Heated rivalry set to continue

MILTON, September 3, 2025 – Sylvia Hanover (Always B Miki) and Twin B Joe Fresh (Roll With Joe) are set to renew their heated harness racing rivalry in the Milton Stakes (G2) on Saturday, September 13 at Woodbine Mohawk Park.

A group of seven pacing mares were entered for the Milton on Tuesday morning, which meant no eliminations were needed. A $50,000 prep race will take place this Friday with four of the seven competing (Sylvia Hanover, Tells On A Roll, My Girl EJ, Kobes Gigi).

The Chris Ryder trained Twin B Joe Fresh will look to repeat in the Milton Stakes. She won last year’s event over Sylvia Hanover as part of an 11 for 13 season that saw her named U.S. Horse of the Year.

Sylvia Hanover, Canada’s 2023 Horse of the Year, rode in the shadow of Twin B Joe Fresh in 2024 after winning divisional honours at ages two and three. ​

Trained by Mark and Shawn Steacy, Sylvia Hanover has started to fire back at Twin B Joe Fresh this season, defeating her rival in three of their last four meetings.

Below is a look at their 2025 clashes:

Roses Are Red – June 14 – Woodbine Mohawk Park
​Sylvia Hanover – 2^nd
​Twin B Joe Fresh – 1^st (1:48.4)

Perfect Sting – June 28 – The Meadowlands
​Sylvia Hanover – 1^st (1:48.2)
​Twin B Joe Fresh – 2^nd

Dorothy Haughton Memorial – July 12 – The Meadowlands
​Sylvia Hanover – 2^nd
​Twin B Joe Fresh – 1^st (1:48.1)

Clara Barton Distaff Pace – July 20 – Plainridge Park
​Sylvia Hanover – 1^st (1:47.2)
​Twin B Joe Fresh – 2^nd

Lady Liberty – August 2 – The Meadowlands
​Sylvia Hanover – 1^st (1:48.2)
​Twin B Joe Fresh – 2^nd

The five-year-olds mares have met in 18 races lifetime. Twin B Joe Fresh has won 10, while Sylvia Hanover has won seven. The only meeting in which neither mare was victorious was in last year’s Breeders Crown elimination (won by Grace Hill).

Twin B Joe Fresh sports career numbers of 33 wins, $3 million (CAD) earned and a mark of 1:47.3. Sylvia Hanover has 25 wins, $2.6 million (CAD) earned and a lifetime mark of 1:47.2.

The pacing superstars will be joined by five other top mares for the Milton Stakes. The full field is listed below in alphabetical order.

Kobes Gigi (Ron Burke)
​My Girl EJ (Andrew Harris)
​Soft Shot (Jessica Roegner)
​Sylvia Hanover (Shawn Steacy)
​Talk Curdy To Me (Dave Menary)
​Tells On A Roll (Jodie Cullen)
​Twin B Joe Fresh (Chris Ryder)

The Milton Stakes will take place on Saturday, September 13. That evening’s card will include the eliminations for the Metro Pace (G1), Canadian Trotting Classic (G1) and Shes A Great Lady (G1).

by Mark McKelvie, for Woodbine Communications