Top driver Louis-Philippe Roy was back in action on Friday night (January 11) and didn't take long to pick up his first win of the new year after a chart-topping 2018 campaign that has earned him another O'Brien Award nomination.
Roy teamed up for his first victory of the season with the nation's perennial leading trainer Richard Moreau, who is also among the 2018 O'Brien Awards finalists.
Roy drove Des Tackoor's Osiris Blue Chip ($5.40) to victory in the evening's second race for $20,000-$25,000 claiming pacers at Woodbine Mohawk Park, prevailing by a half-length in 1:55.2 ahead of second choice Barn One.
Following the race, Roy was recognized in a special winner's circle presentation by Woodbine Mohawk Park as the track's 2018 leading reinsman.
Roy, who won the Future Star Award in 2016 and was a 2017 finalist for Canada’s Driver of the Year, is nominated again in that category along with Bob McClure.
From nine drives on the Friday card, Roy also had four runner-up finishes. Meanwhile, McClure, fresh off a six-win night on Thursday, won another two races.
The O'Brien Award winners will be announced on February 2 at the annual Black Tie Gala honouring the best in Canadian harness racing at the Hilton Mississauga/Meadowvale Hotel in Mississauga, Ont.
To view Friday's harness racing results, click on the following link: Friday Results - Mohawk Park.