Speed was on display Sunday afternoon (July 8) at Red Shores’ Summerside Raceway, as 14 horses contested the eliminations for the Governor’s Plate, presented by Township Chevrolet Buick GMC, which will be contested next weekend at the Prince Edward Island oval.

Adkins Hanover pushed the issue early in the first $5,000 elimination, as driver Ambyr Campbell sent the pacer to the front with blistering opening fractions of :27 and :55.2. That was when the race favourite, Euchred (driven by Adam Merner), abandoned the pocket, made a move for the front, and touched down along the pylons before the three-quarters clock flashed to life in 1:24.3.

Euchred, a pupil of trainer Terry Gallant, ended up finishing the mile unchallenged, as he won in 1:54 for owner Kayla Habicht Walker of Inverness, N.S.

Mr Irresistible (Jason Hughes) finished second, while Nogreatmischief (Walter Cheverie) was third. Keep Coming (Corey MacPherson) completed the top four pacers that will make their way to the historic $22,000 final on Saturday, July 14.

The second elimination capped off the Sunday afternoon program, and it was Czar Seelster who posted an 8-1 upset for driver Kenny Arsenault, trainer Todd Weatherbee and owner Tammy Johnston (of Vernon Bridge).

Do Over Hanover (Jason Hughes) guarded the rail at the start of the second elim, as he parked out the race favourite, In Spades (Austin Sorrie), to the opening quarter in :27. In Spades gained the front with fractions of :55.3 and 1:25.2, while Czar Seelster watched the action from the pylons in third.

Czar Seelster advanced around the last turn to nail In Spades at the wire, while Do Over Hanover finished third. Cartoon Daddy (Dale Spence) finished fourth to also punch his ticket to the final.

Arsenault said the trip worked out perfectly for Czar Seelster.

“They were playing some hardball on front and I was hoping they would, as that horse of Sorrie’s, In Spades, is a nice horse, and if he had of got cheap fractions he would have been hard to beat,” Arsenault said trackside after the victory.

The fifth to seventh-place finishers from each elimination will populate the $5,000 Governor’s Plate consolation, which will feture Give Em Heck, Tobinator, Fast N Victorious, Adkins Hanover, Zero Rate and Ashes To Ashes.

Governor’s Plate week racing will continue Tuesday evening at 7 p.m. and will feature the two and three-year-old trotters in Atlantic Sires Stakes action.

Check out redshores.ca for race replays, promotional plays and more.

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

(With files from Red Shores)