Big duel decides Western Fair Preferred

Roll With The Flow (Roll With Joe) prevailed over Cheddar Bay despite taking the outside lane in a one-on-one harness racing battle to win the Preferred Pace at The Raceway at the Western Fair District on Tuesday (Dec. 27).

Cheddar Bay (J. Bradley Harris) roared forward off the car, accompanied by Bayfield Beach (Tyler Borth) to his inside, and secured the early lead in a :27.2 first quarter mile. Roll With The Flow kicked off the battle as the field turned towards the stands, edging out of third and advancing to level terms with the leader as they passed the half in :57.3.

Cheddar Bay scrambled to react and re-established a one-length lead entering the backstretch after falling behind briefly on the third turn. Roll With The Flow clawed back the lost ground and matched strides with Cheddar Bay as they passed three-quarters in 1:25.3. With both under heavy drives, Cheddar Bay put the challenger in his back pocket on the final turn and kicked back out to a one-and-a-half-length advantage. But Roll With The Flow was far from finished, and the gelding rallied back down the lane to nail Cheddar Bay at the wire for the victory in 1:55.3.

A nose separated the pair. Bayfield Beach, who sat right behind the battle, could not beat either and finished third.

ROLL WITH THE FLOW REPLAY

Roll With The Flow’s grit comes despite a seven-week break between starts. He returned to  Canada and trainer Blake Macintosh, under whom the gelding raced at two, in September following a strong New York Sire Stakes campaign. The three-year-old has earned $173,708 and won eight times in 30 starts for owners Macintosh, Hutt Racing Stable of Malvern, and Middlebrook Racing of Rensselaer.

The win completed a training triple for Macintosh, who also won with Ima Standup Guy (Archangel, Henry, 2:00.3) and Better Be Gouda (Betterthancheddar, Austin Sorrie, 1:57.3).

The Raceway at The Western Fair District’s next card is scheduled for Friday, Dec. 30 at 4:50 p.m. EST.

For complete race results, click here.

by Nicholas Barnsdale, for Harnesslink