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Emoticon Legacy wins O'Brien Award for three-year-old trotting colt

Mon, 09 Feb 2026 17:16:31 GMT

It was a change in attitude that helped Emoticon Legacy (raised at Cane Run Farm) — the nephew of the aforementioned Emoji Hanover — fulfill his destiny and deliver on power-packed pedigree. The son of Walner - Emoticon Hanover was a Grand Circuit standout with five graded stakes wins, including three on home soil. The homebred for Determination of Montreal, Que. became the first three-year-old to trot a mile in under 1:50 in Canada when he won the Canadian Trotting Classic in 1:49.4 at Woodbine Mohawk Park on Sept. 20. The colt then shaved another two-fifths off his lifetime mark in the Kentucky Futurity at The Red Mile on Oct. 5 when he made an extended early march to the lead from post 10 and held off the likes of Maryland and Super Chapter in 1:49.2.

"I know at two he showed lots of speed, everybody saw that. But the horse was anxious, he was aggressive. And I was worried about that. To race at that level, you need to be in control. Louie did a good job with him," said Blais with a :) in reference to the colt's driver, Louis-Philippe Roy. "I knew he was a tough horse...you know when you're there, sometimes."

In this interview with Standardbred Canada's Jeff Porchak, Blais also discusses the growing Determination broodmare band and looks ahead to Emoticon Legacy's four-year-old campaign. The interview is the fifth in a series of interviews sponsored by Horse Racing Alberta.

Cane Run raised Emoticon Legacy sets stakes record, R Dutchess rolls in Simcoe Stakes

Sat, 30 Aug 2025 14:44:29 GMT

Milton, ON – Louis-Philippe Roy planted Emoticon Legacy on the point and carved a comfortable mile as a decisive 1-5 chalk over double-millionaire Maryland to take the Grade 3 C$158,125 Simcoe 3-Year-Old Open Trot, one of two Simcoe Stakes events on the Saturday card at Woodbine Mohawk Park, in a stakes record 1:50.3.

Roy stretched Emoticon Legacy out of post six to reach the fore approaching a :27.2 first quarter while Maryland, off the 9-5 second choice, pushed from the pylon post to race fourth. No challenges on the leader and a slowed tempo to a :57 half then forced Maryland to mount a first-over bid after Emoticon Hanover, at which point Roy promptly hit the accelerator through the far turn.

Emoticon Legacy peeled clear enough of the pack that Maryland had room to briefly tuck into the pocket passing three-quarters in 1:24 and ready for a stretch battle. But Maryland lost stride turning for home, leaving Emoticon Legacy on a wide lead as Roy geared him down before crossing the finish to win by 7-1/4 lengths. P L Spencer rallied for second with Fadeaway Hanover settling for third and Pierre In Paris grabbing fourth.

“You don’t want to go too fast for no reason, but I was feeling a little bad. I felt like he could’ve gone [1:]49 easily tonight,” Roy said after the race. “For a trotting stallion, [1:]49’s kind of the catching number instead of [1:]50, but he’s going to have a chance again. He was so, so good tonight. It was just a training mile for him.”

Emoticon Legacy’s 1:50.3 mile nonetheless lowered the stakes record in the Simcoe of 1:51.3 established last year by 2024 Hambletonian runner-up Highland Kismet. The 1:50.3 mile also comes one-fifth of a second shy of the Canadian record Emoticon Legacy set when winning the Goodtimes Stakes earlier this year.

Luc Blais trains Emoticon Legacy, a homebred Walner colt out of the champion mare Emoticon Hanover, for owner Determination. The colt won his fifth race from seven starts this season and his ninth race from 14 starts in his career, good for C$871,271 in earnings. He paid $2.70 to win in his tightener ahead of the Canadian Trotting Classic eliminations on Saturday, Sept. 13.

R Dutchess acquired a pocket ride, lucked into room at the top of the stretch and mounted a formidable challenge against 8-5 second choice Lasting Dream to take the Grade 3 C$159,725 Simcoe 3-Year-Old Filly Trot in 1:52.4.

Tim Tetrick sent R Dutchess forward out of post five and brushed by early leader Sprite Seelster to take the top after a :27 first quarter. Once she crossed to clear the lead, Lasting Dream popped out of third and zipped along the rim to seize command and place R Dutchess into a slipstream on the move to a :56.1 half.

More challengers loomed through the far turn with Highlandstarburst hoisting the mast outside, and she ranged within a length of the Lasting Dream on the march to three-quarters in 1:25.3.

But Highlandstarburst bobbled off stride rounding the bottom corner, giving R Dutchess space to tip outside and gather momentum for a homestretch sprint. R Dutchess ground past Lasting Dream nearing the final eighth of a mile and slid away to win by two lengths. Sprite Seelster gave pursuit from third and P L Sapphire stormed down the center of the track to take fourth.

“I took a little bit of a shot, but I was following one of the best horses in the race,” Tetrick said of his potentially locked trip in the race. “I had really been racing her hard, so I thought the worst case scenario was that she’d find room late and she got lucky and did.”

Susie Kerwood assumed training duties on R Dutchess from John Butenschoen for the filly’s Canadian campaign, which points next to the Elegantimage eliminations on Friday, Sept. 12. R Dutchess, leased by M And L of Delaware and Armitage Farm, won her fourth race from eight starts this season and her seventh race from 20 starts overall, earning C$515,627.

“She’s been good,” Tetrick also said. “She just had one little hiccup on Hambo elimination night; we thought she’d be a contender in the Oaks. She’s been good every start; she’s been one-two every time. She’s a really nice filly. She’s starting to get to show it.”

R Dutchess paid $3.20 to win.

To watch race replay of Emoticon Legacy Simcoe win, click here .

To watch race replay of R Duchess Simcoe win, click here .

Hall of Fame welcomes Class of 2025

Sun, 06 Jul 2025 18:52:21 GMT

Goshen, NY — A crowd of 270 people gathered Sunday evening at the Harness Racing Museum & Hall of Fame to celebrate the induction of the Hall of Fame Class of 2025.

Racing executive Tom Aldrich, bloodstock expert Bob Boni, and trainer Chris Ryder led the group, which was honored during the annual induction dinner on the museum lawn. Inducted posthumously was renowned amateur driver Mal Burroughs, who was elected in July 2024 and passed away 11 weeks later at the age of 83.

Also inducted into the Hall of Fame on Sunday were immortals Lester Hollenback, Bob Key, Harmon Showers, American Winner, Grades Singing, Magician, Romalie Hanover, and Town Pro. Inducted into the Living Horse Hall of Fame were Ariana G, Marion Marauder, Put On A Show, and Shartin N plus broodmares Fireworks Hanover and Steamy Windows.

Inducted into the Communicators Hall of Fame were Judy Davis-Wilson and Debbie Little.

Aldrich is best known for his 28-year stint as general manager, chief operating officer and executive vice president at Northfield Park, working with a team that pioneered a renaissance at the Cleveland-area half-mile oval.

During his tenure, the track created the Battle of Lake Erie, which has remained the centerpiece of its signature night of racing, in addition to hosting several Breeders Crown events and, more recently, the Ohio Sire Stakes championships. He was named to the Ohio Harness Racing Hall of Fame in 1999.

Aldrich thanked his colleagues, “who stuck by a green GM despite his rookie mistakes and demanding nature,” as well as the state of Ohio for “cherishing its harness heritage,” and “especially” the Northfield horsemen, devoted caretakers and backstretch employees.

“In the classic movie ‘Pride of the Yankees,’ Gary Cooper, portraying Lou Gehrig, uttered the Iron Man’s famous line: I consider myself the luckiest man on the face of the earth,” Aldrich said. “Dramatic license aside, that’s how I feel about my career in harness racing. Lucky. Blessed. Grateful.

