by Nick Salvi

East Rutherford, NJ — The Miss Versatility series for older mare trotters begins on Monday evening (May 21) at Woodbine Mohawk Park as the eighth race. The first leg drew a field of nine racing for a purse of C$50,000.

Making her seasonal debut is Emoticon Hanover, who had a remarkable season in 2017 while winning the Miss Versatility final, the Breeders Crown and the Joie De Vie in world record time of 1:50.2 for owner Serge Godin’s Determination Stable and trainer Luc Blais. She’s had three conditioning qualifiers, the most recent a 1:56.1 win over the Campbellville oval. James MacDonald will drive the career winner of more than $1 million from post position seven on Monday.

The main rival in Monday’s race is a familiar one in the venerable Caprice Hill (post two, Doug McNair). The two mares battled on several occasions last year; in fact Caprice Hill was at the flank of Emoticon Hanover while beaten less than a length in the Breeders Crown. She’s earned nearly $1.22 million in her career for owner Tom Hill while residing in the Tony Alagna barn.

Here’s the field and a program is available at this link.

1. Highland Top Hill
2. Caprice Hill
3. Dream Together
4. Pink Pistol
5. It’s Hallright
6. P L Jill
7. Emoticon Hanover
8. Southwind Tesla
9. The Erm