by Mark McKelvie, WEG Communications

Toronto, ON — Driver Phil Hudon has been red-hot to start 2016 and Thursday evening (Feb. 11) he reached a career milestone.

The Guelph, Ontario, resident entered Thursday’s card just C$769 shy of C$50 million in career earnings. In Thursday’s second race, Hudon guided Charlie Badlands to a third-place finish to surpass the C$50 million mark.

Hudon, 41, is currently the leading driver at Woodbine with 27 wins in 2016. Last season, the veteran reinsman drove the winners of 156 races and more than $1.79 million. Hudon also surpassed 4,000 career victories in 2015. This season, Hudon has driven the winners of more than $230,000 in a little over a month of racing action.

The Woodbine Entertainment Group will recognize Hudon in the winner’s circle following his next victory.

Also on Thursday, a field of eight 3-year-old pacing fillies squared off in the second leg of the Miss Vera Bars. Cracklin Rosie, who won the first leg, was a race-day scratch, leaving the door open for a new winner heading into next week’s final.

Bad As Leader, one of three Victor Puddy trainees in the field, went gate-to-wire for a 1:55.4 victory. Driven by Trevor Henry, the daughter of Badlands Hanover got her own way through fractions of :29, :58.2 and 1:27.3 before pacing home in :28.1 to win by two lengths. Windsun Glory finished second, while Im In Luv was third.

Bad As Leader now has three wins in five starts this season and five victories overall in her young career. She is owned by Bill Manes and William Cripps. Thursday’s victory pushes her career earnings over $35,000. Bad As Leader paid $10.10 to win.

The Miss Vera Bars Series will wrap up next Friday (Feb. 19) with the C$41,600 final.

Live racing continues Friday night at Woodbine with The Count B and Ontario Girls Series highlighting the 10-race card. Post time is 7:30 p.m.