“Few people in life get to live out their dream. I did, thanks to all of you here tonight, and stablemates no longer with us who made that possible.”

Boni was drawn into harness racing by attending Roosevelt and Yonkers with his parents as a child. After graduating from high school, he set off to work in the industry and landed a job at Pine Hollow Stud Farm, where he climbed the ladder to become executive vice president. In 1980, he started International Standardbred, which later would become Northwood Bloodstock. He also is known for his work with Lou Guida’s Wall Street Stable and Dreamaire Stud.

Boni has been associated with a number of great horses over the years, including six Breeders Crown champs, two Horse of the Year recipients – Nihilator and Always B Miki – and Pacer of the Year Camtastic. He also established the usage of video as a marketing tool for selling top horses, dating back to the mid-1970s.

“I’ve led a blessed life,” Boni said. “I’ve had great horses, met great people. The horses bring us into this business, I feel, but inevitably it’s the friendships and relationships that we make that carry us on. I’ve made more than I can even begin to count.

“It’s the people that have touched you, that I hope I’ve had some impact with, and friends and people that I’ve worked with, that make this so very, very worthwhile. In closing, I just want to thank you all for your friendship and support and for sharing this special evening with me.”

Ryder, a native of New Zealand who has been racing in the U.S. for decades, has won more than 1,900 races and $58 million in purses during his career. His purse earnings rank 14th since the inception of official trainer stats in 1991.

He has won eight Breeders Crown trophies and conditioned 10 different horses to receive year-end honors in the U.S. and/or Canada, most notably 2024 Horse of the Year Twin B Joe Fresh. From 2019 to 2021, he was second in Horse of the Year voting with three different horses: Bettor’s Wish, Party Girl Hill and Niki Hill.

Other stars include Miki And Minnie, I Luv The Nitelife, Put On A Show, Mystical Sunshine, Cathedra Dot Com, Sealed N Delivered and McArdle.

“Believe me, in all these years of training, it never crossed my mind that just to win a few races would lead me to the Hall of Fame,” Ryder said. “It’s a big honor, of course. I was just focused on getting by day by day and winning a few races.

“Like any of us in this position training racehorses, it takes more than just one guy. I’ve got a lot of people to thank. I’ve had a lot of terrific owners, and I still do. The staff, Peter Trebotica has been my second trainer and done a massive amount in running the barn for me for 20 or more years. Thank you, Peter.”

Ryder also thanked veterinarian Steve Dey, and “most of all, the family that stood behind me,” including son Patrick, who works daily at the stable and also is a driver, and wife Nicola for her behind-the-scenes efforts.

“But the terrific horses that have come my way, they’re really the ones that deserve the accolades,” Ryder said.

Burroughs spent part of his childhood in Rutherford, less than three miles from the land that a couple decades later would become the Meadowlands Sports Complex. As an adult, Burroughs’ construction company helped build a racetrack on the site, with Burroughs participating in the work atop heavy equipment.

This laid the groundwork for Burroughs’ participation in harness racing, and his greatest moments in the sport. Burroughs became an amateur driver in the early 1980s and in the ensuing years won both the Hambletonian Oaks and Hambletonian – the two most prestigious events for 3-year-old trotters – at the Meadowlands.

He was the first, and still only, driver with amateur status to win the Oaks. He also remains the only amateur to capture both the Oaks (with the filly Gleam in 1994) and the Hambletonian (with the colt Malabar Man in 1997) in history. He finished his driving career in 2005 with 109 victories. He is one of only 14 drivers in history to win both the Hambletonian and Hambletonian Oaks.

“Mal had three expressed desires in his life,” said Bob Heyden, who accepted on Burroughs’ behalf. “One was to build a racetrack that would make a difference. One was to drive a Hambletonian winner one day that was his own. And one was to make it to the Hall of Fame right here. The way I look at it, by all accounts, that’s a cold trifecta. Mal Burroughs, welcome to the Hall of Fame.”

Davis-Wilson was born into one of the biggest and most successful harness racing families in the state of Delaware, but she switched her focus to the frontside by age 15 at the defunct Georgetown Raceway. Her work as a program director, primarily at Brandywine, when the USTA was implementing its program computerization system was invaluable and served her well at the Hambletonian Society, when she worked many years as that organization’s stakes manager.

In 2001, Davis-Wilson returned to her home state to become the administrator of the Delaware Standardbred Breeders’ Fund for the state’s Department of Agriculture. She remained at DSBF until officially retiring in November 2024. In addition, she has been a director of the U.S. Harness Writers Association for 22 years. She is a past president and treasurer of the organization.

“I did not get here alone, and this honor belongs to many great friends and family who helped me along these past 73-plus years,” Davis-Wilson said. “

Little worked at New York City area tracks, at a trade organization, and as a writer. During this early period in the sport, she met her future husband, Dave. The two were married in the winner’s circle at Yonkers, and now Debbie joins Dave as the first married couple in the Communicators Hall of Fame. Dave was inducted in 2019.

Debbie worked as a handicapper and writer covering harness racing at the New York Post for nearly 27 years. In addition, she was a 2021 Hervey Award recipient for feature writing and served as a past president of USHWA as part of an ongoing 25-year stretch as a director of the organization. She remains busy as a writer while also serving as associate editor for Harness Racing Update and co-chair of USHWA’s Clyde Hirt Journalism Workshop.

After thanking the publications and editors she has worked for during her career, as well as friends, family and extended family, Debbie turned to her husband of 35 years and said, “I’ve always thought we had a Hall of Fame marriage. This proves I’m right.”

To watch a replay of the 2025 Hall of Fame induction ceremonies, click here .

Emoticon Legacy dashes to Zweig win at Vernon

Fri, 04 Jul 2025 18:49:48 GMT

Vernon, NY – Emoticon Legacy outlasted Maryland to capture the $320,000 Dr. Harry M. Zweig Memorial Open Trot for sophomore trotters at Vernon Downs on Thursday (July 3).

Meshuggah (Scott Zeron) was first to the quarter in :26.3. Onajetplane (Andrew McCarthy) then took over the lead heading to the backstretch. Emoticon Legacy (Louis Roy) then made his move first-up heading down the backside. He surged to the front and led to the half in :55.1. Maryland (Dexter Dunn) then made his move heading around the final turn. He went from sixth to second in a flash as Emoticon Legacy led to three-quarters in 1:24.1.

As they made the turn for home, the race was on. Second-place finisher Maryland confronted Emoticon Legacy who then found another gear and won by a length in 1:51.4. Meshuggah finished third.

Emoticon Legacy, a 3-year-old colt by Walner , paid $3.30 to win. He is owned by Determination and trained by Luc Blais.

He is now three for three in 2025 with $254,940 in winnings. It was his seventh career victory in 10 starts and increased his lifetime earnings to $417,596.

Torrisi wins Zweig Memorial Trot for Fillies

Torrisi (Yannick Gingras) beat What A bid Hanover (Ake Svanstedt) in a thriller in the $135,000 Dr Harry M Zweig Memorial Fillies Trot.

Shes A Shoe In (Mark MacDonald) took the lead and led to the quarter in :26.2. Torrisi took over the lead and was followed by Voguish (Todd McCarthy) going down the backstretch. Torrisi was first to the half in :56.2 before Voguish took a short lead but went on a break. Torrisi was back in front heading to the final turn. What a Bid Hanover came first-up heading around the final turn and reached three-quarters first in 1:25.2.

Second-place finisher What A Bid Hanover and Torrisi traded blows all the way down the stretch. Torrisi dug in and used one late surge to win by a neck in a lifetime best of 1:54. My Debt Collector (Tyler Buter) finished third. Torrisi paid $24.20 to win.

