Outlawpositivcharg accomplished a feat that no other horse has in the 41-year history of the Governor’s Plate during Summerside Raceway’s double-header, which wrapped up Lobster Carnival Week on Saturday
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The five-year-old son of Blissfull Hall became the first horse to win Summerside’s signature race two years in a row. Trained and driven by Terry Gallant, Outlawpositivcharg rolled through panels of :27.2, :56.3 and 1:27 while overcoming early challenges put forth by Porthill Alf (Mike Stevenson) and Take The Risk (Earl Smith). Outlawpositivcharg, the second choice to Dr. Ian Moore’s Astronomical, stopped the clock in 1:56.3 to win the lion’s share of the $16,000 purse while longshot Scotian Sunset (Marc Campbell) finished a length and a quarter behind. Riccaras Sun (Gilles Barrieau) rounded out the top three.
Outlawpositivcharg has put together a record reading 6-3-1 in 10 starts this year earning nearly $20,000 for owner J Fred Lamont of Calgary, Alta. The bay gelding notched his 21st career win and bumped his total bankroll to $87,694.
In the $5,000 Governor's Plate consolation, St Pete Star was on top by the half and coasted home to win in 1:56 by a length and a quarter over San Marco Hanover (Ryan Ellis) and Lakota Hall (Walter Cheverie). Trained and driven by Danny Romo, the five-year-old son of Life Sign won for the fourth time this year in 20 starts lifting his earnings to $21,720. A winner of 18 races and $264,531 lifetime, St Pete Star is owned by Paul Gray of Puswash, N.S.
In the $7,500 Lobster Carnival Late Closer for fillies and mares, Abby Best extended her win streak to five for trainer and owner Angus MacLean. With Kenny Arsenault in the sulky, the eight-year-old daughter of Cambest cleared the front after a :28.2 opening quarter and rolled through the remaining panels of :59.1 and 1:29.3 with a two-length lead on the field. The fan favourite then sprinted home in :28.3 for the 1:58.1 victory by five and a half lengths.
Whitesand Whisper (Earl Smith) was the runner-up and Kaitlyn Rose (Gary Chappell) finished third.
Abby Best is now seven-for-eight in her 2009 campaign with over $10,000 earned. The 32-time winner has banked $53,298 in purses over the course of her career.
Southview Shannon rallied off second-over cover to win the $2,750 Lobster Carnival Late Closer consolation in 2:00.4 for the tandem of driver Daniel MacDonald and trainer Jamie Smith. The six-year-old All Star Hanna mare prevailed by three-quarters of a length over Gauloise Duharas (Mike Stevenson) and pacesetter J J Tackoor (Gary Chappell). Owned by Mike MacDonald of Laval, Que., Southview Shannon has won three times this year in 12 starts earning $4,188 and eight times in her career good for $43,740.
In Atlantic Sires Stakes action, three-year-old pacing colts faced off in four $7,260 “A” divisions.
Seawind Dropper worked his way to the lead from the back of the pack to win the first division in 1:58.2 by two and a half lengths over the pacesetter and fan favourite Rocky Bubba (Marc Campbell). Unraced at two, the gelded son of Drop Off scored his third win in nine tries for trainer/driver Phil Pinkney and owner Caneast Standards Inc. of Berwick, N.S.
Driven by Todd Trites, Porthill Gatsby survived a first-over trip to win his division in 1:59 by over a length. The Quick Comeback colt scored his fifth win of the year in 16 starts for trainer Alexander Baird, who shares ownership with Sonya Baird of Trenton, N.S. and Clifford Garland of Carbonear, Nfld.
War Dancer and trainer/driver Mike Stevenson converted from a pocket trip to win his split in 1:57.3 by a neck over the favoured Stars Xample (Terry Gallant), who carved out all the fractions. The Western Paradise gelding suffered his only loss in 10 career starts on July 11 finishing second to Porthill Gatsby at Northside Downs. He is owned by Boyd Macdonald Prodce Ltd of Crapaud, Daniel Ross of Belfast, P.E.I. and Charles Seymour of Fredericton, N.B.
In the final division, Ultimate Success and trainer/driver Gilles Barrieau battled with Woodmere Fastball (Earl Smith) for most of the mile before reaching up by a half-length to win in 1:58.4. The Western Success gelding won for the third time in eight outings this year for owners Robert Tilley, Lester Mott and Kelly Barrieau of Saint John, N.B.
The $2,500 Atlantic Sires Stakes "B" divisions went to Power Surge (1:59.4), Big Oster (2:01), Final Drop (1:58.4) and Mr Pogge (2:01.2).
To view Saturday’s harness racing results, click here.