The $100,000 Willowdale Series Final for 4-year-olds highlighted the Saturday night card at Woodbine Racetrack, contested under overcast skies and a race time temperature of 20, typical conditions for mid-January at the Toronto oval. A field of 9 lined up behind the starter, with Westwardho Hanover sent off as the 4-5 favorite, off consecutive third place finishes in the first two legs of the series. In to challenge him included 2-1 second choice Mystician, winner of the first two legs, and 9-1 third choice Camaes Fellow, fourth and sixth in the first two legs, after winning a $38,000 preferred race in December.
Driver Doug McNair sent Camaes Fellow to the lead first time past the stands hrough an opening furlong in 13 seconds, but favorite Westwardho Hanover, parked wide, took over the lead on the turn through 1/4 in 26 3/5 seconds. Westwardho Hanover led down the backstretch, opening up a 2 length advantage through a half in 55 seconds, with Camaes Fellow continuing to stalk. Entering the lane, Westwardho Hanover began to widen his lead, getting 3/4 in 1:22.2. In midstretch he was 3 1/4 lengths in front through 7/8 in 1:35 4/5. Mystician, who was 5th and parked wide early, closed with a rush late but Westwardho Hanover held him off by a neck in a stakes record equalling 1:50 over the fast surface. It was another 2 lengths back to Camaes Fellow third.