Torrisi is a 3-year-old filly by Walner . She is trained by Nancy Takter for owners Caviart Farms, Pryde Stables, John Fielding, and Herb Liverman. It was her first win in three tries this year. She now has two career victories from 13 starts and $293,100 in career earnings.

Vernon also hosted two divisions of the New York Sire Stakes (NYSS) for freshman pacing fillies.

Odds On Enigma charged late to capture the $55,500 first division

Miss Genie Mae (Buter) was first to the quarter in :28. Savage Cindy (Jason Bartlett) then took over command and led to the half in :56.3 and was first to three-quarters in 1:25.2.

As they reached the stretch, second-place finisher Miss Genie Mae came first-up to take a brief lead.

Odds On Enigma (Matt Kakaley) then came flying three-wide from fourth and went right on by winning by a neck in 1:54.2. Savage Cindy had to settle for third. Odds on Enigma paid $14.60 to win.

Odds On Enigma is a 2-year-old filly by Huntsville -Yellow Diamond. She is owned by Odds On Racing and trained by Scott Di Domenico. It was her first career start.

Odds On Monetary grabs the $56,500 second division

Odds On Monetary (Matt Kakaley) was first to the quarter in :26.3. She used a :30.1 second quarter as she led to the half in :56.4.

Onaorchardhunt (Mark Hershberger) was first to make a move heading around the final turn. Odds On Monetary led to three-quarters in 1:26.2.

As they reached the stretch, Odds On Monetary widened the lead and won by a length in 1:55.1. Party Pumps (Braxten Boyd) came on late to finish second. American Cheese (Scott Zeron) finished third. Odds On Monetary paid $20.40 to win.

Odds On Monetary is a 2-year-old filly by Huntsville -All On Top Hanover. She is owned by Odds On Racing and trained by Travis Alexander. She also broke her maiden in her first career start.

Vernon Downs returns to live racing on Friday (July 4) with a post time of 5:05 p.m.

For more information go to www.vernondowns.com .

Gimpanzee Dancer Breaks Currier & Ives Record

Thu, 26 Jun 2025 18:46:37 GMT

A stakes record fell as the Grand Circuit made its first visit to Hollywood Casino at the Meadows this year with the 51st edition of the Currier & Ives for three-year-old trotters on Thursday, June 26. Two $64,993 open divisions, along with a pair of $35,575 filly divisions, highlighted 13-race card.

The final Currier & Ives open division was the most hotly-contested event of the day, resulting in a new stakes record. Cheers Hanover (Ronnie Wrenn Jr.) and Arrowhead Hanover (Anthony MacDonald) battled through the opening half, creating splits of :27.1 and :55.1 Aaron Merriman moved the Gimpanzee-Weslynn Dancer colt Gimpanzee Dancer to the outside past the half before going three-wide before the three-quarters in 1:23.2 to overtake the tiring leader. On top at the head of the stretch, the Chris Beaver trainee held off a stubborn Jet Wings (Dave Palone) for a half-length win in a personal and stakes best 1:52.1. Bombay Tom (Mike Wilder) finished third.

“(He) looks phenomenal until (he) clears, and then he makes it look harder than it is at times”, said Beaver, who co-owns Gimpanzee Dancer with breeder Derek Ivany of Toronto, Ont.

Beaver continued that the Hambletonian hopeful's performance today was “encouraging, he broke Il Sogno Dream’s 11-year-old stakes record, and (Il Sogno Dream) performed very well for us in the Hambo.”

Merriman, who drove Il Sogno Dream to a fourth-place Hambletonian showing in the 2014 edition, added a similar assessment of the young trotter, saying “He follows great on a helmet, travels easy, but at this point he waits on other horses but does enough to win.”

Gimpanzee Dancer sliced more than a second off his mark with the win, his fifth lifetime in 14 career outings. The colt has now earned $194,539. He became the fastest all-time winner in the Currier & Ives as his 1:52.1 mile beat both Il Sogno Dream's open division record of 1:53.2 and Allegiant's mark of 1:52.3 in the filly split set last year.

Aunt Laura and Hall of Famer Palone started the stakes racing action with a lifetime-best 1:53.1 score in the first filly Currier & Ives division. After a brief give-and-go with Trump Over You (Merriman) before reaching the first station in :27, the Uncle Peter-Tori Ann filly led uncontested through the half in :57. Payback Moni and Brady Brown gave chase to the leader through three-quarters in 1:25, but Aunt Laura answered the call and withstood a two-pronged attack in the stretch to hold off Payback Moni, who was a half-length back in second, and third-place finisher Trump Over You.

“Virgil (trainer Morgan Jr.) brings them prepared,” Palone said after the win. “We were able to get a nice comfy lead and when they came to her, she fought on.”

Aunt Laura , the 2024 Ohio two-year-old filly champion, is a homebred for Joycea McClelland Stb LLC of Zanesville, Ohio. She is now seven-for-15 lifetime with $432,422 in earnings.

In the second split of the filly Currier & Ives, driver Brian Zendt and Dearly Beloved found themselves five lengths off the leader at the three-quarter pole and in the wrong flow.

“I wanted to get behind Aaron (Merriman) early, but after I saw that wasn’t gonna happen, I looked for a helmet,” Zendt said. “At that point my filly was relaxed on the helmet, and I figured the front would come back to us. Once I did move, she tore home.”

Settling in third, the duo elected to sit in and watch the race develop, with Mega Money (Merriman) putting up panels of :27.2, :56.2, and 1:24 on the engine. Finally, after three-quarters, Zendt was able to angle the Greenshoe-Broadway Chuckles filly into the outer flow, still three lengths off the lead. It would take the Jenny Melander trainee the length of the stretch to track down Mega Money and in the process take a new lifetime mark of 1:53.2. Mega Money was short by a half-length but clear of show finisher Country Victory (Palone).

Dearly Beloved has now won five of 11 career starts and earned $70,880 for owner Donald Bartling of Hanover, Md.

Zendt’s second stakes victory on the afternoon with Aperol Hanover, in the first Currier & Ives open division, had a cleaner trip but needed every inch of racetrack to take a career-best 1:54.3 win. Following the break of the favourite on the first turn, Zendt sat a loose fifth and waited for cover through first-half splits of :27.4 and :57.2, finally catching a helmet after three-quarters in 1:25.4. Aperol Hanover then tipped three-high and soared down the stretch, nosing out Ill Have A Double (Wilder) on the line. Honolulu Hanover (Wrenn) finished third.

“I may have been a little early going three-wide," Zendt said. “But he trots the turns better, and knowing Wilder was behind me and would be coming, I wanted to try and get a jump on him.”

The gelded son of Bar Hopping-Anonyme Hanover is owned in part by trainer Bill Zendt of Houston, Pa. along with Gary Saul of Pittsburgh, Pa., and Barbara McAllister of Centre Hall, Pa. It is the signature win for Aperol Hanover , whose previous best was a Stallion Series victory earlier this season. He has won four of 18 lifetime appearances and has racked up $82,644 in bankroll.

The $13,699 Great Lakes Amateur Drivers Association event proved to be a coming out of sorts as third generation horsewoman Elizabeth Snyder won her pari-mutuel debut behind Spicy Nugget. Taking advantage of a pocket trip, Snyder made her move past three-quarters, and Spicy Nugget fired clear to an open-length win in 1:57. Troycen (Brandon Presto) finished second with Yo Tater (Robert Barnard) third.

When asked when she knew she was a winner, Snyder said "As soon as I pulled." The young driver had previously scored a win at a fair, but Snyder was quick to point out this was the first “real” victory since the win at the fair was a walkover. Spicy Nugget, a six-year-old gelding, has won 13 of 72 lifetime starts.

