by Mark McKelvie, WEG Communications

Toronto, ON — It was a frosty night Friday (Nov. 28) at Woodbine, but Mario Baillargeon and Sylvain Filion were both on fire in the Autumn Series finals for 3-year-olds.

The three-week series for Ontario sired 3-year-olds came to a close with a finale for each division.

In the first final of the evening, Meadowview Vicky completed the Autumn Series sweep with a 1:57.2 victory in the C$37,600 3-year-old filly trot.

The daughter of Muscle Mass was sent off as the 4-5 favorite and got away in second for driver Mario Baillargeon behind Serendipitious and Chris Christoforou. In the second quarter, Baillargeon appeared to be pulling the pocket, but Christoforou asked Serendipitious to pick up the tempo forcing Meadowview Vicky to continue trotting along in the two hole.

After fractions of :58.2 and 1:27.1, the fillies reached the top of the stretch and Meadowview Vicky came off the rail and trotted by Serendipitious to win the Autumn Series final by a length. Superflex got up for third, while Osprey Impact finished fourth.

By sweeping the Autumn Series, Meadowview Vicky has now won three starts in a row and seven of 14 this season. Trained by Mark Etsell for owner Meadowview Farms Inc., Meadowview Vicky has now earned more than C$70,000 in her first season of racing. She returned $3.80 to win.

New Image Media photo

Rural Art was a 1:52 winner in his Autumn Series final.

In the C$38,600 3-year-old pacing colts and geldings final, Baillargeon would find himself back in the winner’s circle after guiding Rural Art to a 1:52 victory.

The son of Major In Art was second over around the final turn following The Optomist, while Kindofabigdeal called the shots through the opening three-quarters. In the stretch, Rural Art popped off his cover and would track down Kindofabigdeal to score a half-length victory with a :27.4 last quarter. Bugger Bruiser took the show spot, while V I P Bayama was fourth.

Trained by John MacMillian, Rural Art finished second in the opening leg, but opted to skip round two and instead won an overnight event at Rideau Carleton on Nov. 23. Rural Art has now won eight of 20 starts this season, nine of 24 in his career and banked more than C$60,000 for owners 2099551 Ontario Inc. and MacMillian. The clocking of 1:52 was a new lifetime best for the 3-year-old gelding. He returned $6.20 to win.

While Baillargeon swept the opening two finals, it was now Sylvain Filion’s turn in the spotlight. In the C$40,000 3-year-old trotting colts and geldings final, Filion and Dontcheatonmenow held on to prevail in a win photo.

Dontcheatonmenow was three-wide around the first turn and would duel with stablemate Warrawee Prince in the second quarter. Filion and Dontcheatonmenow would finally clear before the final turn and would post a three-quarter time of 1:27.1 to lead the field into the lane.

In the stretch, Deweykeepumnwhy, who was second over on the final turn, would close ground on Dontcheatonmenow and the two trotters were almost inseparable as they hit the wire in 1:57. In the photo, Dontcheatonmenow was declared the winner by a nose, leaving Deweykeepumnwhy in the place spot. Stonebridge Rich and Tequila Haze finished third and fourth, respectively.

A son of Deweycheatumnhowe, Dontcheatonmenow is now trained by Richard Moreau for owner Rolling Hills Racing Stables and has won three of 16 starts this season for earnings of more than C$46,000. Dontcheatonmenow won a division of the first Autumn Series leg, but skipped the second leg. In his career, Dontcheatonmenow has now visited the winner’s circle five times and banked more than C$120,000. He paid $7.20 to win.

Filion would return to the winner’s circle in the C$40,400 3-year-old pacing fillies final with Artistic Fusion.

The daughter of Artistic Fella got away in fourth, but after a couple lead changes on the front, Filion sent the filly towards the front and would clear to the lead in the third quarter. After posting a three-quarter time of 1:23.3, Artistic Fusion would open a solid lead in the stretch en route to a career-best 1:52.4 victory by 1-1/4 lengths over Double Joy. Mach Some Noise, the heavy favorite, finished third, while Performing Art was fourth.

Trained by Joe Agostino for owner Mike Foote, Artistic Fusion won an opening round leg of the Autumn Series and then finished second in the second round. Artistic Fusion has now won five of 16 starts this season and six in her career. The Agostino trainee has now banked more than C$56,000 in two seasons on the track. She paid $21.50 to win.

Along with winning a pair of Autumn Series finals, Filion also won two other races on the 11-race card for a grand slam.

In order to be eligble for the Autumn Series, 3-year-olds had to be Ontario sired and non-winners of C$50,000 lifetime or C$30,000 in 2014 as of Sept. 30.

Live racing continues Saturday night at Woodbine with an 11-race card. Post time is 7:25 p.m.