MILTON, October 24, 2025 – Emoticon Legacy’s winning effort in the Kentucky Futurity earlier this month might have surprised trainer Luc Blais, but then again, in one respect, maybe not. “It was an amazing race,” Blais said as he reflected on Emoticon Legacy’s 1:49.2 Kentucky Futurity victory, which included a parked-out :53.3 opening half as he battled to the lead from post 10. “I think even to the competitors, to see those fractions and keep going in the end, it was amazing. “(But) it’s in the blood. She was like that.” “She” is Emoticon Hanover, the mother of Emoticon Legacy. Emoticon Hanover won two Breeders Crown finals for Blais, finished second in two others, earned an O’Brien Award, and capped her career with $2.04 million (CAD) in purses. “She was a tough mare, that’s for sure,” Blais said. “Emoticon Legacy is like his mom. He looks like her. He doesn’t make a bad race. He tries hard every race. It’s been an amazing ride.” The ride began with Emoticon Hanover and included Breeders Crown triumphs in the Mare Trot at Harrah’s Hoosier Park in 2017 and Mohegan Pennsylvania’s Pocono Downs in 2018. At Pocono, she defeated a field that included future Hall of Famer Ariana G, two-time Dan Patch Award winner Broadway Donna and two-time O’Brien Award winner Caprice Hill. The ride continues with Emoticon Legacy, who heads to Saturday’s $600,000 (USD) Grade 1 Breeders Crown final for 3-year-old male trotters at Woodbine Mohawk Park as the 8-5 morning-line favorite. The son of Walner, himself a Breeders Crown champion in 2016, enters the race with seven wins and a second in nine starts this season. He has earned $1.30 million (CAD) for breeder-owner Determination. Emoticon Legacy has trotted faster than 1:50 in his two most recent races, winning the Canadian Trotting Classic (G1) in 1:49.4 on Sept. 20 at Mohawk, followed by his Kentucky Futurity score on Oct. 5 at The Red Mile. His time in the CTC is the fastest ever for a 3-year-old trotter on Canadian soil and his clocking in the Futurity was only one-fifth of a second from Six Pack’s 1:49.1 world record for a sophomore trotter. Emoticon Legacy and driver Louis-Philippe Roy winning the Canadian Trotting Classic on September 20, 2025 at Woodbine Mohawk Park (New Image Media) “He’s a real athlete,” Blais said after the Canadian Trotting Classic win. “It’s an incredible feeling. Emoticon Hanover gave us a big thrill, and this guy gives me the same feeling.” Eliminations were unnecessary for the Breeders Crown, so Emoticon Legacy qualified on Oct. 17 at Mohawk. He was timed in 1:54.4 with regular driver Louis-Philippe Roy in the sulky. “He looked good and came back good from that,” Blais said. “I’m very happy with him right now. He makes my job easy.” Emoticon Legacy is one of six Breeders Crown finalists for Blais, all for owner Determination, and all competing on Saturday: Drawn Impression and Emoji Hanover in the Mare Trot, Lasting Dream in the 3-Year-Old Filly Trot, Private Access in the Open Trot and Calicojack Hanover in the Open Pace. Lasting Dream has raced only once since being second-placed-first in the Elegantimage Stakes (G1) on Sept. 20 at Mohawk. She finished fifth last week in her Breeders Crown elimination, which was won by Delaney Hanover in 1:51, which set the Canadian record for a 3-year-old trotting filly. “She was supposed to go to Kentucky (for the Grand Circuit at The Red Mile) but she didn’t feel good at the time,” Blais said about Lasting Dream, a Determination homebred who last year was second in the Mohawk Million and Peaceful Way Stakes. “So, I think she raced very good in the elimination because she hadn’t done very much the last couple weeks. She finished fifth, but I like the way she tried hard.” Blais, who received the O’Brien Award of Horsemanship in 2021, has captured four Breeders Crowns in his career. Serge Godin’s Determination has three trophies, all with Blais. Their six horses in this season’s finals are the duo’s most ever in a single year. “That’s a big year,” Blais said. “Mr. Godin loves the Breeders Crown. I hope he’s going to enjoy the evening. I’m very happy about those six horses, too. They’re nice horses. “Nothing will be easy. Every class is tough. But that’s good for the show. It’s going to be an amazing program.” Racing begins at 6:35 p.m. Friday and Saturday at Woodbine Mohawk Park. For more information about the Breeders Crown, visit the Hambletonian Society/Breeders Crown website here and the Woodbine Mohawk Park website here. For ways to watch the Breeders Crown, click here. Ken Weingartner Media Relations Manager, U.S. Trotting Association Share This:Share
