Wanda Bayama strikes in Niagara opener

TORONTO, December 11 – Wanda Bayama came into the "Six" Friday night and ran out of town with a 1:52.4 victory in the first round of the harness racing Niagara Series. A field of ten sophomore pacing fillies contested the $18,000 first leg of three-week Niagara Series at Woodbine Racetrack.

Dustylane Msvickie sprinted off the wings of the gate to grab the front and post an opening-quarter of :27.1. However, Trevor Henry was not content to sit the in the two-hole with Much Adoo, the 8/5 favourite, and circled to the front.

Wanda Bayama and driver Sylvain Filion sat back in third at 6/1, while Much Adoo caught a breather and took the field by the half in :57.1.

Amazing Control came charging first up from mid-pack around the final turn to battle with Much Adoo. The tempo picked up in the third-quarter, as Much Adoo paced a :27.3 quarter to lead the field into the stretch.

Filion was able to slide Wanda Bayama, who continued to pace third along the rail, off the pylons at the three-quarter pole for the stretch drive.

Much Adoo continued to battle with a stubborn Amazing Control in the stretch and although it appeared the favourite had the victory in reach after putting away the challenger, Wanda Bayama surged by on the far outside to score a 2½ length victory.

Much Adoo had to settle for second, while Amazing Control turned her first-over trip into a third-place finish.

A daughter of Western Ideal, Wanda Bayama had been racing at Rideau Carleton for Yves Filion before shipping into the Stephane Larocque barn for Friday's starts.

Wanda Bayama now sports a record of five wins in 16 starts this season. She made only one start as a rookie and finished off the board.

Friday's victory pushes Wanda Bayama's career earnings to over $46,000 for owner-breeder Bayama Farms Inc. of Saint-Andre-D'Argenteuil, Quebec.

She paid $14.90 to win.

The second leg of the Niagara Series will take place next Friday (December 18). Winter Series action continues Saturday night at Woodbine with the first leg of the Valedictory. Post time is 7:30 p.m.

Mark McKelvie