Wilkes-Barre, PA — Emoticon Hanover (Daniel Dube) won back-to-back Breeders Crown trophies after capturing the $250,000 Breeders Crown Mare Trot on a sloppy track on Saturday night (Oct. 27).

Emoticon Hanover captures her second consecutive Breeders Crown. Salonick photo.

Caprice Hill (Brian Sears) was on the lead at the first :27.1 quarter, before being quickly overtaken by Ariana G (Yannick Gingras) just past that milestone. Ariana G held the lead to the :56.4 half, trailed by Emoticon Hanover and Broadway Donna.

Broadway Donna was up to engage her on the outside just past the half, but Ariana G held that lead to the 1:25.2 three-quarters before Ice Attraction came up on the outside to make a try for the lead. While those two were looking for the finish line, Emoticon Hanover came charging on the outside to pass them both for the win in 1:54.1

The winner is trained by Luc Blais and owned by Determination.

“She’s nice right now, she’s good,” said winning driver Daniel Dube. “We went to the passing lane last week, we went to the outside today. She does everything right, she is more relaxed. She is a special mare. I’ve known Luc (Blais) a long time, but mostly to see him in the paddock. Now we have got to know each other, which is good.”

Ice Attraction (Åke Svanstedt) was second after a sweeping last to first bid and Caprice Hill was third.

“She was good, better than I thought,” Svanstedt said. “It was unlucky she did not win. It was a tough race. The horses two wide were not moving forward, so I took the three wide. She felt good, but Dube’s horse came faster and beat me.”