Emoticon Hanover went wire to wire to take the $150,000 Joie De Vie Mare Trot on Sunday, August 27 at Tioga Downs, which was contested along with the $158,000 Artiscape Mare Pace and $170,000 Crawford Farms Trot, in a world-record mile of 1:50.2.
Trotting fractions of :26, :55.1, and 1:22.4, Emoticon Hanover maintained a length advantage on pocket-rider Hannelore Hanover at the wire to break the 1:51.2 mark for four-year-old mares set previously by Classic Martine and Frau Blucher in 2014. Caprice Hill, riding the rail, finished third, while odds-on favourite Pasithea Face S stalled in her first over bid to settle for fourth.
By Kadabra from the Ken Warkentin mare Emmylou Who, Emoticon Hanover, competes for owner Determination and is conditioned by Luc Blais. Steered by Daniel Dube, she won her 13th race in 34 tries, earning $994,434, paying $14.40 to win.
In the Artiscape, Pure Country won going gate to wire in 1:50.1 over Frost Damage Blues and Nike Franco N.
Going unchallenged through splits of :26.4 and :55.1, 6-5 favourite Nike Franco N provided the lone challenge at the pacesetter moving past three-quarters in 1:22.1 before stalling at the top of the stretch while Frost Damage Blues rallied up the rail. Pure Country held a length-and-three-quarter lead on Frost Damage Blues at the line.
A four-year-old mare by Somebeachsomewhere from the Western Hanover mare Western Montana, Pure Country, racing for owner Diamond Creek Racing LLC, won her 22nd race in 39 starts, earning $2,155,491. Trained by Jimmy Takter and driven by Mark Macdonald, she paid $8.60 to win.
Resolve powered first over toward pacesetter Crazy Wow in the $170,000 Crawford Farms Trot, taking the lead into the stretch and holding off a late rally from Cufflink Hanover to win in 1:51.4 as the even-money favourite.
Getting away fourth through a :27 quarter, trainer-driver Ake Svanstedt tipped Resolve wide moving into the second turn, beginning his bid toward Crazy Wow through a :56.1 half. Matching strides with the leader through three-quarters in 1:23.2, Resolve took control at the head of the stretch, holding a length-and-a-half advantage on Cufflink Hanover closing from off cover to take second. Flanagan Memory rallied up the rail for third and Marion Marauder came from off cover to finish fourth.
Winning his 18th race in 61 starts and earning $2,743,033, Resolve, a six-year-old son of Muscle Hill from the Credit Winner mare Anikawieshalee, returned $4.00 to win. He races for owner Hans Enggren.