Wild Dragon was ruled the official winner of the 45th edition of the $22,000 Governor’s Plate after first-place finisher Proven Lover was set back by the judges in the Saturday night finale at Summerside Raceway.
The Governor's Plate elimination winners Proven Lover and Wild Dragon finished one-two in the final and were separated by just a quarter length at the wire in 1:53.4, but the result would not stand.
While leaving from post seven with their sights set on the top spot, Proven Lover and Terry Gallant forged to command over inside starters Wild Dragon and Gilles Barrieau during a :26.4 first quarter. Proven Lover then led the field through middle splits of :56.3 and 1:25.4 while rebuffing a first over challenge from All Turain and Marc Campbell. As the pacers entered the stretch, Barrieau pulled Wild Dragon from the pocket and the favourite kicked home in :27.4, but came up just short at the wire. The time of the mile was just three-fifths of a second off the all-age track record held by 2010 Governor's Plate champion P H Bestman.
Following a judges inquiry, Proven Lover was set back to second for crowding Wild Dragon around the first turn when leaving hard and causing him to go inside the pylons. Touch Of Lightning and Earl Smith finished third and were unaffected by the placing.
Wild Dragon is owned by trainer Darren Trainor and Jennifer Trainor of Vernon River, P.E.I. The five-year-old son of Dragon Again is now a perfect three-for-three since relocating from Ontario to P.E.I. at the end of June. The victory was his 19th lifetime and lifted his bankroll to $238,102.
John Thompson's Windemere Express and Campbell held off Balanchine and Brodie MacPhee to win the $5,000 consolation by a neck in 1:55.3. Former two-time Governor's Plate champion Outlawpositivcharg finished two and three-quarter lengths behind in third for Gallant. Earl Watts trains and bred the five-year-old son of Harrods, who earned his 14th career win.
Campbell also swept the Lobster Carnival Later Closer final and consolation for fillies and mares as part of his six Saturday scores, securing the 2013 Basil Whelan Memorial Award for top driver of the Lobster Carnival with a total of 19 wins on the week.
Dirt Track Momma journeyed first over to take the $7,500 final in 1:55.1 for Neal and Jonah Moase while Doober Hoozzitz and Gallant edged out Private Joke and Gary Chappell for second over one length behind. The five-year-old mare, who was also victorious in her elimination, boasts 10 wins in 25 seasonal starts.
Trained by Campbell and owned by the Kickin Horse Stable, Putyourwhipaway took a new mark of 1:57.1 in the $2,250 consolation after rallying home from the back of the pack to prevail by a quarter length over pacesetter Skylark Hanover and Barrieau. Highland Dancer finished three-quarters of a length back in third for MacPhee.
Three-year-old pacing colts Jacobs Jackpot and Beach Paradise earned their second consecutive Atlantic Sires Stakes victories during the card while Go Ahead picked up his first trophy of the season in a trio of $9,380 "A" divisions.
Go Ahead's 1:56 front end victory was the fastest of the three and established a new lifetime mark for the Brandons Cowboy-Suddenly Susan colt. Paul Langille drove the Phil Pinkey trainee for owner Diane Fillmore of Berwick, N.S. On a record-setting roll in the previous two legs in Nova Scotia, The Rev finished one length behind in second this time out for trainer/driver Danny Romo.
Driven by Ryan Campbell, Jacobs Jackpot (Mantwo-Tymal Reverie) advanced first over to win his division in 1:56.4 for trainer James Copley and co-owner Russell Copley, both of Inverness, N.S.
Beach Paradise and Romo prevailed in 1:57.3 for trainer Henry Smallwood and Windsor, N.S. owners Debbie Francis, Malcom Isnor and Peter Francis. The Western Paradise-Midnight Beach gelding held off Libertys Art and Jason Hughes by a head.
The $2,500 "B" divisions were won by Put To The Test (Astronomical-Ardor Chymes) and trainer/driver Darren Crowe in a career-best 1:57.2; Paraprosdokian (Western Paradise-Armbro Boudoir) and Campbell in 1:57.2 for trainer Darryl MacLean; and Windemere Ron (Articulator-Rhondas Belle) with Barrieau aboard in 2:00.2 for Watts.
To view Saturday's harness racing results, click on the following links: Saturday Results - Summerside Raceway.