Gaines Hanover delivered once again as the 1-20 favourite in the $36,000 Preferred Trot, which highlighted the 12-race card at Woodbine Mohawk Park on Monday, May 19. Meanwhile, Ontario Sires Stakes Grassroots competition kicked off for sophomore pacing fillies with driver James MacDonald sweeping all three divisions.

The Preferred Trot served as the third race on the card, with Gaines Hanover and Bob McClure leaving from the rail fresh off a narrow miss to Elitloppet-bound Logan Park in their last outing. 

McClure settled Gaines Hanover in the fourth position early as Osceola (Doug McNair) wrestled the lead away from New Rules (Trevor Henry) to lead the field of eight to the quarter in a hot :26.3. McClure right-lined the favourite and Gaines Hanover quickly assumed command on the backstretch before the half in :55.3. McClure fed Gaines Hanover racetrack around the final turn, opening up by two lengths over Osceola at three-quarters in 1:24. 

Gaines Hanover drifted off the cones in the stretch, giving Osceola open road to take a run at the leader. However, Osceola did not reach, with Gaines Hanover getting to the wire first by 1-1/4 lengths in 1:51.3. New Rules finished third, 5-3/4 lengths behind the winner.

Trained by Justin Turcotte, Gaines Hanover has two wins and two seconds through four starts of his five-year-old campaign, with his defeats each coming at the hands of Logan Park. Owned by Gestion Blais Inc., the gelded son of Cantab Hall-Gatka Hanover is now a 14-time winner in his career, with lifetime earnings of $923,047.

A 2024 O'Brien Award winner, Highland Kismet (James MacDonald) made his four-year-old debut in the feature; however, after going off stride before the start and not making the fair start pole offered a refund in the wagering and finished eighth.

A race prior featured the first of three $25,000 divisions of Ontario Sires Stakes Grassroots for three-year-old pacing fillies, with driver James MacDonald completing a clean sweep of the first leg.

MacDonald and the Chantal Mitchell-trained All My Wishes ($5.80) catapulted from third-over at three-quarters to score a 1:53.4 victory in the opening division. The daughter of Mcwicked-Regal Wish stayed perfect through two outings of her sophomore campaign with the score. 

The same could be said for Sugar Pie Honey ($2.50) as she stayed undefeated through two starts this season in the second division. The Nick Gallucci=trained daughter of Bettors Delight-Kloof Street romped on the front end by four lengths to score in 1:53.2.

In the third and final division, Foreverafterall went first-over on the final turn and prevailed by a neck in the quickest division as she scored in 1:52.3. The Murray Brethour-trained daughter of Stag Party-Watchful Eye has yet to finish worse than second through four starts this season with a pair of victories.

MacDonald completed his Monday night grand slam by teaming up with the Carmen Auciello-trained Shadrack Hanover ($6.70) to take the $25,000 Pop-Up Series final for trotters who were non-winners of $20,000 or not averaging $1,700 per start in 2025 with a 1:54.1 victory. 

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

(Standardbred Canada)