Winter series action ramped up Friday night (Feb. 5) at Woodbine Racetrack with round one of The Count B and Ontario Girls Series.

Each series featured a pair of divisions for their opening leg. A group of 14 sophomore pacing colts and geldings were split into two $17,000 The Count B divisions, while 15 Ontario-sired four-year-old pacing mares competed in two $18,000 Ontario Girls splits.

The Count B Series for three-year-old pacing colts and geldings saw the first split go to a newcomer north of the border. War N Munn went gate-to-wire for a 1:54.1 victory. The son of Stonebridge Regal shipped in from the Kerin Warner stable into the care of trainer Carmen Auciello.

Driven by Jonathan Drury, War N Munn fired out to the front and got to dictate the pace. After posting panels of :27.4, :57.1 and 1:25.2, War N Munn opened up several lengths of separation and cruised home in :28.4 for a six and three-quarter length victory. St Lads Charger, who sat fourth for the majority of the mile, finished second, while New Standard came from last to finish third.

War N Munn is owned by George Munniksma. The sophomore pacer was making his 2016 debut after winning two of nine starts as a rookie for earnings of $43,011. War N Munn established a new career mark with his 1:54.1 victory. He paid $10.10 to win.

The combination of Drury and Auciello appeared to have a good shot to sweep The Count B first leg, as they teamed up with the 3-5 favourite Big Bang Boom in the second split.

Drury stepped on the accelerator at the start and blasted Big Bang Boom to the lead. The Auciello trainee went untouched through solid fractions of :26.2, :55.3 and 1:24.1 to lead by almost five lengths turning for home. Three Truths, the 7-2 second choice, came out from fifth around the final turn for driver Sylvain Filion and sat seven lengths off the lead at the three-quarter pole. In the stretch, Big Bang Boom ran out of steam at the eighth-pole and was swallowed up by a hard-charging Three Truths, who stopped the clock in 1:55.1. Gotti finished two-lengths back in second, while Big Bang Boom held on to hit the board in third.

A son of Shadow Play, Three Truths is trained by Richard Moreau for owners Ratchford Stable and Brian Shebib. The Count B opening leg victory is the first win in four starts this season for the sophomore pacer. Three Truths won three of eighth starts last season and now has a career bankroll of $23,060. Friday’s clocking of 1:55.1 established a new career mark for the son of Shadow Play. Three Truths paid $9.50 to win.

The Ontario Girls Series kicked off with a fantastic stretch duel in the first division.

Much Adoo, the 9-5 favourite, got away second, but was quickly circled to the lead in the second quarter by driver Doug McNair. Fresh off her Blizzard Series victory, Double Olives found a seat in fourth and sat there until angling out first-over just after the half. Much Adoo posted middle-fractions of :57 and 1:25, while Double Olives pulled to within less than a length of the lead turning for home. In the stretch, the public’s top two choices went toe-to-toe with Much Adoo holding off a battling Double Olives to win by a length in 1:54. Pinky Tuscadero, who sat second-over turning for home, finished third.

A daughter of Classic Card Shark, Much Adoo picked up her second win in three starts this season for trainer Cody Henry. She is owned by Aaron Waxman and Alan Alber. Much Adoo increased her career earnings to over $97,000 with her seventh career victory Friday. She paid $5.90 to win.

In the second division, Amazing Control came through as the even-money favourite for a 1:55.1 victory.

Driven by Jody Jamieson, Amazing Control was able to get a pocket trip in behind Twin B Sweetheart. The leader cut out fractions of :27.2, :57.4 and 1:26.3, while Amazing Control was primed to pop the pocket in the lane. In the stretch, Jamieson pulled on the right line and Amazing Control powered by Twin B Sweetheart to win by two lengths. Tilkum finish third.

A daughter of Shadow Play, Amazing Control is trained by Meg Crone for owners Hutt Racing Stable. The four-year-old pacing mare now has two wins in four starts this season. Amazing Control increased her career earnings to over $83,000 with her fourth career victory Friday. She paid $4.20 to win.

The Count B and Ontario Girls Series resume next Friday (Feb. 12) with round two.

In order to be eligible to The Count B, the three-year-old pacing colts and geldings had to be non-winners of three races or $40,000 lifetime as of October 31, 2015. Ontario-sired four-year-old pacing mares, who were non-winners of $60,000 lifetime as of October 31, 2015, were eligible to the Ontario Girls Series.

Live racing continues Saturday night at Woodbine with the opening leg of the Ontario Boys Series. Post time is 7:30 p.m.

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

(With files from WEG)