She’d been the belle of the barn for Ontario-based trainer Luc Blais for a couple of years already, but Emoticon Hanover has raised her game further at four.

With a wire-to-wire victory in the $150,000 Joie de Vie Mare Trot at Tioga Downs on August 27, in a world-record time of 1:50.2, the Kadabra mare is now within $6,000 of becoming a millionaire for the Determination Stable of Montreal.

Emoticon Hanover could reach the $1 million plateau as early as September 21, when Emoticon Hanover will make her next start in the Miss Versatility final at Delaware, Ohio, on Little Brown Jug day.

She won a division of the Miss Versatility series at the Meadowlands Racetrack (in 1:51) and was second to Hannelore Hanover in another at Mohawk earlier this year.

“Am I surprised by the world record (for four-year-old trotting mares)? Yes and no,” said Blais. “Her previous races at the Meadowlands (in the Miss Versatility, which she won, and the Dr. John R Steele Memorial, where she was third to Pasithea Face S) were also very good. But you also need some luck. The race unfolded well for her. And Daniel Dube drove her very confidently.”

Versatility, speed and consistency have been Emoticon Hanover’s calling cards since the $165,000 yearling came to prominence on the Ontario Sires Stakes circuit at age two.

She’s finished in the top three in 27 of her 34 career starts and has tasted victory on 13 of those occasions. As a four-year-old, she’s missed the board only once in nine starts and collected $171,008. Last year, she made $604,168 and was the runner-up to Caprice Hill in the O’Brien Award vote for outstanding three-year-old trotting filly of the year in Canada.

“Making the transition from three to four, competing against older horses, it’s always hard, but she’s stepped up. The competition is exceptional, but she’s come out of her races well,” Blais said. “A horse like her, you don’t get often. She’s been there at two, three and four, always giving her 100 per cent. She’s never had a bad race, really. We made a few mistakes, she lost a few she should have won, but it’s not on her.”

Beyond the Miss Versatility, Blais’ targets for Emoticon Hanover this season are the Breeders Crown and TVG final. Last year, she was second to Broadway Donna in the Breeders Crown final for three-year-old fillies.

(A Trot Insider Exclusive by Paul Delean)