from WEG Communications

Toronto, ON — The 2015 Standardbred racing season wrapped up Saturday afternoon (Dec. 26) at Woodbine Racetrack with the annual Boxing Day matinee card. The 221st and final racing day was action-packed with series finals, milestones and meet titles all being handed out.

The feature race of the day was the C$34,600 Valedictory Series final for 3-year-old pacing colts and geldings. Mohawk Warrior, who was aiming for a series sweep, led a trio of starters sent out by trainer Richard Moreau in the eight-horse contest.

Rockinonby, Moreau’s newest recruit, sprinted off the gate to the front and posted a sizzling opening quarter of :25.2. Mohawk Warrior and Cajon Lightning lined up in behind their stablemate to situate the Moreau trainees in the top three spots entering the backstretch.

Mohawk Warrior made a backstretch move to take the lead at the half in :53.3, but Cajon Lightning quickly overtook his stablemate and carried the lead into the final turn. Shades Of Bay, who was pacing fifth, was angled out in the final turn by driver Phil Hudon and was first-up in fourth.

After a three-quarter time of 1:22, Cajon Lightning led the field into the lane, while Shades Of Bay grinded towards the leader on the outside and Mohawk Warrior looked for room up the rail.

Shades Of Bay had the most to offer in the lane and powered by the leader in deep stretch to score a 5-1 upset by a length in 1:50.3. The Moreau trainees rounded out the top three, as Cajon Lightning held on for second ahead of Mohawk Warrior.

A son of Art Major, Shades Of Bay came into the Valedictory final off a victory Monday night in an overnight event. The Sean Mehlenbacher trainee finished third in the opening leg of the series on Dec. 12.

Shades Of Bay now has three wins in four starts since being purchased by Timothy Kim in November. The sophomore pacing colt was winless in three starts as a rookie, but now has four wins in 11 starts this season for earnings of more than C$51,000.

The clocking of 1:50.3 established a new Valedictory Series record, breaking Luck Terror’s mark of 1:51 set in 2010. Shades Of Bay paid $13.60 to win.

In the Niagara Series final, Wanda Bayama completed the series sweep with a dominating victory in the C$33,400 contest.

A field of 10 3-year-old pacing fillies lined up, but all eyes were on Wanda Bayama, the 1-5 favorite. The public’s choice paced out comfortably into second, but driver Sylvain Filion quickly right-lined and circled the filly to the lead in the second quarter. After posting fractions of :56 and 1:25.1, Wanda Bayama waved goodbye to her rivals and opened up more than nine lengths of separation in the stretch.

The Stephane Larocque trainee cruised home under wraps to win by 7-1/4 lengths in 1:53. Pinky Tuscadero finished second, while Amazing Control was third.

A daughter of Western Ideal, Wanda Bayama swept the Niagara Series with a trio of impressive victories. Owned by Bayama Farms Inc., the sophomore pacing filly now has seven wins and more than C$72,000 earned this season. Wanda Bayama paid $2.70 to win.

In order to be eligible to the Valedictory and Niagara Series, the 3-year-old pacers had to be non-winners of C$50,000 lifetime as of Oct. 31, 2015.