Norm McKnight began the day one win behind leading trainer Mark Casse. He proceeded to blitz the 14-race card by winning five races, which might be the most training wins ever on a thoroughbred card at Woodbine (such records aren't kept).

McKnight completed the meet with a remarkable 99 wins, three more than Casse, who won the featured G3 Valedictory with the late bloomer Leavem in Malibu. That massive colt is a refugee from the 2016 Canadian Triple Crown, and he could be a force to be reckoned with in the older male ranks here next year.

The favored Melmich mounted a belated wide rally to finish second in the 1 3/4-mile marathon for the second year in a row. He probably needed to win the race to have any chance at Canadian champion older male honors, an award which figures to go to Pink Lloyd, who was unbeaten in eight stakes sprints at the meet.

Leading jockey Eurico Da Silva rode four winners to bring his total to 203 at the meet.

The handle was a respectable $7.22 million.

Opening day for next year's 133-day meet is April 21. Closing day is scheduled for Dec. 16.