by Mark McKelvie, WEG Communications

Campbellville, ON — Sylvain Filion became the newest member of the C$100 million club on Halloween night (Oct. 31) at Mohawk Racetrack.

Michael Burns photo

Sylvain Filion became the newest member of the C$100 million club on Halloween night at Mohawk Racetrack.

The 47-year-old resident of Milton, Ontario, entered Monday’s card C$8,807 away from C$100 million in career earnings and used a pair of second-place finishes in $13,500 Autumn Series divisions to reach the milestone.

Filion was out of town last weekend at The Meadowlands for the Breeders Crown and earned $150,500 in four championship races to quickly pull up on the C$100 million mark.

The veteran reinsman is in the midst of another strong season with 283 wins, including two on Monday, and more than $5.5 million in earnings.

The 2016 Mohawk meet is currently in the final week of the season and Filion has already locked up another driving title. Following Monday’s card, Filion is 48 wins ahead of nearest rival Doug McNair.

Filion, a winner of 8,327 races, has driven the winners of more than $5 million in seven consecutive seasons and his 2016 earnings total is currently third to his single-season best of $8.6 million in 2012.

The Woodbine Entertainment Group will have a presentation for Filion to recognize his C$100 million milestone and his Mohawk meet driving title later this week.

Autumn Series action for Ontario Sired 3-year-olds made up nearly half the card Monday night. The first leg for filly pacers featured three divisions, while filly trotters clashed in a pair of preliminaries.

Trilife reached up just in time to win the first leg for 3-year-old pacing fillies. The Ben Wallace trainee was guided to victory by Jonathan Drury, who put the daughter of Mach Three on the front from post eight. Trilife surrendered the lead in the second quarter and sat in the two-hole until the lane. Never Any Doubt took the lead after driving first up on the far turn and appeared to have a victory in sight, but Trilife hit her best stride late and got up in time to win by a nose in 1:53.3.

Owned by Wallacestandardbreds Inc. and William Boden, Trilife now has four wins in 14 starts this season for earnings of $26,735. The sophomore pacing filly’s most recent triumph gives her six career wins and a career bankroll of C$41,713. Trilife paid $13.50 to win.

Doc’s Sausalito was last at the opening quarter, but first at the wire for driver Travis Cullen and trainer Nick Gallucci in the second pacing filly division. The daughter of Art Colony was put into the outside flow heading to the half and was eventually sixth, but just a little over three lengths from the lead at the three-quarter pole. In the stretch, Doc’s Sausalito powered by her rivals to take the second division by a length in 1:54.3. Queenofthejungle finished second, while Acefourtyfour Alex was third.

Doc’s Sausalito now has four wins in 17 starts and $36,691 earned this season for owner Dr. Andrew Roberts. Monday’s victory increases the pacing filly’s career totals to five wins and $37,773 earned. The Gallucci trainee paid $11.70 to win.

Top Royal grinded out a 1:54.1 victory in the third and final pacing filly division. Driven by Phil Hudon, Top Royal got away fourth and followed a second quarter brushing Tempus Seelster towards the front. Top Royal did not overtake Tempus Seelster on the backside and had to grind away first over for the duration of the mile. Top Royal muscled by Tempus Seelster in the lane, but then had to fight off a charging Jimbelina to get the job done by a neck. Tempus Seelster finished third.

A daughter of Royal Mattjesty, Top Royal is trained by Heather Toll, who shares ownership with Brydown Farms Inc. The sophomore pacing filly had just one win in 18 starts this season prior to Monday’s contest. Top Royal’s career record now sits at eight wins and earnings of $57,786. She paid $13.60 to win.

The opening leg of the Autumn Series for 3-year-old trotting fillies featured a pair of big fields. Fittingly on Halloween, I Want Kandy overcame a miscue at the start to come from behind for a 1:57.3 score. Driven by Rick Zeron, I Want Kandy made a break before the start and was off-stride until nearly the opening quarter. The Anthony Montini trainee was 25 lengths from the lead at the opening quarter. I Want Kandy did her best to rejoin the group and things would ultimately work out for her. The daughter of Angus Hall was ninth and about nine lengths from the front turning for home, but her rivals weren’t offering much trot in the lane and she rallied by to win by 1-1/2 lengths. Devils Advocate finished second, while Dayliner was third.

The AGCO judges reviewed the break made by I Want Kandy for several minutes, but determined the filly lost ground while on a break and made her the official winner. Owned by Albina Montini, Paul Giammichele, Vincent Albanese and Kwong Sum Low, I Want Kandy is now a five-time winner from 16 starts this season and a seven-time winner in her career. The sophomore trotting filly has banked $27,279 this season to bring her career earnings to $53,715. I Want Kandy paid $5.10 to win.

Majestic Presence didn’t overcome a break to win, but the Dagfin Henriksen trainee rallied from ninth turning for home to win the second division. The daughter of Majestic Son was off the pace throughout the early stages in a field of 11. Trainer/driver Henriksen got the filly off the pylons on the far turn, but was about eight lengths from the lead at the top of the lane. In the stretch, Majestic Presence charged by her rivals on the far outside to win by three-quarters of a length in 1:57.3. Whambamthankumaam finished second, while Trumpets was third.

Owned by Gerald Haggerty, Majestic Presence was winless this season in 15 starts prior to her triumph Monday. She now has two career victories and a bankroll of $23,442. Majestic Presence paid $9.90 to win.

Live racing resumes Thursday evening at Mohawk with Autumn Series action for 3-year-old colts and geldings on tap. Post time is 7:30 p.m.