For the day, three drivers shared top honours. Zendt, Wilder, and Jeremy Indof each had driving doubles while thirteen different trainers had victories. For the abbreviated week - two days of racing - Dave Palone had four wins, with five stables each winning two.

There will be no live racing on Friday and Saturday. Live racing resumes at Hollywood Casino at the Meadows on Wednesday, July 2 with first post at 12:45pm.

(With files from the Meadows Standardbred Owners Association)

Steacy Reaches $10 Million Milestone

Tue, 24 Jun 2025 18:59:30 GMT

Trainer Shawn Steacy surpassed $10 million in career earnings as his Outbound Train won one of seven $25,000 Ontario Sires Stakes Grassroots second-leg divisions on Tuesday, June 24 at Woodbine Mohawk Park.

Outbound Train floated out from post six and drove on into the first turn for Bob McClure in the second sophomore trotting male split, advancing parked-out to take the lead at the quarter in :28. Go Blue (Doug McNair) rolled to the front in a backstretch brush, seizing command before the half in :57 and heading into the final turn with the lead.

Outbound Train departed the two hole midway around the bend and chugged along the outside track through three-quarters in 1:26.2 with Go Blue holding firm. The two were flat out at the eighth pole with Go Blue still in front, but Outbound Train produced the most trot in deep-stretch and got up by a neck to score in 1:54.3. Hp Lucas (Tyler Borth) finished third.

The winning colt notched his second career victory in his Ontario Sires Stakes debut. Outbound Train , who debuted in Kentucky, moved to Ontario in May and broke his maiden in his second try north of the border. Fredericka Caldwell of Georgetown, Ky. and Bluestone Farms LLC of Hopewell, N.J. own and bred the son of Muscle Mass-Oasis Dream. He is now two-for-12 lifetime with $35,413 in earnings. The win price was $2.90.

Steacy hit the $10 million mark in his seventh season. The trainer of 2023 Somebeachsomewhere Horse of the Year Sylvia Hanover has never had a season in which he earned less than $1 million or won fewer than 50 races. Steacy, the son of trainer Mark Steacy, has racked up 473 wins in 3,183 starts since his debut in January 2019 for a win rate of 14.9 per cent. The resident of Millgrove, Ont. was nominated for the Trainer of the Year O’Brien Award in 2022 and is a two-time Johnston Cup winner.

There were four Grassroots divisions for three-year-old trotting colts and geldings and three contests for fillies of the same age and gait.

Emoticon Legacy Sets Canadian Record In Goodtimes

Sat, 14 Jun 2025 18:44:06 GMT

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 .

Drawn Impression won an Elegantimage elimination

Sat, 14 Sep 2024 15:00:31 GMT

Saturday night’s stakes-filled card at Woodbine Mohawk Park was all about setting the table for the richest night in Canadian racing next Saturday, Sept. 21.

The eliminations for the Metro Pace, Canadian Trotting Classic, Shes A Great Lady Stakes and Elegantimage Stakes all took place on Saturday, Sept. 14 at Mohawk.

Elegantimage Stakes Eliminations

Trainer Luc Blais, driver Louis-Philippe Roy and Serge Godin’s Determination swept the pair of $35,000 Elegantimage Stakes eliminations with Drawn Impression and Emoji Hanover.

Determination’s homebred Drawn Impression survived a :26.3 stretch sprint against pocket-sitter R Melina to win the first elimination in 1:52.2.

Roy floated to the lead with Drawn Impression after a :28.1 first quarter and kept the tempo steady through middle splits of :57.1 and 1:25.4. As she drifted from the pylons spinning for home, R Melina (Todd McCarthy) mounted a challenge off the slow fractions. Drawn Impression refused to relinquish the lead under increasing pressure from R Melina and kept a head in front to the finish while French Champagne (Dexter Dunn), Cold Snaps (Jody Jamieson) and Sambuca Hanover (David Miller) secured the remaining berths.

Roy said of the stretch drive, “She’s geared so that she doesn’t run in on the turn. So most of the horses here, when they get out of the turn, they start drifting out a little bit. We were just trotting the last three-sixteenths; they were really, really trotting. It was just a sprint.”

A daughter of Muscle Hill out of the multiple Grand Circuit stakes-winning mare Emoticon Hanover, Drawn Impression has now won seven times from 13 starts and earned $525,344.

She paid $3.40 to win.

Emoticon Legacy Stars In Champlain Stakes

Sat, 14 Sep 2024 14:56:49 GMT

Trainer Blake MacIntosh led the way with winners in two of Friday’s three Champlain Stakes at Woodbine Mohawk Park.

The MacIntosh stable swept both divisions of the Champlain for two-year-old trotting fillies, while the Luc Blais-trained colt Emoticon Legacy captured the lone Champlain event for open trotters.

Emoticon Legacy turned in an eye-catching final quarter to win the $164,785 Champlain open division in 1:55.1.

Driver Louis-Philippe Roy showed plenty of patience with Emoticon Legacy, as the pair got away seventh and would end up third-over in sixth heading around the final turn after the fractions went in :28, :57.3 and 1:27.1 to three-quarters. In the stretch, Emoticon Legacy swept by his rivals with a powerful :27.1 final quarter to win comfortably by 3-3/4 lengths. Tregaron (Scott Young), who was spotted just in front of the eventual winner turning for home, finished in second, while Wildturkey Hanover (Louis-Philippe Roy) finished third after tailing ‘Emoticon’ in a fourth-over position.

A homebred for Determination of Montreal, Que., Emoticon Legacy is by the standout stallion Walner and out of the champion mare Emoticon Hanover. He now has three wins in four starts and has earned nearly $150,000.

Emoticon Legacy is also expected to compete in next Saturday’s Mohawk Million.

He paid $5.30 to win as the favourite.

Drawn Impression romps the Sincoe Stakes

Fri, 30 Aug 2024 13:42:34 GMT

Drawn Impression (Louis Roy) imposed further supremacy over her peers with another decisive victory in the C$156,000 Simcoe Stakes for 3-year-old trotting fillies.

Outfooted early by R Liza out of post 10, driver Louis-Philippe Roy floated Drawn Impression forward from post 9 and sat an unhurried fifth while parked on the rim through a :26.4 first quarter. R Liza (Scott Zeron) cleared the lead to the backstretch and promptly reeled in her speed for a breather, leaving Roy in the perfect spot to push and take over command just past a :56.1 half.

“I wasn’t too worried, because I was kind of letting her trot,” said Roy after the race. “I’ve just been easy on her. Like you go a quarter in :28 with her, it’s like if you’re going :30 with another random horse. I mean, she just has a long stride. So the first half, even if it looks a little bit like she had much work to do, she didn’t really work herself.”

Roy sat chilly as Drawn Impression cruised on the point around the final turn. She clicked past three-quarters in 1:25 and sprinted for the finish under a hand drive, registering a 3-1/2-length win as the 1-5 favourite over a fast-closing Willys Home Run (James MacDonald), who rallied from third over to take second. Second-over Cold Snaps (Jamieson) tipped off cover to finish third and Tactical Strike (Sylvain Fillion) sat a ground-saving trip for fourth.

“The first few times I raced her on the front, like I remember qualifying her – and even the one time in Vernon – I feel like maybe she wasn’t used to it,” Roy also said. “When you got those horses who race on the front for the first time, they’re on and off, and they spend a lot of energy. But even last start and tonight, she’s just like a perfect individual to drive, like an old horse. So the way she is right now, against the competition, I feel like I can let her do what she wants. I wouldn’t want to say that she’s 100 percent safe tonight, and then see her make a break in the next few starts. I don’t want to jinx myself.”

