by Mark McKelvie, for WEG Communications

Toronto, ON — Winter Series action continued on Friday’s (Jan. 20) 11-race card at Woodbine Racetrack and once again Doug McNair was the first star of the night. McNair, who swept round one of the Blizzard Series Thursday, made four visits to the winner’s circle on Friday’s card, including in one of two divisions of the Snowshoe Series for 3-and 4-year-old pacers.

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Awesomeness wins his division of the Snowshoe Series by more than seven lengths on Friday night at Woodbine Racetrack.

Awesomeness was sent straight to the front by McNair in the first C$17,000 Snowshoe split and never looked back en route to an impressive 1:52 victory. The Ryan Maxwell trainee posted a snappy opening-quarter of :26.1 and after a middle-half of :58.4, fired home in :27 to win by 7-1/2 lengths.

Clouseau Hanover finished second, while Emptythetill was third.

A gelded son of Mach Three, Awesomeness has been making some serious noise at Woodbine over the last couple months. The 4-year-old didn’t make his career debut until Oct. and now has six wins in 12 starts, while only finishing outside the top two once.

Awesomeness, who was making his second start of the New Year Friday, was purchased privately by Martin Scharf in Nov. and has won three of six starts since joining the Maxwell stable. His career earnings now sit at C$76,100. The Maxwell trainee paid $3.60 to win.

The second Snowshoe division saw McNair almost make it back-to-back series sweeping nights, but he and 4-year-old gelding Senior K had to settle for a second-place finish. Lyons Sands went gate-to-wire to win the second split in 1:53.2. The Bruce Goit trainee was making his first start of 2017 and was guided to victory by driver J Harris.

Lyons Sands posted fractions of :27.1, :57.1 and 1:25.3, before pacing home in :27.4 and fighting off Senior K to win by a neck. Ohio Larry finished third.

A gelded son of Somebeachsomewhere, Lyons Sands won nine of 13 starts last season as a 3-year-old and now has 10 career victories to his name. His career bankroll increased to C$52,590 for owner Geoffrey Lyons Mound with Friday’s victory. Lyons Sands paid $13 to win.

Three and 4-year-old pacers, who were non-winners of two-races or C$30,000 lifetime as of Oct. 31, 2016, were eligible for nomination to the Snowshoe Series.

The second-round of the Snowshoe will take place next Friday (Jan. 27).

Following Friday’s driving Grand Slam, McNair now has 15 wins, 11 runner-up finishes and seven third place finishes in 57 starts to lead all drivers this season at Woodbine.

McNair will look to continue his torrid start to 2017 on Saturday evening (Jan. 21), as he is listed to drive in nine of the 11 scheduled races. Post time is 7:30 p.m.