P L Oliver bounces back with Preferred win

P L Oliver (Sportswriter) rebounded from a sixth-place finish a week ago as he took his second Preferred harness racing victory of the season on Tuesday (Feb. 4) at The Raceway at the Western Fair District.

Travis Henry laid down the leather as the gate sped away and had the gelding in front from post two going into the first turn. Betthebeach Yankee (J. Bradley Harris) drove on from a parked position and took over before the quarter-mile marker in :28.2, but P L Oliver soon shifted back out and circled that rival as they began to swing for the grandstand.

P L Oliver reached the half in :59 and was under pressure from five-eighths on, hitting the gas to three-quarters in 1:28.4 to deal with the first-up Lord Anthony (Tyler Borth). Pursued by a cavalry charge of three rivals, P L Oliver straightened for home on top. Lord Anthony mounted the best challenge, closing in to with three-quarters-of-a-length, but P L Oliver held on to win in 1:59.1.

Lord Anthony edged out Heza Handy Man (Mike Horner) for place.

P L OLIVER REPLAY

P L Oliver, a 27-time lifetime winner, was acquired by Alan Janik and Sally Charlton of Tecumseth in late November. He is two-for-four for the ownership duo and trainer Lindsey Kerr, with both wins coming at the Preferred level. The seven-year-old has tallied 27 career wins and $266,708 in earnings in 139 appearances.

Tyler Borth produced a driving grand slam on the evening, including a natural hat trick in races three through five.

Racing will continue at The Raceway at the Western Fair District on Wednesday, Feb. 5 at 5:50 p.m. EST.

For complete race results, click here.

by Nicholas Barnsdale, for Harnesslink