Many thought trainer Richard Moreau was holding all the cards in Saturday’s $34,600 Valedictory Series final at Woodbine Racetrack, but that wasn’t the case thanks to a 5-1 upset by the Sean Mehlenbacher-trained Shades Of Bay.
Phil Hudon rallied Shades Of Bay to the one-length decision over Cajon Lightning, with stablemate - and odds-on favourite - Mohawk Warrior finishing third.
Rockinonby fired to the lead and sped past the quarter pole in :25.2 before being looped by both of his stablemates. First it was Mohawk Warrior and then came Cajon Lightning as the went by the mid-way point in :53.3. Cajon Lightning was the leader going into the final turn, and he tripped the teletimer at the three-quarter pole in 1:22. Shades Of Bay came first-over on that leader, and then used a :27.4 closing panel to post the victory in 1:50.3.
The clocking erased the former series record of 1:51.1 set by Itrustyou on December 26, 2011.
Timothy Kim of Toronto, Ontario owns the three-year-old son of Art Major-Maid In Shade. It was the fourth win of the season from 11 trips to the track for the career winner of $52,104.
Wanda Bayama was perfect in the preliminary legs of the Niagara Series, and she proved to be a dominant winner in the $33,400 Niagara Series final for driver Sylvain Filion and trainer Stephane Larocque.
Filion got away third with the odds-on favourite before rushing her to the lead in the backstretch. She cruised through middle splits of :56 and 1:25.1 before opening up on her foes. She was a wrapped-up winner by 7-1/4 lengths over Pinky Tuscadero in 1:53. Amazing Control took home third prize.
Bayama Farms of Saint Andre D’Argenteuil, Quebec bred and owns the three-year-old daughter of Western Ideal-Joyce Bayama. The victory improved her 2015 record to 7-2-3 from 18 tries, and the lion’s share of the loot lifted her overall cash stash to $57,464.
Trainer Ben Baillargeon celebrated a major milestone during the Boxing Day matinee when Musical Victory gave the veteran conditioner the 2,000th victory of his career. The trotter cruised to an easy victory in 1:55.3 in Race 6.
The Quebec native, who now calls Rockwood, Ontario home, is closing in on $33 million in career earnings. He’s managed to rack up more than $1 million in earnings in each of the last 11 seasons.
Dustin Jones also celebrated a milestone during the Boxing Day matinee at the Rexdale oval.
Nat A Virgin rallied for a three-length triumph in Race 11, and by stopping the teletimer in 1:52 for driver James MacDonald the mare earned Jones the 1,000th training win of his career.
The Waterdown, Ontario resident has watched his starters bank more than $1 million this season, and it marks the fifth time in his career his stable has reached seven figures in earnings in a single season. To date, he’s racked up more than $17 million in purse earnings.
To view results for Saturday's card of harness racing, click the following link: Saturday Results – Woodbine Racetrack.