Big Surf equalled the all-aged track record at Summerside Raceway while the original record-holder D Gs Camme also went a big mile in the eliminations for the Governor’s Plate on Sunday afternoon.
Big Surf and driver Marc Campbell led from start to finish in their $5,000 elimination, carving out fractions of :28, :57 and 1:25 en route to a 1:53 triumph. R Caan (Terry Gallant) advanced first over to finish one and three-quarter lengths behind in second. Si Semalu (Jason Hughes) edged out Perfect Escape (Gilles Barrieau) for third.
Trevor Hicken trains the four-year-old Somebeachsomewhere gelding for Burkie By The Bay Stables of Ten Mile House, P.E.I. and Perry Burke of Grosse-Ile, Que. New to P.E.I. this year, Big Surf has won four of his six starts, including the final of the Cecil Ladner Memorial Pacing Series.
Defending champion D Gs Camme, who set the track record in last year's Governor's Plate, stormed home from the backfield to win his elimination in 1:53.2 with Gilles Barrieau aboard for trainer Jackie Matheson. The five-year-old son of Blissfull Hall prevailed by half a length over The Rev (Danny Romo) and Im Drinkin Doubles while All Turain (Corey MacPherson) finished fourth.
D Gs Camme is owned by Matheson's father Ron, along with Charlottetown partners Quentin Bevan, Hal Bevan and Tom Clark. He is now three-for-four on the season, with his only loss a second-place finish to Big Surf in the Ladner.
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.
The all-age trotting record was also matched during the Sunday card as Ebbsfleet Stables' Frill Seeker and trainer/driver Kenny Arsenault won the $1,950 Open Trot in wire-to-wire fashion by three and a half lengths over Pleasure Girls and Osprey Impact. The seven-year-old Angus Hall gelding tied the record set by Zip The Lip last October.
To view Sunday's harness racing results, click on the following link: Sunday Results - Summerside Raceway.