MILTON, June 14, 2025 – Brue Hanover was a brute force at Woodbine Mohawk Park on Saturday evening, hanging tough to win the $100,000 Mohawk Gold Cup Invitational Pace (G3). With Yannick Gingras at the controls, the five-year-old son of Stay Hungry out of the Art Major mare Blind Ambition was powered to the front at the outset, followed by mutuel choice Nijinsky, Abuckabett Hanover and Ervin Hanover into the first turn. Pacing comfortably on top through an opening panel in :26.0 and a half in :54.4, Brue Hanover then braced for the challenge of Ervin Hanover, who ratcheted up the outside pressure through three quarters in 1:21.4. Straightening for the drive to the wire, Gingras called upon Brue Hanover for his best and the Dave Menary trainee responded, as a locked-in Nijinsky looked for a seam to take aim at the leader. At the wire, Brue Hanover was a half-length winner in a career-best 1:47.4. Nijinsky, last year’s Pepsi North America Cup winner, settled for second. Abuckabett Hanover was third and Ervin Hanover fourth. Brue Hanover and driver Yannick Gringras winning the Mohawk Gold Cup on June 14, 2025 at Woodbine Mohawk Park (New Image Media) “He feels great,” said Gingras, of the pacer who is now 11-0-1 from 14 engagements in 2025. “He’s definitely in career form, that’s for sure. He drove great, but he was always a willing horse. “Top of the stretch, I knew Nijinsky had pace behind me. So, I was hugging the rail pretty good, you know, make sure that he wasn’t going to get through.” Owned by Burke Racing Stable LLC and Weaver Bruscemi LLC, the well-travelled bay gelding is now 29-9-12 from 79 starts, accompanied by over $590,000 in career purse earnings. “He’s handled everything we’ve thrown at him,” praised Menary. “I’m proud of the horse and he’s a special animal. He’s just so brave. We made a few equipment changes along the way. He’s just a class act to be driven this hard this many weeks in a row.” Bred by Hanover Shoe Farms Inc., Brue Hanover was a $42,000 purchase (Hip No. 179) at the 2021 Lexington Select Yearling Sale. He paid $6.80 for tonight’s win. Chris Lomon, Woodbine Mohawk Park Share This:Share
