After being stretched out to a :27.4 first quarter, Fluff Me Up ($9.30) dug deep to hold his ground over a pair of late challengers in Tuesday evening’s (November 28) $8,500 Preferred 3 trotting feature at The Raceway at Western Fair District.

From the pole, Fluff Me Up ceded the lead to Willyorwonthe (William Megens) on approach to the first turn, but Robert Shepherd quickly angled him out of the pocket an eighth of a mile in. The six-year-old ABC Garland gelding had to work to claim the pacesetting duties, having to accelerate to a :27.4 first quarter to clear Willyorwonthe. After his early exertion, Fluff Me Up was able to control kinder middle splits of :57.4 and 1:27.2 while bracing for the first-over challenge of 4-5 favourite Call Me Richard (Travis Henry).

While Call Me Richard was slow to advance initially, he was urged to gain second from pocket rival Willyorwonthe at the eighth pole. As he became a more viable threat upon straightening, Kennel Buddy (Bruce Richardson) lifted three-wide to challenge as well. Fluff Me Up would not be outdone, holding his ground for a narrow 1:59 score over Kennel Buddy, who narrowly missed down the outside after closing best of any. Call Me Richard, flanked by the top pair and defeated by just a head, checked in third.

Clinton Guitard trains 25-time winner Fluff Me Up for the Pod Stable, LLC of Ohio. For Guitard, the featured win was one of two on the card, while it capped a hat trick for Shepherd.

To view Tuesday’s harness racing results, click the following link: Tuesday Results – The Raceway at Western Fair District.