Woodbine Mohawk Park: Hannelore Hanover, Emoticon Hanover win Armbro Flight elims

Hannelore Hanover and Emoticon Hanover were easy winners in the pair of C$35,000 Armbro Flight Stakes eliminations for trotting mares that took place on Friday at Woodbine Mohawk Park.

In the first elimination Hannelore Hanover (Yannick Gingras) cleared to the lead passing the 27 second opening quarter, and after trotting through easy middle-half stations of 56 1/5 and 1:24 2/5, she pulled away at will to score by 5 1/2 lengths in 1:52. Southwind Tesla (Phil Hudon) was the runner-up, followed by Caprice Hill (Doug McNair), Dream Together (Bob McClure), and Checkmate Time (Donald Dupont).

"That was probably the easiest race I'll win all year," Gingras said with a laugh. "She was wrapped-up and did it very easy. She's so solid right now and there's no worries, knock on wood. She's something else.

"I think last year at this time, throughout the summer, she was winning on class and on respect. I don't think she was 100 percent. She got really good around Lexington. She was great there, and she finished out the year real strong. So far so good this year, and I'm very happy with where she's at."

It was lifetime victory number 39 for Hannelore Hanover, a 6-year-old Swan For All mare trained by Ron Burke for co-owners Burke Racing Stable LLC., Weaver Bruscemi LLC., Frank Baldachino, and J And T Silva Stables LLC. Hannelore Hanover, who was the 1-9 favorite and paid $2.10 to win, has now earned C$2,769,632.

Emoticon Hanover (McClure), starting from post five in the other elimination, shot to the front and hit the opening quarter in 27 1/5. Outside starter P L Jill (Louis-Philippe Roy) ended up parked first-over on the outside, and she was in that position at the 55 4/5 half, with favored Celebrity Ruth (David Miller) sitting second-over on the stalled cover.

McClure deftly used P L Jill as a pick on the far turn, opening up almost five lengths on the three-wide Celebrity Ruth at the 1:24 1/5 three-quarters, and Emoticon Hanover sailed home well in front, scoring by 3 1/2 lengths in 1:52 4/5. Celebrity Ruth had to settle for second, with Ice Attraction (Jody Jamieson), Majestic Presence (Chris Christoforou), and Barn Bella (Jeff Gregory) also securing positions in the final.

"This mare is all class," said McClure. "I wanted to get away from Celebrity Ruth. I saw she was second-over and P L Jill was stalling, so I figured if I could get a jump on her that I should.

"Hannelore's going to be tons the best in (the final) in there, but my mare did beat her last year (in the Joie De Vie at Tioga). It is a horse race."

A 5-year-old daughter of Kadabra, Emoticon Hanover is trained by Luc Blais for owner Determination. Emoticon Hanover now has 18 wins in her life, and she pushed her bankroll to C$1,311,934. She was the 5-2 second choice and returned $7.70 to win.

Here is how the field will line up for next Saturday night's final:

1-Caprice Hill
2-Celebrity Ruth
3-Dream Together
4-Emoticon Hanover
5-Hannelore Hanover
6-Checkmate Time
7-Southwind Tesla
8-Majestic Presence
9-Ice Attraction
10-Barn Bella