Milton, ON — On a Boxing Day matinee card where driver James MacDonald could do very little wrong, it was Awesome Hill and her pilot Doug McNair who also grabbed the spotlight, capturing the lion’s share of the Niagara Pacing Series final for 3-year-old fillies at Woodbine Mohawk Park.

Heading into the C$33,600 final, the Chantel Mitchell trainee went off as the 3-5 favorite, earning the bettors’ respect after winning the opening two legs.

Awesome Hill and driver Doug McNair won the Niagara Pacing Series final. New Image Media photo.

So there was little surprise after Foxy Fiji and Travis Cullen carved out a reasonable opening fraction of :27.3 that McNair wasted little time tugging on the right line of Awesome Hill to begin their first-up move. The duo cleared to the front just before the half, reached in :56.2, and the pair never looked back, marching through three-quarters in 1:24.3 before crossing the finish line in a lifetime best 1:53.1. Bottomoftheninth and State Of Mind finished second and third, respectively.

Owned by Tom Hill of Hamilton, Ontario, Awesome Hill has now earned a bankroll of C$75,614 in 13 career starts.

The special race card opened with Sylvain Filion guiding Cutting Class to victory, but from there on it was the James MacDonald show, as he captured the next five races. He would pose for the winner’s photo with Priceless Beach, Kendall Seelster, A Boy Named Suuzz, Woodmere Stealdeal, and Century Hannibal. MacDonald would go on to earn his sixth win on the day, steering Real Willey to a commanding victory in the finale.

McNair also had a notable day, earning his first trip to the winner’s circle with Wheels On Fire in the C$34,000 preferred pace.

Utilizing a similar strategy to his Niagara final race, the pair sat off the pace third in the opening fraction of 27.3 before moving first up and driving away through fractions of :56.2 and 1:24.3, before posting a final fraction of :27.2 to stop the timer in 1:52.

The 6-year-old gelding has now won three of his last four starts in the top class for owner Brad Grant of Milton, Ontario.

Racing will return on Monday (Dec. 27) with post time slated for 7 p.m.