TORONTO, December 5 – The harness racing favourites came out on top in a pair of Autumn Series finals Saturday night at Woodbine Racetrack.
The three-week Autumn Series for three-year-old colts and geldings wrapped up with a pair of $38,000 finals.
Cajon Lightning completed the series sweep with an easy-looking 1:51.3 victory in the pacing final.
The Richard Moreau trainee got situated fifth in the early stages with driver Sylvain Filion, while stablemate Doctor Royal led the field by the opening-panel in :26.2.
Mach On The Beach, also a Moreau trainee, made a second-quarter brush to the lead from fourth, which allowed Filion to follow and touch down on the front with Cajon Lightning at the half in :55.1.
Cajon Lightning opened up several lengths on the field around the final turn and cruised by the three-quarter pole in 1:23. In the stretch, Cajon Lightning coasted home in :28.3 under no urging from Filion to win by 2½ lengths.
Naturescape finished up well for second, while Mach On The Beach finished third.
A son of Mach Three, Cajon Lightning was sent off as the 1/5 favourite after scoring a pair of impressive victories in the preliminary legs. The sophomore pacer has now won five of 18 starts this season for earnings of over $76,000.
Unraced as a two-year-old, Cajon Lightning is owned by Wm Wood, William Dittmar Jr, Stephen Iaquinta and Minisink Farms LLC.
The Moreau trainee paid $2.40 to win.
Cajon Lightning
My My Hey Hey turned in a spectacular performance to win the $38,000 Autumn Series trot final.
A trio of scratches left just a field of seven for the series finale. My My Hey Hey, who won a second leg division, was sent off as the 4/5 choice from the rail.
Driven by Mario Baillargeon, My My Hey Hey had a rocky beginning and got away last, while P L Icabod cut an opening-quarter of :26.4.
Baillargeon was not content to sit at the back with the Ben Wallace trainee and made a bold last to first move in the second-quarter to take command. After reaching the half in :56.3, My My Hey Hey continued to power along on the front and opened a lead of close to seven lengths to trot by the three-quarter pole in 1:25.
In the stretch, My My Hey Hey kept the momentum going and trotted home comfortably in :29.3 to win five lengths in a series record clocking of 1:54.3.
Stormont Wizard, the second choice at 9/5, trotted up to finish second, while Love Hunter was third.
A son of Deweycheatumnhowe, My My Hey Hey has now won four of 13 starts this season for owners Wallacestandardbreds Inc. and Birnam Wood Farms. The sophomore trotter has earned over $54,000 in his first season of racing.
My My Hey Hey's clocking of 1:54.3 knocked three-fifths of a second off his previous career mark set last week.
The Wallace trainee paid $3.70 to win.
My My Hey Hey
In order to be eligible to the Autumn Series, the Ontario sired three-year-olds had to be non-winners of $50,000 lifetime or $30,000 in 2015 as of September 30, 2015.