P L Oliver matched strides with Cheddar Bay at the finish line to dead heat for the win in this week's $12,500 Preferred Handicap Pace at The Raceway at Western Fair District on Friday, May 1.

While Cheddar Bay and J Harris were busy fighting off a first-over challenge from B Stoney and Garrett Rooney on the front end down the backstretch the final time, favoured P L Oliver rallied three-wide into contention for catch-driver Austin Sorrie as they raced by three-quarters in 1:25 and caught the pacesetter at the wire in 1:55.2 in a dead heat for the win. B Stoney was game through the stretch but finished three-quarters of length back in between the top pair.

P L Oliver, an eight-year-old sired by Sportswriter out of P L Gotcha, secured his first win of the season following top three finishes in his four prior starts -- all in London's Preferred class -- for trainer Lindsey Kerr and owners Alan Janik and Sally Charlton of Tecumseh, Ont. The win was his 31st lifetime and pushed his earnings over $325,000.

Cheddar Bay, who bested P L Oliver in his rival's season debut back on March 30, was a closing fourth in their most recent matchup last week. The 10-year-old Betterthancheddar-Mystical Seelster gelding has also been competing in Pop-Up Series action at Woodbine Mohawk Park and earned his third win of the year from 11 starts. Lifetime, the homebred has won 32 races and nearly $353,000 in purses for trainer Peter Core and owners Donald and Heather McGregor of Camlachie, Ont.

Horseplayers who bet $2 to win on 8-5 favourite P L Oliver got back $2.90 while Cheddar Bay's backers were paid $3.20 -- the latter was the 2-1 third choice in the eight-horse field.

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

(Standardbred Canada)