A pair of $12,000 Preferreds highlighted the 10-race card on Tuesday, March 11 at The Raceway at Western Fair District, with Gold Edition leading nearly gate-to-wire in the feature trot, while Cheddar Bay went on a first-over grind to victory in the top-level pace. Meanwhile, the red-hot Esquire extended his win streak to five earlier on the card.

Leaving from the rail, Gold Edition and driver Tyler Borth got away second behind a revved up Insanity (Jason Ryan) before Gold Edition wheeled around the early pacesetter before reaching the quarter pole in :28.3. Borth tapped the brakes to the half in :58.3 before the 2-5 favourite opened up by 1-3/4 lengths at three-quarters in 1:28.1. 

On the final turn, Marvin Hagler (Austin Sorrie) stormed first-over to the leader's wheel at the top of the stretch. Gold Edition responded to the challenger in the lane, holding Marvin Hagler at bay by 1-1/2 lengths on the wire to stop the clock in 1:56.1. Insanity held for the show spot, finishing four lengths behind the winner.

Gold Edition has won two of his last three outings for trainer Blair Burgess. The nine-year-old son of E L Titan-Ticket To Broadway is owned by Stirling Fisher of Waterloo, Ont., and Karin Olsson Burgess of Campbellville, Ont. He now sports a career bankroll of $351,677. Gold Edition returned $2.80 to win at the betting windows.

Drawing the opposite end of the gate, Cheddar Bay and driver Daryl Thiessen utilized different tactics as the duo repeated in the Preferred Pace.

Leaving from the outside post seven, Cheddar Bay got away fifth as 4-5 favourite P L Oliver (Travis Henry) surged to the lead at the quarter in :28.1. Thiessen right-lined Cheddar Bay in the second quarter, floating into fourth while P L Oliver passed the half in :58. Cheddar Bay dialed up the pressure on the backstretch, surging alongside of P L Oliver as the duo battled to three-quarters in 1:27.1.

The battle only intensified on the final turn, with Cheddar Bay and P L Oliver continuing to exchange blows around the final bend to the top of the lane. In deep stretch, Cheddar Bay grabbed a narrow lead before beating out P L Oliver to the line by a half-length in 1:56.1. It Takes Two (Lorne House) rallied for the third position.

Peter Core trains Cheddar Bay (pictured above), who has only missed the board once this season in seven outings that include three victories. Owned and bred by Donald and Heather McGregor of Camlachie, Ont., the nine-year-old gelded son of Betterthancheddar-Mystical Seelster is a 27-time career winner, boasting a career bankroll of $296,488. Cheddar Bay paid $11.50 to win for the mild upset.

Earlier on the card, Esquire continued his winning ways, posting his fifth straight victory in $15,000 claiming action.

Leaving from post three, Samuel Fillion put the 2-5 favourite on the engine early, trotting to the quarter in :29.2. Fillion grabbed leather in the middle half, leading unchallenged to the halfway point in 1:01.2 before Esquire trotted to three-quarters in 1:32.1. From there, Esquire trotted home confidently, crossing the wire 1-1/2 lengths clear over Heavy Dude E (Damian MacLellan) and Down Stairs Party (Tyler Borth) to stop the timer in 2:02.1.

A winner in six of nine starts in 2025, Esquire was trained by Mark Winacott before being claimed by new owners Mitchell Tierney of Guelph, Ont., and Lynn Cameron of Saint John, N.B. The 12-year-old son of Kadabra is approaching 50 wins for his career, putting 48 in the win column and $468,958 in lifetime earnings. 

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

(Standardbred Canada)