In a back-and-forth year-end battle for the top spot in the WEG driver standings, Sylvain Filion and Jody Jamieson continued to make it a close race as they duked it out in Saturday evening's $38,000 Preferred Pace at Woodbine Racetrack.
In the third race feature, Filion sent Mach Dreamer to the lead from post four over the Jamieson-driven Mystician during a :26.1 opening quarter. As Mach Dreamer led the way into the backstretch, High Def Z Tam, driven by Billy Davis Jr., advanced first up from fifth.
High Def Z Tam applied heavy pressure to the leader as they rolled past the half in :55.4 and three-quarters in 1:24.1, but Mach Dreamer drew clear entering the stretch. However, Mystician found room along the pylons to squeeze through and make it a close call at the wire. Mach Dreamer managed to hang on by a nose though for the 1:50.4 season's-best triumph. Favourite Casimir Jitterbug and Doug McNair finished one length behind in third.
Mach Dreamer paid $12.80 to win as the 5-1 third choice.
The five-year-old son of Mach Three followed up three second-place finishes with Saturday's win, which marked the fourth time he toured the winner's circle this year. The 18-time career winner now boasts a bankroll totalling $795,712.
Mach Dreamer is trained by Murray Brethour and owned by Scarff Legacy Stables of Halifax, N.S., Stan Klemencic of Trenton, Ont., Noblock Racing Stable of Collingwood, Ont., and Don Brown of Lindsay, Ont.
With the win, Filion tied Jamieson on the leaderboard. Both have won 268 races on the WEG circuit this year.
To view Saturday's harness racing results, click on the following link: Saturday Results - Woodbine Racetrack.
(Photos courtesy Matt Waples)