TORONTO, December 18 – A week after a 6-1 harness racing victory, Wanda Bayama was back in the winner's circle Friday night at Woodbine Racetrack.
The three-year-old Stephane Larocque trainee defeated nine rivals in the $18,000 second leg of the Niagara Series.
Driven by Sylvain Filion, Wanda Bayama, the 6/5 favourite, got away seventh in the early stages and sat along the pylons until the midway point. Much Adoo, the 2-1 second choice, made a second-quarter brush from third to take command at the half in :57.1.
Around the final turn, Wanda Bayama got into the outer flow and sat third-over at the three-quarter pole. In the stretch, Filion brought his filly to the far outside and she surged by Much Adoo in the final-eighth to win by 2½ lengths in 1:54.
Much Adoo held on for second, while Amazing Control finished third just ahead of Pinky Tuscadero.
A daughter of Western Ideal, Wanda Bayama now has back-to-back victories and six overall in 2015. The sophomore pacing filly increased her career earnings to over $55,000 for owners Bayama Farms Inc.
Wanda Bayama paid $4.70 to win.
Wanda Bayama
In order to be eligible to the Niagara Series, the three-year-old fillies had to be non-winners of $50,000 lifetime as of October 31, 2015.
Wanda Bayama will now look for the series sweep in the $33,400 series final on Boxing Day. The Niagara Series final will be joined by the Valedictory Series final on the matinee Boxing Day card. Post time December 26 is 1 p.m.
Mark McKelvie