For the second straight week at Woodbine Mohawk Park, Gaines Hanover has returned victorious in the $36,000 Preferred Trot, blazing the mile in 1:51.3 on Monday, June 2. 

Osceola (Doug McNair) and Gaines Hanover (Bob McClure) sprung off the car in tandem with Osceola cutting a diagonal from post six to the front. Osceola maintained his lead through the first panel in :27.1 while Gaines Hanover was caught outside parked. After the first quarter split, Gaines Hanover assumed control of the field of six and he maintained a 1-1/2-length advantage through the half in :56.2 and three-quarters in 1:24.3. Osceola maintained his grasp of the leader and surged home, but was bested at the finish by Gaines Hanover in 1:51.3 by a half length. Sid The Kid (James MacDonald) was third.

Owned by Gestion J Y Blais Inc., Gaines Hanover is a five-year-old gelded son of Cantab Hall and the Muscle Massive mare Gatka Hanover. In five Preferred starts this year, the Justin Turcotte trainee has earned $72,000 to go along with a record of 3-2-0. In his 47-start career, Gaines Hanover has banked $941,047 to go along with a lifetime record of 15-8-5. 

He paid $2.60 to win as the bettors' choice.

Driver Doug McNair reached a money milestone on Monday, surpassing $90 million in career earnings. Just two races prior to Osceola's runner-up finish in the Preferred, McNair drove another of his father Gregg's trainees, Rockabilly Rebel N, to a second-place in an $11,000 pace to put his earnings over the mark.

The 35-year-old Puslinch, Ont. reinsman, who is coming off a career-best $7.2 million season in 2024, has driven horses to just over $1.8 million so far this year to rank third nation-wide.

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

(Standardbred Canada)