The divisional leaders began to emerge as the Atlantic Sires Stakes for two and three-year-old trotters had its first meeting of the 2017 season on Tuesday evening at Red Shores at the Summerside Raceway as part of Governor’s Plate Week racing.
Ticked was the fastest two-year-old performer of the night as he captured his $6,240 Atlantic Sires Stakes – Meridian Farms division in a maiden breaking score of 2:04.3 in his first lifetime outing with front-end tactics for co-owner and driver Myles Heffernan, trainer Gerald MacDougall and co-owner Jackie Heffernan.
The two-year-old son of Armbro Barrister was just two-fifths of a second off the two-year-old stallion Summerside track record set by Suicide Shift in 2014.
Miss Emerson Ridge was a winner in her two-year-old Atlantic Sires Stakes division in 2:11 for trainer-driver Clare MacDonald and owner Arnold Rankin of Antigonish, N.S.
Buckaroo visited the winner’s circle in the final division with a 2:05.4 victory for trainer-driver Marc Campbell and owners Larry and Kathy Chappell of Marshfield.
Campbell was a winner earlier on the program as he won the first $6,300 Atlantic Sires Stakes division, presented by Meridian Farms, in 2:01.2 for owner Grayland Farm of Pugwash, N.S.
Majian Tango and trainer-driver Jim Ripley captured the second three-year-old division in 2:03.2 for owner Marylea Ripley of Amherst, N.S., while Windemerepartyman added another victory to trainer Ralph Annear’s long career of success in the Atlantic Sires Stakes program with a 2:04.2 win.
Annear co-owns the son of Nureyev with grandson Jack Panting, both of Montague, with Panting in the driver’s seat.
Driver Jason Hughes had a driving triple on the card scoring with Ultimate Flyingnun in 1:58 for trainer Sifroi Melanson of New Brunswick, Positive Art in 1:59.4 for O’Leary horseman Bing Easter and with newcomer Denver Dolly in 1:56.2 for conditioner Jennifer Trainor of Earnescliffe.
Campbell completed a driving triple in the featured pace winning with HP Bushido Dragjet in 1:56 for trainer Chris Davies of New Brunswick.
The draw was completed for the 49th edition of the Governor’s Plate during the Tuesday evening program at Red Shores at the Summerside Raceway during Governor’s Plate week racing.
Forever Paradise earned rail control during the public post position draw for Saturday night’s $22,000 Governor’s Plate final, presented by Summerside Chrysler Dodge.
Elimination winner Do Over Hanover has post 2 while Hot Deuce, who blazed the Summerside Raceway in 1:52.1, just two-fifths short of the all age track record, has been shouldered with post position 7.
Governor’s Plate Final
1. Forever Paradise
2. Do Over Hanover
3. Allstar Seelster
4. Junebugs Baby
5. Invictus Hanover
6. Good Friday Three
7. Hot Deuce
8. Crombie A
Governor’s Plate Week action continues Wednesday evening at 7 p.m. featuring the Atlantic Sires Stakes for two-year-old pacing fillies.
(Red Shores)
To view results for Tuesday's card of harness racing, click the following link: Tuesday Results – Summerside Raceway.