P H Bestman rallied from off the pace in the 42nd edition of the $16,000 Governor’s Plate to beat out two-time reigning champion Outlawpostivcharg and lower the track record to 1:53.1 on Saturday

at Red Shores at Summerside Raceway.

With the inside advantage, favourite Carnivore (Earl Smith) fired to the lead while Outlawpositivcharg (Terry Gallant) took back to third. Carnivore marched past stations of :27.3 and :56 before Outlawpositivcharg launched his attack and went head-to-head with the leader past three-quarters in 1:24.3. Outlawpositivcharg put away Carnivore in the stretch, but could not hold off P H Bestman and Todd Trites as they kicked home in :28.1 for the two and a half length victory. The 1:53.1 winning time shaved four-fifths of a second off the former record held by Exclusive. Outlawpositivcharg settled for second with St Pete Star (Marc Campbell) finishing third.

“I was able to get Terry’s cover just past the half and Terry’s horse was good so I had no intentions of going three-deep so we kept moving," said Trites in a post-race interview. "Terry cleared Earl and I just kind of rode up alongside Terry. I didn’t figure there was anything from the back of the bus that was going to catch me at that point. My horse felt real strong, I knew he’d keep going. He’s an awesome horse and they’ve done a helluva job with him."

The victory was Trite’s third in the Governor’s Plate.

P H Bestman paid $9.60 to win as the 7-2 fourth choice. The five-year-old son of Cambest-Art Blanche notched his sixth win in 19 starts and watched his earnings climb to $52,549. The winner of 24 races and $207,232 lifetime is owned and trained by Dr R. James Shive of Shubenacadie, NS.

A two-hole trip worked out for San Marco Hanover and driver Kenny Arsenault in the $5,000 Governor's Plate Consolation. The six-year-old son of Western Hanover-Spirited Legend nosed out leader This Is Your Night (Darren Crowe) for the 1:57.3 triumph. Favourite Mighty And Strong (Gillis Barrieau) finished third. Tom Weatherbie trains the winner for owner Ryan Ellis of Brookfield, NS.

Also featured on Summerside's stakes-packed program was the $7,250 Lobster Carnival Final late closer for pacing fillies and mares, which saw Abby Best and Arsenault fashion a front-end score.

Abby Best, who finished second in her elimination to Grayland Bliss, moved out and around early leader Grace And Harv (Gillis Barrieau) after the :27.1 opening quarter and remained unchallenged as she carved out the remaining fractions of :57.3 and 1:27.4, and stopped the clock in a season’s best 1:56.4. The popular daughter of Cambest-Armbro Seismic won by a length over Grace And Harv while Grayland Bliss (Danny Romo) came in third.

Abby Best has won four times in 14 starts this year and 44 times over the course of her career for owner and trainer Angus MacLean. The lion’s share of the purse bumped her earnings to $7,018 this year and $89,406 lifetime.

Olivia Hall won the $2,750 Lobster Carnival Consolation in 1:58.4 for trainer-driver Ron Matheson, who shares ownership with C. Tom Clark of Charlottetown. Favourite River Swing (Gilles Barrieau) finished one and a half lengths behind in second with Unfluffnbelievable (Mike Stevenson) coming in third.

Three-year-old pacing colts and geldings were featured in Atlantic Sires Stakes action with Island Redemption, Idbegoodatthat and Ultimate Yankee taking top honours in their respective $8,840 divisions.

The popular Island Redemption and trainer-driver Gilles Barrieau went gate-to-wire in the first division, carving out fractions of :28.1, :59.3 and 1:29.1 en route to a 1:57.2 triumph. Rugged Coast (Darren Crowe) finished three lengths behind in second and Putnams Force (Marc Campbell) was third.

The son of Sea Gull Hershey-Luscious Character has won all three of his ATSS events this season for owners Alfred Barrieau of Dieppe and Michael Clinton of Saint John, NB. He is now seven-for-11 on the year with $16,418 banked.

Even-money favourite Idbegoodatthat fired to the front from Post 6 in his division and maintained a two length lead on the field as he paced past stations of :28.3, :59.1 and 1:29 en route to victory in 1:57.3. The pocket-sitting T M Top Gun (Darren Crowe) finished three-quarters of a length behind while Busters Brother (Brodie MacPhee) rounded out the top three.

Unraced at two, the gelded son of Western Paradise-N S Krystal won for the fourth time in 12 starts and lifted his bankroll to over $24,000. Ryan Ellis trains for owners Wayne James Ellis of Stewiacke and Danica Ellis of Brookfield, NS.

Ultimate Yankee and trainer-driver Robert Laffin converted from the pocket in the stretch and upset pacesetter Allbentouttashape (Mike Stevenson) at the wire in 1:54.3 to end his 12-race win streak that began last season. The gelded son of Coastocoast Yankee-Valerie Road, who was sent postward as the 4-1 second choice, won by a quarter-length over Allbentouttashape and the first over challenger Mr Salming (Gillies Barrieu) in track record time for three-year-old pacers.

The victory was Ultimate Yankee’s fourth in nine starts this year and brought his earnings to $12,680 for the Ultimate Stable and Dawn Hubbard of Greater Lakeburn, NB.

Woodmere Jethro (1:58.1), Grayland Spider (2:00.3), Acton My Way (2:00.2) and Magical Alex (1:59.3) captured their respective $2,500 ‘B’ divisions.

To view Saturday's results, click here.