Hot Deuce has landed on red soil and he proved he came to play in Sunday afternoon’s (July 9) $5,000 Governor’s Plate eliminations at Red Shores’ Summerside Raceway.

The Patrick Shepherd-trained Hot Deuce was put on top at every call by driver Walter Cheverie, as the free-legged son of Armbro Deuce laid down incredible fractions of :27, :54.4 and 1:23.1 before unleashing a 29-second final panel to win in 1:52.1, just two-fifths of a second off Ys Lotus’ 1:51.4 track record.

Crombie A (driven by Marc Campbell) rallied from off the pace to finish second, while Forever Paradise (Adam Merner) finished third. Allstar Seelster (Norris Rogers) finished fourth and earned a berth into Saturday’s $22,000 Governor’s Plate final, presented by Summerside Chrysler Dodge.

Shepherd, a native of Stratford who now resides in Ontario, trains Hot Deuce for owner Mike McAllister of Beaumont, Alta.

The other Governor’s Plate elimination was also claimed by a newcomer to Island racing, as Do Over Hanover used first-over tactics to win in 1:53.1 for driver Campbell, trainer Chris MacKay and owners Allard Racing Inc., of Saint-Esprit, Que., Red Isle Racing of North Granville and Steven MacRae of Vernon Bridge.

Adkins Hanover (Merner) put down the early fractions of :27.1 and :55.1 before giving way to Junebugs Baby (Myles Heffernan), who had a tire flattened earlier in the race up the backside for three-quarters in 1:24.1. Good Friday Three (Kenny Arsenault) was second, Invictus Hanover (Jason Hughes) was third and Junebugs Baby finished fourth to make the final.

Cheverie had a driving triple on a card with one of those wins coming aboard Ramblinglily in a $2,400 Open Mares pace in 1:55.1 over Shadows Mystery (Arsenault) and Scirocco Miley Kay (Gilles Barrieau).

Another $2,400 Open Mares class was captured by Prettyndangerous in 1:54.4 at 13-1 odds for driver Merner, co-owner and trainer Bo Ford and co-owner Arnold Myers, all of Charlottetown. Race favourite Woodmere Articblue (Campbell) was second with Good Luck Kathy (Hughes) rounding out the triactor.

Driver Ken Murphy also had a driving triple on the program.

Live racing will continue at Red Shores’ Summerside Tuesday night at 7 p.m., featuring the Atlantic Sires Stakes for two and three-year-old trotters, sponsored by Meridian Farms as part of Governor’s Plate Week racing.

To view the harness racing results for Sunday at Summerside, click the following link: Sunday Results – Summerside Raceway.

(Red Shores)