Michelangelo and Tymal Oh So Nice duked it out on top for most of the mile, but in the end it was the former who got his nose to the wire first in the $7,000 Preferred 3 Trot at Grand River Raceway on Wednesday evening.
Michelangelo and driver Billy Davis Jr. won the night's feature race in 1:59.3 for trainer Victor Puddy and owner Percy Elkins of Campbellville, Ont.
Insider Tymal Oh So Nice (Denis St Pierre) retook the lead from Mary Todd (Brad Forward) past the :29.1 opening panel before a forwardly placed Michelangelo began his first over attack and engaged in a battle with the leader past the :59 half-mile mark and 1:28.4 third quarter station. Michelangelo gained the upper hand around the final turn with the persistent Tymal Oh So Nice trying to fight back down the stretch. But Michelangelo prevailed in the final stride, earning his 10th win of the season in 21 starts. Tymal Oh So Nice settled for second while Stormont Fried (Paul MacKenzie) rallied wide off cover to show one length behind.
Michelangelo returned $12.70 to win as the 5-1 third choice in the nine-horse field.
The four-year-old Angus Hall gelding now has 14 wins on his lifetime record and purse earnings totalling $67,746.
To view Wednesday's harness racing results, click on the following link: Wednesday Results - Grand River Raceway.