(New Image Media photo - Wanda Bayama and Sylvain Filion winning the HPIBET.com final)
The WEGZ and HPIBET.com series finals highlighted racing action Saturday night (March 19) at Woodbine Racetrack.
Just a field of five went postward in the $55,800 WEGZ for four-year-old pacers, while a full field of 10 four-year-old pacing mares competed in the $54,400 HPIBET.com.
All eyes were on Mohawk Warrior in the WEGZ, as the Richard Moreau trainee aimed for a series sweep and he did not disappoint.
Driven by Jody Jamieson, Mohawk Warrior got away third, while Shades Of Bay and Legion Of Boom battled for the early lead. Shades Of Bay posted an opening-quarter of :27, but was quickly overtaken by the heavy favorite.
Mohawk Warrior, the 1/5 choice, put up middle-fractions of :55.4 and 1:24.3 to lead the field into the stretch. The Moreau trainee sealed the victory with a :26.3 final-quarter to win by a length and a quarter in 1:51.1.
Cajon Lightning finished second, while Shades Of Bay was third.
A four-year-old son of Rocknroll Hanover—A And G’sConfusion, Mohawk Warrior has now won five of eight starts in 2016 for 13 career victories. The WEGZ Series sweep pushes his seasonal earnings to over $75,000.
Owned by Brad Grant, Mohawk Warrior missed his career-mark by a fifth of a second Saturday, but paced his final-quarter in :27.1 or faster for the fifth consecutive start. His career earnings now sit at $176,461. Mohawk Warrior paid $2.40 to win.
Wanda Bayama followed up her leg two victory with a 1:51.4 score in the HPIBET.com final.
Driven by Sylvain Filion, Wanda Bayama left hard from post nine and made the front at the opening-quarter in :26.1. The 8/5 second choice, Wanda Bayama continued to call the shots in the middle-half. She posted back-to-back panels of :29 to lead the field into the stretch.
Our Hot Majorette, the even-money favourite, paced along fourth and was one of several horses looking to made a stretch bid at the leader. However, Wanda Bayama was clearly the best and paced home in :27.3 to win by a length and a half in 1:51.4.
Much Adoo, who won leg one, finished second, while Aniston Seelster and Our Hot Majorette rounded out the top-four.
Trained by Stephane Larocque, Wanda Bayama (Ken Warkentin—Windswept Image) has now won two of three starts in 2016. The four-year-old pacing mare now has nine career victories and over $111,000 in career earnings for owners Bayama Farms Inc.
Wanda Bayama equaled her career-mark of 1:51.4 with the victory. She paid $5.40 to win.
— Mark McKelvie, WEG standardbred communications
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