The two-time defending driver of the year at Kawartha Downs, Samuel Fillion made a statement in the 2025 season opener at the Peterborough, Ont. are oval on Saturday, May 17.

With a five-win night on Saturday, that statement indicated he's not planning to easily relinquish his crown.

The 12-race card on Saturday night featured the opening leg of the 2025 Ontario Sires Stakes Prospect Series for three-year-old trotters, with a pair of $8,000 divisions for each gender. Fillion found the winner's circle twice there, winning the faster of the two divisions for fillies courtesy Tricky Trish ($3.70) and her 1:56.4 maiden-breaking effort for trainer Rick Zeron and owner Hutt Racing Stable. Later, he engineered a 1:59 seasonal best mile for Stmikes Kerryblues ($2.10), a three-year-old trotting gelding trained by Kyle Fellows for breeder-owner Ted Wilson and co-owners Yolanda Fellows, Steve McGill and Pat Dillon.

Those Prospect Series splits not featuring Fillion went to filly trotter Royal Sauce, a 2:00.1 winner for Hall of Famer Doug Brown, trainer Gregg McNair — who had a big night at Woodbine Mohawk Park — and owner High Stakes Stable Inc., and male trotter That Dude ($6.40), a 1:59 winner for driver Doug Hie, trainer and co-owner Doug Bowins and partner Russell Taylor.

In overnight action, Fillion's five-bagger was rounded out by Apache Creek (1:58.1; $3.60) in the opener, Lyons King (1:54.4; $3.50) in Race 10 and Majestic Virgin (1:55.3; $5.30) in the penultimate event.

With that strong night at the office, Samuel Fillion sports 114 seasonal wins — sixth best in the nation to date — and 919 lifetime tallies along with $6 million in purses.

Kawartha Downs' 18-day meet will consist of live racing on most Saturdays through Sept. 20, with the exception of June 21. Post time will be 6 p.m. each night.

To view the results from Saturday's card of harness racing, click the following link: Saturday Results - Kawartha Downs.

(Standardbred Canada)