Cheddar Bay (Betterthancheddar) went all the way in the Don McElroy Memorial Invitation Pace on Friday (Oct. 13) at The Raceway at the Western Fair District for his first harness racing win since May.
The gelding emerged first from the starting line and rushed forward to grab the lead. He reached the quarter-mile marker in :27.4 and took a second-quarter breather, completing the first half in :58 as the first-over Kenny Joe (Dan Clements) arrived at his wheeldisc.
Cheddar Bay dispatched that rival in short order, and the second-over D M Johnwick (Travis Henry) was forced three-wide on the backstretch as the leader hustled to three-quarters in 1:26.1. The new attacker never came within two lengths, and pocket-sitter G A Speed Sammy (Scott Coulter) could do little more as Cheddar Bay stormed home to a two-and-a-quarter-length victory in 1:55.3.
G A Speed Sammy survived the late rush of Pembrook Legacy N (Lorne House) to secure the place cheque.
CHEDDAR BAY REPLAY
It was Cheddar Bayās second start since surfacing after a four-month layoff; he finished fifth in his return effort on Oct. 4. Trained by Peter Core, the seven-year-old gelding is five-for-17 this year. He has amassed 19 career wins and $240,754 in earnings for owner/breeders Donald and Heather McGregor of Camlachie.
The race is named after Don McElroy, a longtime Ontario horseman who was The Raceway’s leading driver seven times and is a member of The Raceway’s Wall of Fame. McElroy won 4,015 races in his career and posted earnings of $18,579,702. He passed away in April.
Also on the card, Ontario-sired two- and three-year-old trotting colts and geldings contested the second leg of the Autumn Series Event C. Stonebridge Comedy (Muscle Mass) secured a sweep of the preliminary rounds with a second straight dominant effort in leg one. He cruised to an eight-length win ā made easier by a foe’s final turn break ā in 2:02.4 for driver Paul Mackenzie, trainer Paul Megens, and owner Saltwater Stable.
STONEBRIDGE COMEDY REPLAY
The second split proved more competitive ā Irish Dreamer (Il Sogno Dream, Jason Ryan) and My Buddy Sam (Archangel, Garrett) both rolled past pacesetter Sollwitt in the stretch and battled to a dead head in 2:03.2. Irish Dreamer, a three-year-old colt broke his maiden with the victory, erasing the goose egg in his 10th start for trainer Paul Reid and owner/breeders Len Christopher and Anthony Mulcahy. My Buddy Sam doubled his tally in the series and increased his win tally to four overall. He has collected $14,291 in nine outings for owners Jennifer Pinkerton, who trains the sophomore gelding, and Patricia Bailey.
IRISH DREAMER / MY BUDDY SAM REPLAY
Event C of the Autumn Series will conclude on Oct. 20 at The Raceway.
The trackās next card on Monday, Oct. 16 will feature three divisions of Event D for pacing fillies. The racing will begin at 5:50 p.m. EDT.
For complete race results, click here.
by Nicholas Barnsdale, for Harnesslink