EMOTICON LEGACY AND MAXIMUS MEARAS S TOP FIELDS IN FRESHMAN COLT TROT 'CROWN' ELIMS

EAST RUTHERFORD, NJ -- October 18, 2024 -- Emoticon Legacy and Maximus Mearas S emerged the victors from a pair of $25,000 Breeders Crown eliminations for 2-year-old trotting colts and geldings on Friday afternoon (Oct. 18) at The Meadowlands. 

In the first of the division's contests to qualify for next week's Breeders Crown final, Emoticon Legacy – one of four across the track leaving the gate – settled into the catbird seat by the :27.4 first quarter and never left the inside path. He saved ground through middle fractions of :55 and 1:24 before passing race-leader Meshuggah and first-over challenger Hidalgo. Emoticon Legacy slid up the pylons to the win by 2-1/4 lengths in a 1:52.3 mile.

The Luc Blais-trained colt earned a lifetime mark in winning his fourth race from six starts this season. The victory raised the colt's bankroll to $155,656. Owned and bred by Serge Godin’s Determination, Emoticon Legacy is a son of Walner out of the Kadabra mare Emoticon Hanover.

"He's still a little green," said winning driver Louis Roy after the race. "He doesn't do well racing in front. I was hoping to get room on the inside because he was trotting well and I know he has a pretty good kick in the end." 

Emoticon Legacy paid $7.60 to win.

Making the final from elimination one were Meshuggah, finishing second; Hidalgo in third; Memento Mori in fourth and Tactical Dynasty, who secured the last berth as the highest-earning fifth-place finisher from both eliminations. 

Prohibitive favorite Super Chapter was beaten by 7-1 outsider Maximus Mearas S with a strong stretch move by driver Scott Zeron late in the stretch of the second Breeders Crown elimination. 

Maximus Mearas S left swiftly off the gate before giving way to an early brush from the eight-hole leaving Happy Jack B. Maximus Mearas S stayed right behind that one while Monserrate followed in third. Super Chapter, fourth after the :27.2 first quarter, fired to the outside to pass them and take full command of the race towards a :56.3 half. Though Super Chapter opened real estate from the rest to three-quarters in 1:24.4, Maximus Mearas S left the cones for an all-out attack that Zeron pushed until his steed had enough to get to the wire first by a head.

"He lacks experience," Zeron said after the race, “[but] mine maintained his tail today.”

Lucas Wallin trains the son of Chapter Seven out of the Cantab Hall mare Darling Mearas S. Maximus Mearas S earned a new speed mark with the 1:52.4 victory.

"He's graceful with good strides," Zeron said, "and now it's just a matter of how fast he really can go."

Maximus Mearas S spiked his bankroll to $84,795 in his first season of racing for owner Kjell Magne Andersen. His breeder is Snogarps Gard Inc. and he paid $16.40 to win. 

Also getting berths in next week's championship final were Super Chapter, finishing second; Blank, getting the show spot; and fourth-place finisher Go Dog Go.

Elimination winners Emoticon Legacy and Maximus Mearas S earned draw protection between posts 1 through 6 for the Breeders Crown final next Friday (Oct. 25). The nine finalists from Friday’s eliminations will join Maryland, earning a bye with his victory in the Peter Haughton Memorial at Harrah’s Hoosier Park earlier this year, in the final.