Odds-on choice Groovy Joe took control early and cruised as an active backfield skirmished for position, scoring a 2:04 victory going an added distance to win the $11,000 Horses & Geldings Preferred 3 Pace at The Raceway at Western Fair District on Tuesday (Oct. 5).

Driver Paul MacKenzie secured the top with the four-year-old Roll With Joe stallion past a :28.4 first quarter and continued unchallenged to a :57.2 half. J J Powerball, parked from the start, made steady progress uncovered with second-tier starter A Positive Hanover in tow coming to the second circuit.

Pocket-sitter Quick Tour began to lag behind Groovy Joe up the backside, prompting Livin Large to pull off the pegs from fourth approaching three-quarters in 1:26.4. He supplied cover to J J Powerball to the final turn, but the outer tier and the traffic-burdened inner tier had a growing deficit on Groovy Joe spinning for home. Six lengths in front, the Blake MacIntosh trainee cruised to the finish by a diminishing margin of 3-1/2 lengths over late-closing J J Powerball with Livin Large another length behind in third and A Positive Hanover giving pursuit from fourth.

Co-owned by Blake MacIntosh with Hutt Racing Stable, Ozzie Mackay and Hoofbid Racing, Groovy Joe won his fourth race from 21 starts this season and his 14th from 45 overall, pushing his earnings to $404,203. He paid $2.60 to win.

To view Tuesday's harness racing results, click on the following link: Tuesday Results - Western Fair Raceway.