Leavem in Malibu scored a front-running victory in the $125,000 Valedictory Stakes (Grade 3) for Mark Casse, who finished second in the trainer standings for the first time in over a decade as Norm McKnight took the lead with a five-win performance during Woodbine’s final program of the 2017 Thoroughbred season on Sunday.

Jockey Patrick Husbands guided Leavem in Malibu ($9.40) to victory over even-money favourite Melmich in the last stakes race of the meet for owners Gary Barber and Conrad Farms.

Sent postward as the 7-2 second choice in the 12-horse field, the four-year-old Malibu Moon-Leaveminthedust colt rebuffed a challenge from Ethical Funds and David Moran during the 1-3/4 mile marathon and prevailed in 2:58.92 by two and a half lengths over the late-closing Melmich, who made a sweeping four-wide move on the final turn in rein to Woodbine’s top jockey Eurico Rosa Da Silva. Ethical Funds settled for third.

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