Mohawk: Hannelore Hanover defends Armbro Flight crown

Hannelore Hanover joined Peaceful Way as the only two-time winners of the Armbro Flight Stakes by taking this year's edition of the C$253,000 contest for trotting mares in 1:51 4/5 Saturday evening at Mohawk Racetrack.

Emoticon Hanover (Sylvain Filion) was the first leader in the race, getting the opening quarter in 27 seconds flat, but Hannelore Hanover (Yannick Gingras) was moving up on the outside at that point, and she would become the new leader at the three-eighths mile marker.

Hannelore Hanover would get to the half in just 56 1/5, and with first-over Charmed Life (Louis-Philippe Roy) in a slow grind on the far turn, she was able to continue to set an easy tempo to three-quarters, which went on the board in 1:24 1/5.

In the stretch Gingras asked his charge to put the field away for good, and she complied, trotting away from Charmed Life and Emoticon Hanover to win by about three lengths. Charmed Life just got up for second, with Emoticon Hanover, Majestic Presence (Chris Christoforou) and Flowers N Songs (Randy Waples) rounding out the top-five finishers.

"There was a lot of movement behind the gate and a lot of close quarters there for a little bit, so I just wanted to make my way to the front as easy as I could and keep her out of trouble," said Gingras.

There was a delay before the race while an equipment issue was sorted out with Majestic Presence, and Gingras admitted that his mare didn't handle it the best.

"She got a little anxious on me," he offered. "I scored her down a little bit, tried to get her attention before (the delay) happened, and I got her attention that's for sure. She was a little bit grabby and wouldn't quite relax for me after that."

The victorious 5-year-old daughter of Swan For All is trained by Ron Burke for the ownership group of Burke Racing Stable LLC., Weaver Bruscemi LLC., Frank Baldachino, and J And T Silva Stables LLC. This was Hannelore Hanover's 29th career victory, and she has now earned C$1,692,108. The 1-5 favorite, Hannelore Hanover paid $2.40 to win.

"I don't think it matters with her," said assistant trainer Mickey Burke Jr. when asked about the soft half. "She lost one race this year and that was her first start. I'm very happy with her."

"She'll go back to New Jersey tomorrow and Ronnie will make that call," on her next start.