Breeders Crown: Gaines Hanover turns second-over trip into 2YO Colt Trot triumph

Gaines Hanover kicked off the 2022 Breeders Crown Friday night at Woodbine Mohawk Park and scored an impressive victory in the C$810,000 final for 2-year-old trotting colts and geldings, giving his driver, Louis-Philippe Roy, and trainer, Richard Moreau, their first Crown victories in their very successful careers.

Oh Well, the winner of the Mohawk Million last month at the Campbellville, Ontario, track, made a break as the gate left for tonight's Crown opener. Dave Miller had Dire Straits up to the top from post 10 and hit the first quarter in 27 2/5. He was passed by Kilmister and Brian Sears just past that point, and they trotted by the half in a tepid 57 seconds.

Down the backside Yannick Gingras had the favorite Celebrity Bambino in full stride in the outer lane and was neck-and- neck with the leader at the 1:25 4/5 three-quarters. Celebrity Bambino took over the lead mid-stretch, but Roy and Gaines Hanover, who had followed them in the outer flow, tipped off cover and went on by to win in 1:53 2/5. Celebrity Bambino held for second with Kilmister third. Rounding out the top five were Dire Straits and Kierkegaard K (Ake Svanstedt).

Roy and Moreau are both multiple O'Brien Award winners as the best driver and trainer in Canada, respectively, for several seasons, but they had yet to put a Breeders Crown trophy on their mantles until tonight and were thrilled with the outcome.

"It was great, the trip felt pretty good. I just had in my mind I said, 'please win, we didn't do all that just for a second.' It was just a great moment," said Roy, who was pleased with the trip he was able to work out for Gaines Hanover.

"I feel like Yannick was the same way as me. We didn't want anyone in front to have too easy fractions, but we didn't want to have to use our horses too early. He knew he had a pretty good horse on his backside, and he didn't want to tow me in too early. I think he drove his perfectly, but mine, when he showed up, was a little bit better."

Coming into the race Roy noted his only concern was the post Gaines Hanover had drawn. "The rail is a tough spot here; I didn't know how it would turn out, but it actually worked pretty well. I'm coming into the weekend with a few good drives, and I never really had the chance to win a Breeders Crown before now, so I'm just excited for the whole weekend."

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A Cantab Hall gelding, Gaines Hanover is owned by Gestion Blais of Montreal. Bred by Hanover Shoe Farms, Gaines Hanover was purchased for $50,000 at the Standardbred Horse Sale last year. He is the fourth foal from Gatka Hanover, a winner of C$262,000 in her career.

Gaines Hanover, who won his Crown elimination by two lengths last weekend, now has four wins, a second and a third in eight starts so far in his young career. He came into the contest with just under C$90,000 on his card but now has an additional C$405,000 in his bank account.

The freshman trotting colts kicked off the 2022 edition of the Breeders Crown, the 39th installment of the year-end series, which was introduced in 1984. The 2-year-olds are spotlighted tonight, with the 3-year-olds and open performers taking their turns tomorrow evening.

--press release (Breeders Crown/Woodbine Mohawk Park)--