A daughter of Muscle Hill out of champion mare Emoticon Hanover, Drawn Impression has now won twice from six starts this season and six times from 12 starts in her career, good for $507,844. The homebred for Serge Godin’s Determination returned $2.50 to win.

Cane Run Raised Drawn Impression glides in Casual Breeze

Sat, 24 Aug 2024 15:09:53 GMT

Milton, ON — Drawn Impression plowed from mid-pack and lifted away from her peers to score in the aptly named C$140,000 Casual Breeze at Woodbine Mohawk Park on Friday night (Aug. 23).

Stablemate Emoji Hanover hustled out of post ten to grab the lead from R Liza by a :27.3 first quarter while driver Louis-Philippe Roy settled Drawn Impression out of post one into sixth. As Emoji Hanover (Dexter Dunn) slowed the tempo to a :57 half, Roy sent Drawn Impression uncovered out of sixth and then seized the lead entering the final turn. She strode by three-quarters in 1:25.2 and widened her lead down the stretch under a reclined hand drive to float over the finish winning by 4-1/4 lengths. Emoji Hanover held off R Liza (Scott Zeron) zipping up the inside to take second while R Liza’s rally helped her stave off Cool Ma Belle as she wove through traffic, but settled for fourth.

“I didn’t find any good cover to follow once we all settled into the first turn, so I rushed my move,” Louis Roy said after the race. “But the filly’s just so good. Luc’s team had her really good, so I felt like she could overcome anything. It wasn’t the ideal trip, but she was so good she could deal with it anyway. When you sit behind her, she goes so fast and you don’t even realize; she has a very effortless gait. So that makes me think she might be very special, even more than she shows now.”

Luc Blais trains Drawn Impression, a Muscle Hill filly out of a Casual Breeze champion in Emoticon Hanover, for owner-breeder Determination. She won her first race of the season from her fifth start and notched her fifth victory from 11 starts in her career, good for $429,844.

“She’s always been impressive,” Roy also said. “She started a little later than every other filly, which was the plan with Luc because most of her stakes are later in the season and he wants to keep her sharp. In the short time she’s been racing, I felt like she didn’t have much luck. Tonight, she was able to show her talent.”

Off the even-money favorite, Drawn Impression returned $4.30 to win.

Raised at Cane Run Farm Emoticon Legacy wins the Wellwood Eliminations

Sun, 18 Aug 2024 20:46:29 GMT

Emoticon Legacy stayed unbeaten in just his second start at Woodbine Mohawk Park when collaring 1-5 favorite Nordic Catcher S in the final strides of a 1:56 mile in winning the second Wellwood elimination.

Driver James MacDonald floated Emoticon Legacy forward to race third as 13-1 shot Manforce attempted to steal the race. Clocking opening fractions of :28.3 and :59.1, Manforce soon bore pressure when Nordic Catcher S flushed out of his pocket ride to sit first-up.

Nordic Catcher S accelerated for the lead after three-quarters in 1:28.2 but stalled once downing Manforce in the lane. MacDonald meanwhile found room spinning off the turn to follow Nordic Catcher S’s move outside and then angled his charge off the helmet in the lane to inch closer and closer to the lead. In the final yards, Emoticon Legacy successfully reeled in Nordic Catcher S to win by a head.

Manforce held third while Getastarfromthesky and Southwind Caspian earned the remaining slots to the final.

“He looks like a special colt, like he’s developing into everything Emoticon [Hanover] throws into them,” MacDonald said of Emoticon Legacy, a Walner filly out of champion mare Emoticon Hanover. “She’s a super broodmare, she was a super racehorse and this horse looks like he’s turning into a nice horse as well.”

Luc Blais trains Emoticon Legacy for owner-breeder Determination. The two-time winner paid $8.70 to win.

Best Friends Girl, winner of a leg of the KY Commonwealth series

Mon, 29 Jul 2024 20:52:24 GMT

Cane Run Farm Bred Best Friends Girl (Tactical Landing - Bright Baby Blues) won the Kentucky Commonwealth Series 2YO Fillies at The Red Mile. Congratulations to owner James G Wilhite Jr and trainer Carter Pinske and driver David Miller.

Fifty Ways rallies off cover, wins Dover trot

Tue, 07 Mar 2023 18:50:39 GMT

Dover, DE — Fifty Ways capitalized on a second-over trip and won Tuesday night’s (March 7) $18,000 Winners Over/Select Handicap Trot at Bally’s Dover.

Skyway Bebop and Q uiksilvr Bluechip left alertly from the start of the race amid windy conditions, passing the opening quarter one-two in :27.3 while Michael Cole rated Fifty Ways patiently in fourth. After Skyway Bebop rated a :56 half, he faced pressure from the first-over Gaelihill up the backstretch while Fifty Ways shadowed second-over cover and 6-5 favorite Swan In Motion followed third-over.

As Gaelihill turned up the pressure on Skyway Bebop past three-quarters in 1:25.1, Fifty Ways circled four-wide nearing the top of the stretch. The 5-year-old Donato Hanover gelding stormed home to win by a neck in 1:55.1. Quicksilvr Bluechip (driven by Victor Kirby) surged up the pylons to finish second, beaten a neck, over early leader Skyway Bebop (Tony Morgan).

Joe Columbo trains Fifty Ways, who paid $10.00 to win, for George & Tina Dennis Racing.

Tony Morgan won six races on the 12-race card. He won aboard Fashion Hall (first), Family Four Ever (third), Magical Major (fourth), Lizzy Lauxmont (fifth), Imastunner (11th) and Man In The Box (12th).

Wednesday’s (March 8) feature at Bally’s Dover is a $40,000 Mares Invitational Pace, in which Majorca N will take on Incaseyoudidntknow, Always B First and five other rivals. First post is 4:30 p.m.

Rebuff to stand at stud in Indiana at Victory Hill Farm

Tue, 22 Nov 2022 18:54:08 GMT

The owners of Muscle Hill’s fastest son, Rebuff 2,1:52.2; 3,1:49.4 ($962,490), are excited to announce that he will stand his first season at stud in 2023 in Indiana at Victory Hill Farm. The fastest 3-year-old trotter to ever stand in Indiana, his fee has been set at $7,500.

At 2, he won the Breeders Crown (elimination and final) and International Stallion Stake, taking his 2-year-old record of 1:52.2. He concluded his freshman season with earnings of $444,095.

He was the fastest 3-year-old trotter in 2022 with his 1:49.4 career record taken in the Stanley Dancer Memorial at The Meadowlands that was also a stakes and track record. His other victories included the $430,000 Kentucky Futurity, Hambletonian elimination, Reynolds Memorial and a Kentucky Championship Series leg. He added $518,395 in 3-year-old earnings for a career bankroll of $962,490.

In making the announcement, Mitchel Skolnick said standing Rebuff in Indiana will further strengthen the state’s already strong breeding program.

“Cane Run Farm, Northwood Bloodstock and Bluestone Farms’ successful negotiations with the owners of Rebuff brings to Indiana a stallion that will position Indiana’s Standardbred breeding program to be among the finest in North America and internationally.”

Rebuff’s trainer throughout his racing career, Lucas Wallin, said he fell in love with him the first time he saw him as a yearling.

“From day one he was a natural, with a powerful gait, great acceleration and an ambitious attitude. From the beginning in our sets he was always a very competitive colt that simply wanted to race, and now I can’t wait for the day when I will train his colts and fillies.”

Driver Tim Tetrick agrees with that assessment.

“Rebuff was a super talented colt at two and three with an effortless gait and scary speed. He was super to drive with a great attitude — the complete package.”

Jeff King, owner of Victory Hill Farm with his wife Maria, awaits Rebuff’s arrival with much anticipation.

