One of Red Shores’ signature summertime events, the Governor’s Plate, will get one step closer this Sunday (July 12) at Summerside Raceway, as two eliminations will be the focus during the afternoon card that kicks off at 1 p.m.

The top four finishers from each elimination will advance to the 47th edition of the Governor’s Plate, presented by Summerside Chrysler Dodge. The $22,000 final will be contested on Saturday, July 18.

Last year’s champion, D GS Camme, will be back to defend the crown, but is saddled with Post 8 in the first elimination for trainer Jackie Matheson and driver Gilles Barrieau. The five-year-old son of Blissfull Hall, owned by Quentin and Hal Bevan, Tom Clark and Ron Matheson, Charlottetown, PE, has been sharp, reeling off back to back victories, including a 1:54.4 performance in his last start over the Charlottetown Driving Park. He has lightening fast speed and driver Gilles Barrieau knows how to employ it.

The field is loaded with talent. Mach It Big will be back on the island and will take his shot to knock-off the favourite for trainer Neal Moase, owner Mikaela Lustic, Cornwall, PE and driver Marc Campbell. His chart line has fourth-place finish in 1:52.1 over Mohawk Racetrack.

Pacing superstar All Turain sits at 7-2 on the morning line and will start from the middle of pack (Post 4) with Corey MacPherson in the bike for owner Lee Hicken, Charlottetown, PE. The Trevor Hicken trainee just went over the $100,000 mark in earnings and will be gunning for a spot in the final and his 30th lifetime win.

The roster also includes Outside The Wire (to be driven by Todd Trites), J Rs Hurricane (Mike Stevenson), Im Drinkin Doubles (Marc Whebby), Narragansett (Jason Hughes) and The Rev (Danny Romo). The race is expected to head to post at 3:34 p.m.

R Caan, owned by Allard Racing Inc, Saint-Esprit, QC, Rene Allard, Milford, PA and trained by Earl Watts, is the morning line favorite in the second Governor’s Plate elimination. Terry Gallant has received the driving assignment and will start from Post 7. Many will remember R Caan’s awesome Gold Cup performance in 2013 when driver Jason Ryan fired him off the gate and helped produce torrid fractions which included an opening quarter in 26.2.

The other morning line favorites in the showdown are Big Surf (Campbell) and newcomer Si Semalu from Foxyhall Racing of Summerside, PE. Jason Hughes will do the driving.

Other top guns include the red hot Machinthesand (Norris Rogers), Waterside Light (Kenny Arsenault), Perfect Escape (Barrieau), Oh To Be Me (Gary Chappell) and Fortune Playboy (Brett MacDonald). The starter will call the horses at roughly 4:08 p.m.

The action packed card will also headline the Open Trot. Caliban Hanover (Ron Gass) will start from Post 1 for owner Wendell MacDonald, Cornwall. The trotter will try to end Osprey Impact’s winning streak at two. The race is in memory of Boyd Leslie.

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

C L La Rouse Goes for Five at Red Shores Charlottetown; Roscoes Child Favored to Win Top Class

Red Shores’ Charlottetown Driving Park will host one last card of racing on Saturday before the action shift to Governor’s Plate week in Summerside.

The card will kick off with a 6 p.m. first-race post time.

It could be high fives all around if C L La Rouse can extend her winning streak in the evening’s finale for driver Corey MacPherson, trainer Reg Ferguson and his co-owner Paula MacPhee, Charlottetown, PE. The mare has four wins in a row. She will gets her toughest assignment to date when she lines up against Rash B Havior from the Michael Peters stable, Big Bite for trainer Thane Arsenault and Braveheart De Vie with trainer Michael Gallant, who has listed the services of Gilles Barrieau.

The program’s top class has been carded as Race 11. First Art Down has drawn the rail for owner Bruce Wood, Marshfield, PE, trainer Clifford Murphy and driver Ken Murphy. Roscoes Child is the 5-2 early choice in the field. MacPherson will do the driving for the Selkirk Stable of Belfast and trainer Raymond White.

The program also features The Guardian Pace (Race 10) with Ufit and Donnie MacNeill leading the post parade. Political Crisis (Adam Merner) is listed as the early favourite.

To view the harness racing entries for Saturday at the CDP, click the following link: Saturday Entries – Charlottetown Driving Park.

(Red Shores)