Returning to the scene of his biggest career win, Grand River Raceway's 2016 Battle of Waterloo champion Sports Column earned the first victory of his four-year-old campaign in the $11,500 Preferred 2 Pace featured on Friday night (July 27).

With Travis Henry in the sulky, Sports Column rallied three-wide from sixth in the outer flow nearing the third quarter mark and defeated first-over Single White Sock at the wire by a head in 1:55 flat. Highlandbeachycove, the 3-2 favourite, finished one and a half lengths behind in third after leading the field of seven through fractions of :27.4, :57.1 and 1:26 over the 'good' track.

Winless in his first 11 starts this year, Sports Column was sent postward at odds of 7-1 and returned $17.30 to his backers at the betting windows. He notched his seventh career victory and lifted his bankroll to $462,865.

Blake MacIntosh trains the four-year-old son of Sportswriter and shares ownership with Hutt Racing Stable and Daniel Plouffe.

MacIntosh has four contenders in this year's Battle of Waterloo eliminations, which are coming up on Monday, July 30.

To view Friday's harness racing results, click on the following link: Friday Results - Grand River Raceway.