“As the fastest son of the incomparable Muscle Hill and with all his great accomplishments, Rebuff will be positioned to significantly advance the Indiana breeding industry and beyond, something Victory Hill Farms remains committed to.

“With the rumor mill working overtime we have already had considerable interest and I can’t tell you how much I anticipate his arrival.”

Principle owner Kjell Andersen said he is looking forward to Rebuff’s career as a stallion.

“Rebuff has been a joy to watch and his winning the Breeders Crown at The Meadowlands was more exciting than I ever could have imagined. Now we are just as excited as he enters the stud and what he will bring to the Indiana program.

“I think the sky is the limit.”

For more information or to secure a booking, contact Victory Hill Farm at 260.463.2442. Frozen semen will be available to European breeders.

Queen’s Reign rules, Rollin Rosie remains perfect in stakes action at Harrah’s Hoosier Park

Thu, 15 Sep 2022 17:56:51 GMT

ANDERSON, Ind. – Indiana Sire Stakes action continued on Wednesday (Sept. 14) at Harrah’s Hoosier Park, this time with the freshman pacing fillies stepping into the spotlight. Two divisions of the fifth leg of Indiana Sire Stakes action for the pacing fillies highlighted the 14-race card, with sire JK Endofanera once again completing the stakes sweep of the division.

The $68,000 first division kicked off the stakes action with Queen’s Reign backing up her leg four victory in her last outing. With driver Michael Oosting aboard, Queen’s Reign left alertly from post five, crossing over quickly to the lead to open things up with a :26.3 opening panel. Queen’s Reign would relinquish the lead up the backstretch as Sleazy Mama and Trace Tetrick popped the pocket to lead the field to the halfway station in :56.2. Sleazy Mama and Tetrick maintained command on the far turn to lead at three-quarters in 1:25 as her stablemate and heavily favored Beauty N Grace made an uncharacteristic miscue while attempting to move first over, leaving a revved-up Queen’s Reign and Oosting ready to strike from the pocket.

In the stretch, Queen’s Reign popped the pocket with authority, motoring home with a :27.2 final fraction to open up and score by over two lengths at the line in a lifetime-best 1:52:4. Polks Image and Peter Wrenn rallied up the rail to finish second with Feetmadefordancin and Dale Hiteman getting up for the third position.

Trained by Ernie Gaskin, Queen’s Reign picked up her second career victory in nine outings, having now gone back-to-back for owner and breeder, Watermark Farm LLC. With the victory, the daughter of JK Endofaneraout of the Riverboat King mare, Queen’s Gold, pushes her lifetime earnings to $96,250.

The $68,500 second division immediately followed in the 11th race of the evening, this time with the unbeaten Rollin Rosie maintaining her flawless record. Getting away from post seven in the field of eight, driver Jordan Ross left aggressively, striking the front end to the tune of a :26.1 opening quarter. A parked-out Plan To Tell and Jimmy Whittemore proceeded to push to the front end up the backstretch, before immediately facing pressure from JKs Lucky Lou and Tetrick through a brisk half of :54. JKs Lucky Lou cleared heading into the final turn as Jordan Ross would launch Rollin Rosie once more from third engaging the leader at three-quarters in 1:23.

The two race favorites would slug it out from there down there stretch, with Rollin Rosie eventually wearing down a gutsy JKs Lucky Lou with a :28.2 final quarter to score the victory in 1:51.3 by three-quarters of a length. Always In Flight and John De Long would rally for third to round out the trifecta.

Now a perfect five-for-five in her young career, Rollin Rosie has now banked $145,250 for trainer Tyler George, who co-owns the filly along with Scp Stable and Gregory Samples. Bred by Mahlon Lambright, Rollin Rosie is sired by JK Endofanera and out of the Rockroll Hanover mare, Rock N Roll Baby, making her a full-sister to 3-year-old Indiana standout JK’s Rollin Baby.

Racing action continues on Thursday (Sept. 15) at Harrah’s Hoosier Park with a 14-race card featuring both divisions of 3-year-old trotters in Indiana Sire Stakes action. Thursday nights at Harrah’s Hoosier Park also feature a $10,000 guarantee in the Early Pick Four in races 3-6 as well as a $10,000 guaranteed Hoosier High Five in the evening’s final race. For more information on the 2022 live racing season, guests are encouraged to visit www.harrahshoosierpark.com.

Bobby Weiss fillies featured at Pocono Monday

Mon, 04 Apr 2022 17:59:03 GMT

Wilkes-Barre, PA – Three-year-old fillies were the featured performers on Monday (April 4) afternoon at The Downs at Mohegan Sun Pocono, with five divisions of pacers and three of trotters, all going for $20,000, contesting their first preliminary of the Bobby Weiss Series.

The fastest pacing winner was the Captaintreacherousfilly Silent Crossing, who went away strongly, yielded to Dance Ticket, then gained into back fractions of :56.3 – :28 to post the co-smallest win margin of the eight Weiss races, a half-length, but also the quickest time of 1:53.3, a new mark. Mark MacDonald drove the Woodbine/Mohawk shipper for trainer Jessica Fallon and the ownership of Hull Racing Stable and Blake MacIntosh.

Two Weiss pacing winners knocked almost four seconds off their previous best times. The Sunshine Beach sophomore Sunshine Sally got a good early position, had the room to swing wide headstretch, and overhauled Throw The Dice, also by a half-length, while dropping her mark from Q1:58 to 1:54.1. Anthony Napolitano worked out a great trip for the winner as she triumphed for trainer Cory Stratton and Bukers Stable.

Reducing her mark from 1:59 to 1:55.1 was the Sweet Lou filly Sweet Kiss, one of three pacing Weiss winners who took advantage of a pocket trip, with Sweet Kiss catching Miki Rose up the inside enroute to a three-quarter length success. George Napolitano Jr. drove the winning miss for trainer/lessee Michael Hall.

The other winning two-holer was the American Ideal filly Jacana, who dashed up the Pocono Pike to outduel the tough first-over Some Kinda Angel while taking a new best of 1:54.3. Matt Kakaley (a five-time winner during the card) guided the filly to the victory for trainer Jean Drolet and owner Martha Drolet.

The “slowest” winner of the Weiss pacing events, and the only one on either gait who did not reduce her mark, was the Always B Miki filly Jillian B Miki, whose 1:55.3 might not have caught the eye, but whose back fractions of :56.2 – :27.3 on the front end for driver Jim Pantaleano certainly did. The Tye Loy trainee, owned by Loy and Rich Gillock and now the winner of three straight, would also prove to be the only winning favorite on the pace – and the slowest winner on the trot was also the only successful chalk on that gait.

Among the trotting misses, it was a first-time starter, the Devious Man filly Devious Dushi, who proved the fastest in 1:57. Driver Braxten Boyd went to first-over position with his trotter as Sunseeker Hanover took over the lead early in the backstretch, battled that one the rest of the way, and finished out with a 1-3/4 length decision. Guy Howard trains the promising miss for Howard Stable, himself and Cathy Howard.

Just for one day, the Credit Winner filly We Could Be Heros was the longest shot on the board and broke her maiden in her division. She came up the Pocono Pike to gain into a :29 kicker and catch favored Lovely Echo by three-quarters of a length in 1:58.2. Tyler Buter guided the winner, making her seasonal bow, for trainer Rob Harmon and the partnership of Harmon Racing Stable LLC and Harvey Eisman.

Also a three-quarter of a length winner was the Muscle Hill distaff Those Blues, who followed the cover of main rival Phanny’s Matter, then worked by that one late to break her maiden in 1:59 while living up to her backing in her 2022 bow. Matt Kakaley was in the sulky behind the Per Engblom trainee for Bluestone Farms LLC and Fredericka Caldwell.

DANAE! What a racehorse! What a broodmare!

