Trainer Murray Brethour made his trip to Woodbine Racetrack count as he sent out a pair of $25,000 Valedictory Stakes elimination winners while trainer Bob McIntosh delivered with heavily favoured Jackets Required in the final elimination on Saturday night

. The $60,000 Valedictory Final for three-year-old colts and geldings will go as part of a special matinee program on Dec. 26.

Rock Me Amastreos was the first of the Brethour pupils to strike a pose when he rallied from off the pace to take the first elimination by a neck for driver Jody Jamieson.

Sent off at odds of 3-1, the son of Astreos-Queens Arms scored a minor upset in a time of 1:54. Race favourite Web Cam (Randy Waples) took over command at the half in :56.3 before fading in the stretch to finish fourth. Maritime invader Ultimate Yankee (Paul MacDonell) finished second after enjoying a pocket trip with Playing Solitare (Mario Baillargeon) also advancing to the final.

Rock Me Amastreos scored his fifth win in 16 starts this year and sixth career victory for owner-breeder David Snowden of Bowmanville, Ont. lifting his lifetime earnings to $77,670.

Brethour returned to the winner's circle again in the second elimination as Village Beat posted a 7-1 upset over race favourite Sparky Mark (Jody Jamieson) in 1:53.3.

With driver Phil Hudon, Village Beat blasted to the lead from Post 8 and never looked back as the talented son of Rocknroll Hanover-Village Baroque carved out fractions of :27.3, :57.3 and 1:25 en route to posting his fifth career victory in 20 starts for Brethour and partners Charles Armstrong of Brampton, Daniel Sarafian of Stouffville and Marty Toombs of Moon Stone, Ont. Meadowlands invader Arts Fav Won finished third and advanced to the final after going a rough trip for driver Doug McNair.

Village Beat lifted his lifetime earnings to $70,765.

Driver Randy Waples worked out a perfect second over trip with Jackets Required to deliver in the fastest of the three eliminations, stopping the tele-timer in 1:52.

Smarter Yet (Jason Brewer) left alertly from Post 8 and layed down panels of :26.1, 55:4 and 1:24.1 before fading to third in the stretch. Brave Alex Semalu (Mario Baillargeon) sat comfortably behind Jackets Required until the top of stretch and finished a strong second, just a half-length behind, to advance to next week’s final.

Trained by Bob McIntosh and co-owned with Al McIntosh Holdings Inc., the son of Allamerican Ingot-Eve Of The Ball increased his career earnings to $92,253 and notched his sixth career victory in 13 starts.

The $60,000 final will line up as follows:

1. Smarter Yet
2. Sparky Mark
3. Jackets Required
4. Village Beat
5. Rock Me Amastreos
6. Arts Fav Won
7. Ultimate Yankee
8. Playing Solitaire
9. Lucky Terror
10. Brave Alex Semalu
AE. Web Cam

To view Saturday's results, click here.

(With files from WEG)