Driver Sylvain Filion and trainer Richard Moreau have been a force to be reckoned with on recent Saturday nights at Woodbine Racetrack and the trend continued on Dec. 12 as the horsemen teamed up to sweep the first leg of the Valedictory Series.

Valedictory Series favourites Mohawk Warrior and Cajon Lightning delivered in the early Daily Double ($2.30) with front-end victories for Filion and Moreau.

Mohawk Warrior went wire-to-wire in his $18,000 division, coming through between horses off the gate and carving out fractions of :26, :54.4 and 1:24.2 before holding off Naturescape by a neck in 1:52.1. Rockinonby finished less than a length behind off a pocket trip.

The Rocknroll Hanover-A And Gs Confusion colt, who notched his third Woodbine win in a row since shipping to Canada last month, is owned by Bradley Grant of Milton, Ont.

Cajon Lightning made it four wins in a row following a sweep of the three-week Autumn Series.

The Mach Three-Tex In The City gelding rushed from third to first after a contested 26-second opening quarter and hit the half-mile mark in :55.2. He then proceeded to lead the field past three-quarters in 1:23.1 and raced home for the 1:51 career-best victory over early leader The Rock. Shades Of Bay rounded out the top three finishers.

Cajon Lightning was acquired by Wm K. Wood, William Dittmar Jr., Stephen J. Iaquinta and Minisink Farms LLC after the first leg of the Autumn Series.

The Valedictory Series is for three-year-old male pacers that are non-winners of $50,000 lifetime as of Oct. 31.

Later on the card, the Grant-owned Apprentice Hanover ($32.20) earned millionaire status with a wicked stretch rally to win a $22,000 conditioned pace. The son of Somebeachsomewhere-Allamerican Nadia sprinted his final quarter in :25.4 to circle the nine-horse field with Jody Jamieson aboard. Ben Wallace trains Apprentice Hanover, who was making his first start since mid-July and earned the first win of his five-year-old campaign, which was clocked in 1:50.1. The Grand Circuit stakes winner now boasts 21 victories lifetime and $1,005,114 in earnings.

Filion and Moreau also teamed up for a victory with sophomore pacer Rise Up Now, a recent newcomer to the WEG circuit, also owned by Grant. Filion ended the night with four wins on the 11-race card while Jamieson, James MacDonald and Jonathan Drury each had driving doubles.

To view Saturday's harness racing results, click on the following link: Saturday Results - Woodbine Racetrack.