Sun, 03 Apr 2022 18:01:07 GMT

Many trotter enthusiasts are familiar with Cane Run Farm breeding, it is home to exceptional trotters such as Nan's Catch, Moni Maker and Danae (all Hambletonian Oaks wi nners). At this point we want to introduce the descendants of the branch of Danae. (See also our Interview with Elizabeth Caldwell .)

This maternal line, that of Nelly (by Mambrino Sterley) , who was born in the 1880s, is highly interesting and always good to produce a top trotter. The pedigree of her daughter Rosa L, who is sometimes given as the founding mare of this line, is characterized by an inbreeding that has not seen in pedigrees for a long time. It is also noticeable that Rosa L goes back to the ancestor of most trotters worldwide, Hambletonian, neither on the father nor on the mother's side.

The maternal line:

188? Nelly (by Mambrino Sterley)
1889 Rosa L (by Elyria)
1909 Honeymoon H (by John A McCarron)
1922 Jean Claire (by Belwin)
1938 Belle Jean (by Protector)
1950 Lively Lady (by Nibble Hanover)
1960 Delicious (by Kimberly Kid)
1976 Della Hanover (by Speedy Count)
1991 Deanella Hanover (by Valley Victory)
2004 Danae (by Andover Hall) 1.54.2 / 1:11,1 – $ 531.001 (Yearling Price: $ 15.000)
2009 D´Orsay (f. by Yankee Glide) 1.51.2 / 1:09,2 – $ 450.638
2017 Mister Walker (g. by Muscle Hill) 1.54 / 1:10,8 – $ 81.271
2018 Chablis (f. by Muscle Hill) 1.52.4 / 1:10,1 – $ 84.005
2019 The American Eagle (c. by Trixton) 1.57.4 / 1:13,2 – $ 2.085
2020 Queen Camille (f. by Muscle Hill)
2010 Deja Vu Too (f. by Dewycheatumnhowe) 1.52.4 / 1:10,1 – $ 73.868 (Yearling Price: $ 40.000)
2015 Claire Michelle (f. by Cantab Hall) 1.56.1 / 1:12,2 – $ 15.680 (Yearling Price: $ 120.000)
2017 Billie Claire (f. by Cantab Hall) 1.53 / 1:10,3 – $ 33.796
2019 Silent Night (c. by Cantab Hall) 1.57.3 / 1:13,0 – $ 2.515
2020 Colt (by Cantab Hall)
2022 Colt (by Googoo Gaagaa)
2011 Propulsion (c. by Muscle Hill) 1.49.3 / 1:08,1 – SEK 34.343.693* (Yearling Price: $ 250.000)
2013 Agent Dinozzo (c. by Manofmanymissions) 1.55.3 / 1:11,8 – $ 38.350 (Yearling Price: $ 120.000)
2014 Dream Together (f. by Muscle Hill) 1.51.3 / 1:09,3 (Yearling Price: $ 240.000)
2021 Dreaming Together (f. by Father Patrick)
2015 Deschanel (f. by Yankee Glide) 1.52.2 / 1:09,9 – $ 91.080
2020 Dream Boogie (c. by Muscle Hill) (died)
2021 Du Maurier (f. by Muscle Hill)
2017 Dante´s Inferno (c. by Muscle Hill) (died)
2018 Damien (c. by Muscle Hill) 2.03.2 / 1:16,7 – SEK 65.000 (Yearling Price: $ 1.000.000)
2020 Powhatan (orig. Detroit City) (c. by Muscle Hill) (Yearling Price: $ 500.000)
2022 Different Drum (c. by Muscle Hill)

On A Streak wins Two-Year-Old Trotting Colt O'Brien Award

Mon, 31 Jan 2022 19:01:57 GMT

In the Two-Year-Old Trotting Colt division, On A Streak beat out stablemate Macho Martini. On A Streak had only two wins in 10 starts, but they were both very lucrative ones. His maiden-breaking effort came in the $525,000 William Wellwood Stakes, which was worth $267,500 and a coveted spot in the inaugural Mohawk Million where he finished a solid third. His second victory came in the Breeders Crown, and was worth $300,000. In total the Cantab Hall colt earned in excess of $850,000 for his season which also included a runner-up finish in the Valley Victory.

On A Streak rewrites Crown record book in rookie colt trot

Fri, 30 Oct 2020 18:04:01 GMT

Anderson, IN — On A Streak and driver Bob McClure surged down the stretch to overcome pacesetter Captain Corey and then held off In Range by three-quarters of a length to win Friday’s (Oct. 30) $600,000 Breeders Crown for 2-year-old male trotters in a stakes record 1:52.4 at Harrah’s Hoosier Park. Venerate finished third.

McClure left quickly from post four with On A Streak and led heading to the first turn before yielding the top spot to Captain Corey and driver Åke Svanstedt through a :26.4 opening quarter.

Venerate, the 4-5 favorite, and driver Andy Miller began a bid for the front with a first-over move from fifth up the backstretch, but were unable to pass Captain Corey as they hit the half in :55.3 and three-quarters in 1:24.1. In the stretch, McClure angled the pocket-sitting On A Streak to the inside and took the lead en route to a 9-1 upset.

“My colt is so handy,” McClure said. “Getting him off the gate, I wanted to leave and hopefully follow Åke or Andy, or even both. When I saw Åke look over and try to take off on Andy, I thought it looked really good.

“Andy’s horse seemed like he was coming (in the stretch), so I just tried to get into the passing lane and get my horse re-motivated. It’s not easy for 2-year-old trotters to dive into the passing lane and try to advance; it’s not really taught to them. But he’s such a professional that, as soon as he saw open air, he took off.”

On A Streak, a son of Cantab Hall out of Habit’s Best, has won two of nine races this season and $646,184 for owner Determination and trainer Luc Blais. He was bred by Fredericka Caldwell.

The colt’s previous victory came in the William Wellwood Memorial at Woodbine Mohawk Park in September.

It was the first Breeders Crown title for McClure and fourth for Blais.

“To win a Breeders Crown is always special,” Blais said. “It’s the end of the year, it’s a long season, and when you win that, you’re fresh for the winter.”

The previous stakes record of 1:53 was set by Walner in 2016.

Blais has two ready for Mohawk Million

Wed, 23 Sep 2020 18:06:48 GMT

Harness racing traner Luc Blais will have two horses in Saturday’s inaugural Mohawk Million for 2-year-old trotters at Woodbine Mohawk Park, so he is understandably exci ted about the event. But the trainer knows he is not alone in being pumped up about Canada’s richest race since 2012.

The Mohawk Million is the first million-dollar buy-in race in harness racing history. Nine spots in the 10-horse field were available for purchase for $110,000 (U.S.), with the final slot in the race given to the winner of the William Wellwood Memorial.

Blais-trained On A Streak won the Wellwood to earn his place in the Mohawk Million. The colt is owned by Serge Godin’s Determination stable, which also had purchased a spot in the race. Donna Soprano, the Blais-Determination tandem’s undefeated filly, was selected by her connections to fill that spot.

“It’s very exciting,” Blais said. “At the beginning, you’ve got a slot, but you don’t know what horse will be there. Now, we’re in. We are lucky, our horses have been racing well. You need luck in this game, and I think everything is going well right now. I hope it keeps going in that direction.

“But we all feel the same this week. We all feel excited. This is something new and I think people are interested to see it. That is good for the game.”

The Mohawk Million carries a Canadian purse of $1.32 million, which converts to $1 million U.S. dollars. The winner of the race will receive the traditional 50-percent purse payout and all starters will receive at least one percent of the purse.

Donna Soprano, undefeated in five races this year, will start the Mohawk Million from post three with regular driver Bob McClure. Her victories include the Peaceful Way Stakes, a division of the Champlain Stakes, and the Pure Ivory Series final. She has won every race by a minimum of one length and average of nearly three lengths.

