Even-money favourite Westbeach ($4.30) used the pole to her advantage and parried three separate challenges en route to victory in Wednesday's (Aug. 5) featured $8,500 Preferred 3 for distaff pacers at Grand River Raceway.

The four-year-old daughter of Somebeachsomewhere was put in play from her inside draw by driver Scott Coulter, and the pair were nudged along mildly on the first turn by Balfast N (Scott Young) while So Awesome (J.R. Plante) maintained a tight pocket seat from a back-row dispatch. Westbeach held control through a :27.3 first quarter, only to face a sustained first-over bid from 7-5 second choice Top Royal (J Harris) through middle sectionals of :57.2 and 1:25.3.

Top Royal flattened just enough on the far turn for the 23-1 So Awesome to wedge out of the pocket on the home turn, and while So Awesome was loaded with pace once free, Westbeach found the line in time, prevailing over her third challenger of the mile by a scant head in 1:55.1. So Awesome completed a $77.60 exactor, and Top Royal narrowly held third over the ground-saving Balfast N.

Westbeach, who earned the fifth win of her career and second of the season, is trained by Martin Lachance for the Lachance Racing Stable and Dragon Racing Inc.

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