Driver Bob McClure was red-hot on Monday, April 28 at Woodbine Mohawk Park, scoring five victories on the night including a clean sweep of both Pop-Up Series finals featured on the card along with the $36,000 Preferred Trot aboard Gaines Hanover.

Gaines Hanover left from post five in the field of seven as the 1-5 choice, settling in third on the opening turn as Mars Hill (Doug McNair) swept down from post seven to cut the quarter in :27.2. McClure brushed the favourite to the lead up the backstretch, assuming command prior to reaching the halfway point in :56.4. McClure began to press the accelerator on the final turn, opening up with Gaines Hanover by two lengths at the three-quarter pole in 1:24.4.

From there, the Justin Turcotte trainee was ruthless in the lane, uncorking a :26.4 final quarter to romp by 3-1/2 lengths on the wire, stopping the timer in a sizzling 1:51.3. Fashion Frenzie (Louis-Philippe Roy) rallied for place, with Ghostly Casper (Tyler Borth) picking up the show dough. 

Making the second start of his five-year-old campaign after a narrow miss to reigning divisional champion Logan Park a week ago, Gaines Hanover is now a 13-time winner for his career with lifetime earnings of $896,047. The gelded son of Cantab Hall-Gatka Hanover is owned by Gestion J Y Blais Inc. of Montreal, Que.

Gaines Hanover was the middle of a natural hat-trick early in the 11-race card for McClure, after winning the second with Reigning Captain ($15.20, 1:53) for trainer Zachary Carroll and fourth aboard JJ Tommy ($6.10, 1:51.3) for Amanda Riley. 

McClure's next victory came in the $25,000 Pop-Up Series final for trotters who were non-winners of $15,000 in 2025 or not averaging $1,400 per start in 2024 or 2025 aboard 1-5 favourite Phoenix.

After getting away third through a quarter of :27, McClure moved the Julie Walker trainee to the engine through middle-half fractions of :56.3 and 1:25.1. Fending off a late rally by Cool Clifford (J.R. Plante) in the lane, Phoenix scored by three parts of a length in 1:54.3. Peso Hanover (Billy Davis Jr.) finished third, two lengths back of the winner.

McClure's closing act came with a post nine score aboard the Des Tackoor-trained Dirty Lil Piglet in the $18,000 Pop-Up Series final for horses who were non-winners of $7,500 in 2025 or averaging less than $900 per start in 2024 or 2025 in the Monday finale at 9-2.

McClure sent Dirty Lil Piglet to the lead from the outside post with a blinding move, crossing over to the cones early in the first turn before releasing Stonebridge Helios (Doug McNair) through a quarter of :27.1. Dirty Lil Piglet sat the pocket through a half of :55.2 before McClure popped-pocket and grabbed a narrow lead at three-quarters in 1:23.3 with Dirty Lil Piglet. Dirty Lil Piglet powered home from there, coasting to a two-length victory in 1:51.1 over Up Joeys Credit (Tyler Borth) and Going Fast (Jody Jamieson).

To view Monday's harness racing results, click the following link: Monday Results - Woodbine Mohawk Park.

(Standardbred Canada)