It was a down the highway victory as Marc Campbell captured his second straight Governor’s Plate victory with Do Over Hanover in the 49th edition of the Prince County Classic Saturday night at Red Shores at the Summerside Raceway at the conclusion of Governor’s Plate week racing.
The $22,000 Governor’s Plate final, presented by Summerside Chrysler Dodge, saw Campbell and Do Over Hanover cut over hard off the gate to secure the front through fractions of :26.2, :54.4 and 1:23.2 without seeing a serious challenge before an open length victory in 1:53.2. Crombie A was second with Junebugs Baby third.
Do Over Hanover is owned by Allard Racing of Saint-Esprit, QC, Red Isle Racing of North Granville and Steven MacRae of Vernon Bridge and trained by Chris MacKay, who had a training triple on the card.
Campbell won the 2016 Governor’s Plate final with Rene Allard trainee Y S Lotus.
Complete Player was in a world of his own on the undercard Saturday as the Tom Weatherbie trainee was on top at every call in his $12,940 Atlantic Sires Stakes A-division for three-year-old colt pacers in a new sophomore track record of 1:53.4.
Mark Bradley drove the colt for owner David Kennedy of Charlottetown with Lucbobski finishing second and Nameisonthehalter third. Ultimate Yankee held the previous Summerside Raceway three-year-old track record of 1:54.3.
The other Atlantic Sires Stakes A-division was captured by Ashes To Ashes and Barrieau in 1:55.4 for trainer Jackie Matheson and owners Linda Somers of Cornwall, Alan Conway of Summerside and Lynn Livingstone of Kensington. Island Energetic was the runner-up with Southsidelightning completing the Triactor.
His Boy Elroy was victorious in the $5,000 Governor’s Plate consolation for trainer-driver Bernard McCallum and owner Dan MacRae of Baddeck, NS, in 1:55.2. Mr Irresistible was second and Nogreatmischief got up for third.
Ramblinglily won the $3,500 Governor’s Plate Open Mares final in 1:55.4 with Cheverie in the bike over West River Ambyr and Woodmere Articblue. Allan Jones of Riverview, NB, co-owns and trains the mare with co-owner Normand Leger of Shediac, NB.
Jeb captured the $2,200 Premier’s Pace in 1:55.1 for trainer-driver Hughes and owners Robi Hughes, and Blair and Eric MacLauchlan, all of Stratford.
A trio of $2,500 Atlantic Sires Stakes B-divisions were won by Colin N Down (Cheverie) in 1:59, Redwhiteandboots (Barrieau) in 1:59.3 and Ryans Allstar (Chappell) in 1:57.2.
Hughes had four driving wins on the card but had to settle for second place behind Campbell in the Basil Whelan Memorial points standings for leading driver of Governor’s Plate Week.
Barrieau had a driving triple on the card while Cheverie, Campbell and Chappell all had two driving wins.
(Red Shores)
To view results for Saturday's card of harness racing, click the following link: Saturday Results – Summerside Raceway.
Excellent card of racing at
Excellent card of racing at Summerside Raceway. I could be mistaken, but I think that would also mark the first time in the history of Summerside Raceway, where every race was timed in under two-minutes. It doesn't seem all that long ago when a sub two minute mile seemed like it may never happen. Then in 1984, Winner's Accolade in rein to Dougie Walsh won the Governor's Plate in 159/3. It was such an historic event, that Summerside Raceway general manager Bob Dewar got down and kissed the racetrack after it happened.