“I think she has a lot of character,” Blais said. “She was not easy to bring here, but we figured her out, the way she wanted things. Every start is better and better, and she is more handy on the racetrack. Her last couple starts, she looks like a real professional. She acts like a special horse.”

Donna Soprano is a daughter of Donato Hanover out of the O’Brien Award winning mare Windsong Soprano. She was purchased for $190,000 at the Standardbred Horse Sale. She has earned $210,820 this season.

Blais and Determination selected Donna Soprano for the Mohawk Million over stablemate Macho Martini, a colt who won his first seven races before finishing third in the Wellwood Memorial and then suffering interference and going off stride in the stretch of an Ontario Sire Stakes Gold division.

“It was a good problem,” Blais said about having to make a choice. “Macho Martini already has nine starts this year and he raced very big in the Wellwood. He had a rough mile. Donna has only five starts and she looks very hot right now.”

On A Streak, a son of Cantab Hall out of Habit’s Best, is a half-brother to O’Brien Award winner Habitat and was purchased for $155,000 at the Lexington Selected Sale. He got his first win in the Wellwood, where he bested previously undefeated Southwind Tyrion by a head. A week earlier in their Wellwood elimination, On A Streak suffered a nose defeat to Southwind Tyrion.

“He was second that day, but he raced big,” Blais said. “I was not really surprised (when he won the Wellwood). He is getting better and better every start. It seems he is more mature and he knows what to do now, more than in the beginning. He is a nice horse, a very strong horse. He just needed a little maturity and now I think he’s there.”

On A Streak will start the Mohawk Million from post seven with driver Scott Young.

The Mohawk Million is race 10 on Saturday’s card. Post time is approximately 10:45 p.m. (EDT). The full field for the Mohawk Million is listed below:

Post-Horse-Driver-Trainer-Slot Owner
1. Iznogoud AM S (Doug McNair/Marcus Melander) – Courant Inc.
2. Warrawee Whisper (Jonathan Drury/Shawn Steacy) – Glengate Farms
3. Donna Soprano (Bob McClure/Luc Blais) – Determination
4. Full Of Muscles (Trevor Henry/Brad Maxwell) – Dreamland Farms
5. Altar (Jody Jamieson/Per Engblom) – Diamond Creek Racing
6. Tokyo Seelster (Sylvain Filion/Richard Moreau) – Jeffrey Snyder
7. On A Streak (Scott Young/Luc Blais) – Wellwood Winner
8. Bravado Fashion (Louis-Philippe Roy/Jim Campbell) – Fashion Farms
9. Insta Glam (Yannick Gingras/Nancy Takter) – John Fielding
10. Venerate (Andrew McCarthy/Julie Miller) – Brad Grant

In addition to the Mohawk Million, Saturday’s card at Mohawk includes the She’s A Great Lady final for 2-year-old filly pacers, Milton Stakes final for pacing mares, and Metro Pace final for 2-year-old male pacers.

Blais trainees sweep Wellwood and Peaceful Way in stunning fashion

Sun, 13 Sep 2020 18:22:35 GMT

Milton, ON – On A Streak punched his ticket to the Mohawk Million with an upset in Saturday’s C$535,000 William Wellwood Memorial for driver Scott Young, trainer Luc Blais and owner Determination.

The Wellwood Memorial was hyped as the showdown between undefeated colts Macho Martini and Southwind Tyrion, but both saw their perfect records broken when Macho Martini’s Blais stablemate On A Streak gamely dug in to hold off ‘Tyrion’ in a thrilling stretch drive.

“This is incredible, even a guy like me doesn’t have a whole lot of words,” said Young after the biggest win of his career. “I took a look over and saw (Southwind Tyrion) first up and (Macho Martini) following him obviously and I thought I could try and get a little distance in the last turn and my colt dug all the way down the lane and I still thought (Southwind Tyrion) was going to get me halfway down the lane, but he kept digging and we got it.”

On A Streak and Young got away third in a :27.2 opening-quarter set by Logan Park. Southwind Tyrion and Yannick Gingras got away fourth, while Macho Martini and driver Bob McClure were kept wide by their rival going into the turn. On A Streak got his cue to go in the second-quarter and made the front before hitting the half in :57.2.

The second-quarter also saw Macho Martini ready to go on, but waiting on Southwind Tyrion to move. That move to the outside by ‘Tyrion’ ultimately forced Macho Martini three-wide going into the final turn before finding room to slide in a lane onto his rival’s back.

On A Streak and Young ramped up the tempo on the far turn to race by three-quarters in 1:25.4 with Southwind Tyrion approaching first-up.

In the stretch, Southwind Tyrion confronted On A Streak and the rookies went to war. Macho Martini dipped to the inside and stayed with the top pair, finishing third by just over a length.

The final strides saw On A Streak prevail by a head for a timely maiden-breaking score. The result was a flip of last week’s elimination where ‘Tyrion’ prevailed by a nose over On A Streak.

“The day they finalized (the drivers) Bobby (McClure) texted me,” said Young about finding out he’d be driving On A Streak and Dicentra in Saturday’s rich finals. “Luc (Blais) had talked to me the day before and asked me if I was going to be here and I said ‘I’ll be around’.

“The nerves were good and I was even surprised by myself, but it’s my job, I’m here to work and do the best I can. The two colts that were undefeated had all eyes on them, but I had complete confidence in my colt and he just missed Yannick’s colt last week and with an inside post I figured he would be top-three for sure, anything better would be great and we got the big one.”

A son of Cantab Hall, On A Streak was a $155,000 Harrisburg yearling purchase by Serge Godin’s Determination. The Blais trainee entered the Wellwood Memorial with three runner-up finishes, a third and a fourth in five starts.

On A Streak paid $32 to win.

The winner of this year’s William Wellwood Memorial is guaranteed a free slot in the inaugural Mohawk Million on Sept. 26. On A Streak is the first confirmed horse in the field. Godin’s Determination already owned a slot and will now have an opportunity to race two horses in the field.

Godin’s second spot could be reserved for a special filly that dominated again on Saturday night.

Donna Soprano made a three-wide move up the backstretch moving to the lead and never looked back for a dominating 1:53.3 victory in the C$335,000 Peaceful Way for the team of McClure, Blais and Determination.

“I’ve talked many times about her temperament and she’s a little flighty, but I’ve also said she’s getting better every week and she was perfect tonight,” said McClure. “I moved her three-wide, she landed on the front and she came right back to me and just coasted home.

“She’s a very special filly and I’m just very lucky to drive her.”

The early-stages of the Peaceful Way saw many starters leaving for position with Dream Chapter stretching out Dicentra through a :27.1 opening quarter. Donna Soprano had yet to see the rail in mid-pack when McClure opted to circle three wide around Amazone Duharas. The heavy-favorite cleared stablemate Dicentra just after a :56.4 half.

Donna Soprano trotted by three-quarters in 1:25.2 with slight pressure from Amazone Duharas before leaving her rivals far behind with a wrapped up :28.1 final-quarter to win by 4-1/4 lengths. Lady Chaos rallied for second, while You Will Be Queen and Imextraspecial completed the Superfecta.

A $190,000 Harrisburg yearling purchase, Donna Soprano adds another Peaceful Way trophy to her family’s connection, joining her dam, Windsong Soprano, who won the race in 2008.

Owner Godin’s Determination sits loaded with top 2-year-old trotting talent. Donna Soprano is now five for five with C$278,082 earned. The clocking of 1:53.3 is a new career-best and is the second fastest in event history behind Manchego’s 1:52.4 mile in 2017.

Donna Soprano paid $2.70 to win.