Meadowlands: Emoticon Hanover fends off Hannelore Hanover in TVG Mare Trot final

Emoticon Hanover backed up her Breeders Crown Open Mare Trot victory last month at Pocono by taking Saturday night's $175,000 TVG Mare Trot final at the Meadowlands in 1:52 4/5 over a group that included defending Horse of the Year Hannelore Hanover.

Driver Dan Dube fired Emoticon Hanover to the front from post three, and she would lead through opening-half fractions of 28 and 56 3/5 over the "good" going. Hannelore Hanover (Yannick Gingras) pocketed up, with Ice Attraction (Ake Svanstedt), Celebrity Ruth (David Miller), and Barn Bella (Corey Callahan) lined up behind the top two choices.

On the far turn Ice Attraction pulled first-up, but Dube was able to keep her at bay and steal a soft 29 1/5 third quarter, reaching the three-quarter mile marker in 1:25 4/5. The stage for the sprint to the wire was set at that point, and Emoticon Hanover dug in determinedly to hold a closing Hannelore Hanover at bay by about a neck on the wire. Celebrity Ruth was up from second-over for third, followed by Ice Attraction and Barn Bella.

"Everything went good, and with those fractions she responded good finishing," said Dube. "The track is beautiful right now.

"I wasn't sure because Hannelore's great, but mine fought to the wire. She surprised me."

A 5-year-old daughter of Kadabra, Emoticon Hanover is trained by Luc Blais for owner Determination. Emoticon Hanover now has 22 wins in her life, and she pushed her bankroll to $1,454,576. She was the even-money favorite and returned $4.00 to win.