by Mark McKelvie, WEG Communications

Toronto, ON — A few flurries are expected to be floating through the Toronto air this weekend, which only seems fitting as Winter Series action begins Friday (Dec. 9) at Woodbine Racetrack.

The opening leg of the Niagara Series for 3-year-old pacing fillies is carded for Friday evening, while round one of the Valedictory Series for sophomore pacing colts and geldings is scheduled for Saturday.

Each series features two preliminary legs and a final. The Niagara and Valedictory Series finals will both take place on the special Boxing Day matinee card (Dec. 26). Non-winners of C$60,000 lifetime as of Oct. 31, 2016 were eligible to be nominated to each series.

A group of 16 3-year-old pacing fillies have been split into two C$17,000 first leg divisions of the Niagara Series.

Mike Bishop trainee Hot Spot Hanover is coming into the first Niagara division on a roll with four wins in her last six starts. The daughter of Well Said has been installed as the 8-5 morning line favorite and will leave from the rail with driver Sylvain Filion. Hot Spot Hanover has won five of 12 starts this season with eight top-three finishes. Of the 16 fillies entered in the Niagara, Hot Spot Hanover has made the fewest number of starts in 2016.

Marvalous Jet is the 7-2 second choice from post four and will be making her second start for new trainer Dean Nixon. A daughter of Delmarvalous, Marvalous Jet spent her summer racing on the Pennsylvania Fair Circuit and is a nine-time winner from 28 starts in 2016. The Nixon trainee finished second in her debut for new connections last Friday at Woodbine.

The second Niagara division features a pair of fillies coming into Friday’s contest off a victory.

Nick Gallucci trainee Docs Sausalito has won two of her last four starts, including a four-length score in a non-winners of three event last Friday. The daughter of Art Colony has won five of 20 this season and is the 5-2 morning line favorite from the rail for driver Randy Waples.

Big Jim filly Jimbelina is the 3-1 second choice and has put together a strong 2016 campaign. The Rene Bourassa trainee has seven victories and six runner-up finishes in 16 starts. Jimbelina most recently captured a non-winners of two event last Friday at Woodbine and will once again have Sylvain Filion at the controls. The duo will start from post seven.

The Niagara Series divisions have been carded as races two and eight on Friday’s 10-race card.

Last year’s Niagara was captured by Wanda Bayama, who swept the series for Filion and Stephane Larocque.

The Valedictory Series has attracted 20 3-year-old colts and geldings for Saturday’s opening leg.

The first ten-horse C$17,000 division features Bruce Goit trainee Lyons Sands. The son of Somebeachsomewhere will be making just his second career start on the WEG Circuit, but the sophomore has been red-hot this season on half-mile ovals. Lyons Sands has won eight of 10 starts this season and is riding a four-race win streak heading into Saturday’s contest. J Harris has driven the Goit trainee to seven of his eight victories this season and once again will be his driver in the Valedictory.

Another sophomore coming into the Valedictory with plenty of momentum is Awesomeness for trainer Ryan Maxwell. The son of Mach Three didn’t make his career debut until Oct. 4 and has since won four of seven starts, including his last two outings. Awesomeness recently joined the Maxwell barn and won his debut for his new connections on Nov. 28 at Woodbine. Randy Waples is listed to drive the Mach Three gelding from post eight.

Ontario Sired Autumn Series winner Think On It headlines the second split. The Bob McIntosh trainee recently had a five-race win streak snapped, but will look to start a new streak from post five Saturday. The son of Ponder has won five of 13 starts this season and will reunite with Paul MacDonell, who steered Think On It to a sweep of the Autumn Series.

The second division also features a quartet of sophomores coming up from south of the border. Robert Key homebred pacers Artful Bliss (post three) and Dragon Strikes (post six) are shipping in from The Meadows to race for trainer Rod Boyd, while Mark Ford has sent up pacing colt Breaktime Hanover (post seven) to Gregg McNair. The fourth newcomer to the circuit is Keystone Dylan (post nine), who has been racing at Pocono and will be making his debut for new connections of Marty Fine and company.

The Valedictory Series divisions have been carded as races three and four on Saturday’s 11-race card.

Last year’s Valedictory final was captured by Shades Of Bay in a series-record clocking of 1:50.3 for driver Phil Hudon and trainer Sean Mehlenbacher.

Post time for Friday and Saturday’s cards of racing is 7:30 p.m.