from the Ontario Sires Stakes

Dundas, ON — Ontario’s top 3-year-old trotting fillies closed out their Gold Series season with a pair of impressive miles over an off track at Flamboro Downs on Sunday evening (Oct. 2).

Emoticon Hanover took over top spot in the division point standings with a track record effort in the second $79,800 Gold division.

Driver Sylvain Filion fired the fan favorite away from post six and dropped in second behind pacesetter Magical Steph as the Grassroots champion took the field to a :28.3 quarter. Filion allowed Magical Steph to continue her work on the front end through a :58.3 half and a 1:27.3 three-quarters and then sent Emoticon Hanover after the lead. The filly powered down the stretch to a three length victory in a track record 1:56.3. Dewdle All Day trotted into second, leaving Magical Steph to settle for third.

“I was a little concerned going to the first turn, there was a horse made a break, two horses made a break, and mine got a little bumpy,” said Filion. “I thought maybe mine would jump for a while, but she settled as soon as she hit the backside, so I was real happy with that. I was just being extra careful in the turns, so I moved her down the backside and I knew she had tons of go, I knew if she stayed flat that she was going to win for sure.”

Filion engineered the track record effort for trainer Luc Blais and owner Determination. The 1:56.3 mile took two-fifths of a second off the 1:57 record shared by former Ontario Sires Stakes competitors Condi Lane (2008), Miss Paris (2012) and Riveting Rosie (2014).

The win was Emoticon Hanover’s third in Gold Series action and combined with a pair of seconds, gives her 200 points and top spot in the sophomore trotting filly standings. In 12 sophomore outings the daughter of Kadabra and Emmylou Who has only missed the board on two occasions, logging six wins, two seconds and two thirds for earnings of $276,946.

In addition to her Gold Series success the talented young trotter has held her own in open company, winning her Casual Breeze and Simcoe Stakes divisions.

“She’s been pretty good throughout the season and she feels like she’s even getting stronger now,” noted Filion. “I know she’ll be coming into the Super Final in top form, because she’s been racing so good and she’s still fresh.”

Flowers N Songs earned her second Gold Series trophy in the other division, employing a similar come-from-behind strategy. Starting from post two, driver Doug McNair settled the filly in fourth as Major Muscle stepped out to a :29.3 quarter and a :59 half. Heading for the 1:28.3 three-quarters McNair sent the fan favorite up the outside behind Elegantimage champion Royal Charm, and turning for home Flowers N Songs shifted into high gear, sailing under the wire 1-1/4 lengths in front in 1:57.3. Royal Charm finished second and pocket-sitter Tymal Tempest was third.

“She’s been a pleasure to drive all year,” said McNair. “She gives it 100 percent every week.”

Unraced at two, Flowers N Songs made her debut at Pennsylvania’s The Meadows at the beginning of February and made her first stakes start in the Celias Counsel Series at Mohawk Racetrack in April. In addition to her pair of Gold Series trophies, the daughter of Deweycheatumnhowe and Pleasures Song has captured one leg of the Celias Counsel, the Standardbred Breeders of Ontario Stake final, the Dr. Harry M. Zweig Memorial and her Elegantimage elimination. Through 25 starts she has tallied 10 wins, six seconds and three thirds for earnings of $386,790.

“We’ve just been going week by week, basically, and she’s held up to a pretty tough schedule,” said trainer Paul Reid, who conditions Flowers N Songs for owner-breeder Robert Key. “She’s a very nice filly to be around, always happy, really loves her work, which has made the kind of season she’s had possible. Some of the fillies aren’t quite as cooperative, and she’s been very cooperative with everything we’ve wanted to do. She’s a good keeper, she eats good, so she’s been a joy to have.”

While most of her peers will spend the next two weeks preparing for the Oct. 15 Super Final, Flowers N Songs will be heading to Lexington, Ky.’s Red Mile for the Oct. 9 Kentucky Filly Futurity. The filly is also eligible to the Oct. 22 and 29 Breeders Crown.

“She’s just a real nice filly, and like I said we’ve still got a full schedule ahead of us, so we’re just taking her week by week,” said Reid. “Hopefully we can make them all.”

Flowers N Songs and Emoticon Hanover will go head-to-head in the Oct. 15 Super Final at Mohawk Racetrack, battling against eight other leading point earners for a share of C$250,000 and the 3-year-old trotting filly division title.