Cheddar Bay parlayed two moves into victory in Friday night's featured $13,000 Preferred Handicap Pace at The Raceway at Western Fair District.
Cheddar Bay left from post four to establish the early lead into the first turn for driver J Harris but the Peter Core trainee was shuffled back to third as Night Watchman (Nick Boyd) and 6-5 favourite Joelsyy Hanover (Tyler Borth) continued to progress to his outside, each making appearances on the lead through a spirited :27.2 opening quarter.
After the bettors' choice cleared to command, Borth rated a half in :56.4 while Harris sent Cheddar Bay back out for the retake, urging him on to take over command down the backstretch to three-quarters in 1:26. Cheddar Bay opened up three lengths by the top the stretch and cruised home to score in 1:56.2, with P L Oliver (Jason Ryan) edging out Joelsyy Hanover a length behind in a photo for place after tracking the winner's cover.
Sent off as the 2-1 second choice, Cheddar Bay paid $6.40 to win.
The homebred gelding by Betterthancheddar out of Mystical Seelster earned his fifth win of the season from 19 starts for owners Donald and Heather McGregor of Camlachie, Ont. The victory was the 13th lifetime for Cheddar Bay, who has banked nearly $180,0000 through 82 career starts.
Earlier on the card, three-year-old filly J One Twenty streaked to her fifth consecutive victory, winning a $8,800 fillies and mares conditioned pace in 1:59.1 by 1-3/4 lengths. Tyler Borth drove the daughter of Artspeak and Saintsbury Lady for trainer Jerry Sims and co-owner John O'Brien. A one-time starter as a two-year-old, J One Twenty now boasts a dozen victories from 20 starts in her sophomore campaign to rank among this year's top 10 three-year-old pacers for wins in North America.
To view Friday's harness racing results, click the following link: Friday Results - Western Fair Raceway.