With a fired up brush to the lead, Roll Em sealed victory in the 55th edition of the $35,000 Governor’s Plate, presented by Summerside Chrysler Dodge, Saturday evening (July 15) at Red Shores at the Summerside Raceway.
The final race of Governor’s Plate Week 2023 had American Risk (Todd Trites) sent forward at the start to guard the pylons and trip the opening quarter of :26.4 while releasing race favourite Roll Em to the front. Driver Marc Campbell eased his trainee through fractions of :55 and 1:23.3 then opened by five lengths to win in 1:51.4.
Campbell trains the Time To Roll five-year-old for P.E.I. based owners Brady Doyle and Savage Stable of Stratford, Brent Campbell of Charlottetown and Ryan MacLeod of Souris.
Twin B Tuffenuff (Gilles Barrieau) kicked home for second with Rollwithhottytoddy (Myles Heffernan Sr.) third.
Campbell scored seven victories on the program while garnering the Basil Whelan Memorial Award for top driver of Governor’s Plate Week over Corey MacPherson.
The 16-dash card earned an all-time record wager at Red Shores Summerside of $158,927.
The $10,000 Bob Dewar Memorial Governor’s Plate consolation produced a bounce-back performance of 1:53 by 2022 Governor’s Plate champion No Plan Intended with David Dowling in the seat for trainer Jennifer Doyle, who co-owns the Up The Credit gelding with Danny Birt of Earnscliffe, P.E.I.
The $6,000 Ruby Chappell Memorial final for Open mares had Dreamfair Zenfire win for trainer-driver Marc Campbell in first-over fashion in 1:53.4 for owners Ryan and Everett MacLeod.
In the Chappell Memorial consolation, Atlantic Star (Marc Campbell) went all the way in 1:56.1 for trainer Mike McGuigan and owner Mike Pollard of Stratford.
The Atlantic Sires Stakes for three-year-old pacing colts had a pair of $15,300 A divisions as Proudofyatoday (Marc Campbell) rallied to win for trainer and co-owner Keith Ford with partners Gordon, David and Douglas Neill of Charlottetown. Tobins Profit (Jason Hughes) grabbed second with No Boats On Sunday (Myles Heffernan Sr.) third.
Malignity won by open lengths in his $15,300 A division in 1:54 in line to trainer Paul Langille for owners Rosanne Langille and Debbie Francis. Bacononabiscuit (Marc Campbell) finished second ahead of Fishermans Son (Adam Merner).
The $4,000 Atlantic Sires Stakes B divisions for three-year-old pacing colts were won by JJ Landon (Gilles Barrieau) in 1:57.2 and Tobins Party (Jason Hughes) with a 1:58.4 upset at 8-1 odds.
A pair of former Governor’s Plate winners tangled in the Premier’s Pace as Time To Dance won over Rose Run Quest (Adam Merner) in 1:54.2. Campbell trains Time To Dance for owners Brady Doyle, Brent Campbell, Kent MacDonald and Ryan MacLeod.
Starshipsalicia won the Bobby Morrissey Member Of Parliament For Egmont Pace in an off-the-pace 1:58 victory with Patrick Shepherd driving for owner-trainer Kyle Williams.
Ms Moyse (Adam Merner) had a perfect pocket ride to victory in the Race 8 Red Shores Summerside Pace in 1:56 from the Melissa Rennie stable for owners Olivia May, Quaid Hately and Andrew Cameron.
Luigi Bizacko was victorious in the RCMP 150th Anniversary Pace at 14-1 odds in 1:57.1 for trainer-driver Steven Murphy and owner Amanda Mactavish.
JJ Patrick stunned in the race 12 PC MLA Tyler Desroches District 21 Summerside-Wilmot Pace with a 29-1 victory for driver MacPherson, trainer Ricky Armstrong and owner Marc Gallant.
Emperor controlled his destiny in the Minister Of Finance Pace, winning off the front in 1:55.3 with Hughes in tow by seven lengths in 1:55.3 for owner-trainer Jeff Lewis of Moncton, N.B.
Live racing continues Thursday evening (July 20) at 6 p.m. (ADT) at Red Shores Charlottetown.
To view Saturday's harness racing results, click the following link: Saturday Results - Summerside Raceway.
(Red Shores)