Pikachu Hanover followed a pocket trip behind the bettors' choice in the $24,000 conditioned trot feature at Woodbine Mohawk Park on Monday, Jan. 8. Waiting to strike in the lane, the Gregg McNair student pulled ahead in a blanket finish at the wire to win by a head.
Doug McNair and Pikachu Hanover were the first to the top, but favoured Oney Hall and James MacDonald took command of the tempo. They set panels in :27.1, :57.3 and 1:26.3 while Pikachu Hanover followed in the shadows in second. A charge on the outside was created up the backstretch, but going into the lane McNair and 'Pikachu' found enough racing room to pop off the rail. Speeding up beside the leading pacesetter, Pikachu Hanover gave just enough to win by a head in 1:55.2. Oney Hall finished second by a head over White Tiger (Tyler Borth), who flew up the inside to take the show spot.
Pikachu Hanover made his 37th visit to get his picture taken after winning Monday's feature. In 136 starts, the 10-year-old son of Andover Hall and the Donerail mare Playwood has banked $594,589. High Stakes Stable Inc. owns the winner.
After racing in conditioned trots for the later part of 2023, Pikachu Hanover made his final start of the year in the Preferred at Mohawk, finishing fourth. On Monday, in his first start of the new year, the trotter went off at odds of 4-1 as the second choice in the mile. He returned $10.60 to his backers.
To view Monday's harness racing results, click the following link: Monday Results - Woodbine Mohawk Park.
(Standardbred Canada; Photo of Pikachu Hanover from a previous win)