Woodbine Mohawk Park: Allywag Hanover awesome again in Gold Cup
The beat went on for Allywag Hanover in the C$100,000 Mohawk Gold Cup for open pacers on Saturday night at Woodbine Mohawk Park as he led at every call in winning by open lengths in 1:48 1/5.
Driver Todd McCarthy blasted Allywag Hanover to the point from post six in the ten-horse field, and he reached the quarter in 27 seconds. Facing no outside pressure in the second quarter, McCarthy was able to rate Allywag Hanover to the half in 55 seconds, and then stepped on the gas in a 26 3/5 third quarter to blunt a first-over attempt out of third by Enavant (Bob McClure). From there, it was all Allywag Hanover, as he paced another 26 3/5 panel to open up and win by 4 1/2 lengths. Envant wound up second over Warrawee Vital (Trevor Henry).
"He's developed a new dimension where he can leave and really carry his speed. He looks like there's no quit. He's loving it right now," trainer Brett Pelling said of Allywag Hanover, who has now won four straight races and five out of his last six. "He's effortless, and he travels over the ground so well. I think Todd fits him great. His gate speed now, he's putting himself in the race every time. Like I said, it's just added a new dimension to him. It's made him to go another level.
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"Early in the year when we were racing in the Graduate Series with the 4-year-olds, and there were five or six of them that were just absolutely amazing. There were a couple of weeks there where I thought I'd be filling fields, but he learned to leave, and he learned to be close. He's just developed. He's really done well."
Allywag Stable owns the victorious 4-year-old gelding by Captaintreacherous. He is now a 16-time winner from 37 career starts, and he has now pocketed C$945,945. He was the 1-5 favorite and paid $2.40 to win.
"He's got the TVG and the Breeders Crown and we may take him down to Kentucky for one run," added Pelling. "There's a few races left, but he's still young. He's definitely going to come back at 5. That's my first Gold Cup, and I'd like him to be my second, as well."