Patience was the answer for Whiskey Tax ($4.10), who stalked a second-circuit duel before emerging with a 1:56.3 victory in Wednesday's (July 10) featured $8,500 Preferred 3 Trot at Grand River Raceway.

Scott Young floated Whiskey Tax forward from post 5, and the pair were able to land in third behind Sicario (Alfie Carroll) and Bank Guard (Robert Shepherd) to enjoy clear sailing behind initial fractions of :28.2 and :58. Just as Young angled Whiskey Tax off the pegs with three-eighths to go, Bank Guard pulled the pocket to force a cutthroat duel up the far side.

After Bank Guard forced Sicario to three-quarters in 1:27, Whiskey Tax swung three-wide and worked closer nearing the top of the stretch. The 11-year-old Revenue S gelding struck the front a sixteenth from home and edged away to beat Sicario by 1-1/2 lengths. Played By Swan (Dennis Duford), who stalked in the clear from mid-division, angled wide at the eighth pole and lifted late for third.

Trainer Thomas Durand co-owns 20-time winner Whiskey Tax, whose win was his first of the season in eight starts, with June Durand and Allan Smith.

To view Wednesday's harness racing results, click the following link: Wednesday Results – Grand River Raceway.