speed horse."

Being a half-brother to Linedrive Hanover, how do the two compare to one another?

"They are night and day. 'Linedrive' is much more of a firecracker on and off the track. They have some similarities in the sense that 'Linedrive' doesn't get tired and they are both high-speed horses, but 'Linedrive' is a smaller, stouter version as opposed to 'Legendary,' who is a taller animal and much calmer in the barn."

Being a bigger horse, is the plan to keep Legendary Hanover on the bigger tracks?

"I think that will mainly be the plan for the year. He is paid into the Little Brown Jug and the turns at Delaware are a little different than most half-mile tracks, but other than that I think the plan will be to keep him on the bigger tracks."

Does stablemate Nijinsky have a similar schedule pointing towards the NA Cup?

"Nijinsky has an Ontario Sires Stakes race at the end of May, we'd like to get a start in before that race (also in tonight at Mohawk, heading postward in the first race). Then he'll be headed towards the Somebeachsomewhere and North America Cup. His schedule will be a little bit different beyond that with the OSS schedule."

Any other NA Cup eligibles in your barn you would like to share an update on?

"Casie also paid Sinatra Hanover in this year (making his sophomore debut in the eighth dash tonight at Mohawk). He was a nice little colt last year and I think that he has matured as much as anyone has this year. We'll give him the chance, and you'd only be disappointed if you should have paid him in and didn't."

Having been connected to past champions of the North America Cup, what would it be like for you to win this race as a trainer?

"It would be fantastic, it was incredible to be a part of the race last year. Having been a part of a few champions with Casie and numerous elim winners, it would be incredible just to be in the race again this year."

Previous Pepsi North America Cup Spring Book Profiles:

• Gem Quality - #5 // 11-1
• Funtime Bayama - #7 // 13-1

(Standardbred Canada)