Pocket-sitter Emoticon Hanover shifted into a higher gear in the final-quarter sprint to down 1-9 favourite Atlanta and defend her title in the $175,000 TVG Mare Trot Final at the Meadowlands on Saturday, Nov. 23.
The quintet settled into post-position order heading to the first turn with Darling Mearas S gapping the field due to a break at the start. Atlanta strolled from the pylon post to the lead before a :27.3 first quarter and cruised past a :56.3 half. But driver Ake Svanstedt sent Beautiful Sin from third to blitz Atlanta rounding the final turn and nearing three-quarters in 1:25.2.
The pair briefly matched strides until Atlanta began the sprint to the finish. Beautiful Sin gave chase as a seam opened for Emoticon Hanover to shift wide and surge by in the final sixteenth to nail the world champion mare on the finish. Hannelore Hanover dashed up a seam at the pylons for third.
“I thought to follow [Atlanta] as long as I can,” driver Dan Dube said after the race. “I got lucky I got room late. They went fast at three-quarters and wore themselves out. At the end mine came back and she was real good.”
A six-year-old mare by Kadabra, Emoticon Hanover collected her 26th victory from 73 starts, banking $1,765,283 for owner Determination. Luc Blais conditions the $16.40 winner.