Emoticon Legacy came up with another flawless performance, this time in record-setting fashion in the $227,000 Goodtimes Stakes (Grade 2) on Saturday, June 14 at Woodbine Mohawk Park.
Sent on his way as the 1-2 choice in the Goodtimes, Emoticon Legacy arrived at his latest engagement off an authoritative victory in his elimination – and three-year-old debut – last week at the Milton oval.
He took things up a notch in the final.
Landing On Time, second choice on the tote board, landed on the front end early for driver James MacDonald, while Blank, who challenged for early bragging rights into the first turn, broke stride for driver Dexter Dunn, leaving Louis-Philippe Roy little choice but to march onwards.
It was Landing On Time who took his rivals through an opening quarter in :26.4, but Roy pressed on and powered Emoticon Legacy to the lead soon after.
Emoticon Legacy reached the half in :55.1 and was still calling the shots through three quarters in 1:23, as the Luc Blais pupil looked primed to draw away from his pursuers down the lane.
The bay colt shrugged off mid-stretch challenges from Gap Kronos S (Ake Svanstedt) and Landing On Time and went on to stop the teletimer in a stakes and track record 1:50.2, nearly two seconds faster than his previous speed badge of 1:52.1. Gap Kronos S was second, 3-1/4 lengths back. Landing On Time was third and LMC Wagon Wheel (Tyler Borth) was fourth.
“I didn't necessarily want to race him on the on the lead again, but leaving the gate and going in the first turn, I thought it was like the best option for me, because otherwise I was going to have to come first up on the other best two that I thought were in the race,” said Roy. “I was a little bit worried, to be honest, but the horse just proved he's a different animal."
Owned and bred by Determination, the Walner colt out of the O'Brien Award winning-mare Emoticon Hanover took four of his seven rookie races, including a division of the Champlain Stakes, earning $220,637. He was fourth in the William Wellwood Memorial and fifth in the Mohawk Million.
On Saturday evening at Mohawk, he showcased his talents with another top-shelf triumph.
“Well, this year he's a different horse,” said Blais. “Last year, he was a little bit anxious, and didn't know how to control his emotion, I think. But this year, I think we know him. He's more easy. I started differently with him, and it's worked out.
“I know he's got lots of speed, but he just needs to control his emotion."
Emoticon Legacy, now 6-0-0 from 9 starts, rolled into last week’s elimination off four qualifiers, including a 1:54.3 mile on June 2, paid $3 for his Goodtimes victory.
The race presentation was made by John Bax, who campaigned world champion and Canadian Horse Racing Hall of Fame inductee Goodtimes to a 50-win career and over $2.2 million in lifetime earnings.
For full results from Saturday's stakes-packed card of harness racing at Woodbine Mohawk park, click the following link: Saturday Results - Woodbine Mohawk Park.
(Woodbine)