Driver Gilles Barrieau earned his fourth consecutive victory in the $22,000 Governor's Plate, presented by Summerside Chrysler Dodge, on Saturday night at Summerside Raceway, steering defending champion D Gs Camme to victory in the 47th edition of the historic race.
D Gs Camme, who set the 1:53 all-age track record when he won last year's Governor's Plate, joined 2008 and 2009 champion Outlawpositivcharg as the only two horses to earn back-to-back wins in the race. Jackie Matheson trains the five-year-old son of Blissfull Hall, who is owned by his father Ron, along with Charlottetown partners Quentin Bevan, Hal Bevan and Tom Clark.
Prior to his victories with D Gs Camme, the Saint John, N.B. horseman scored wins aboard Wild Dragon in 2013 and the Matheson-trained Mcapulco in 2012. He also won the 1998 edition with Comedy Hour and his five victories is the most in Governor's Plate history.
D Gs Camme took the lead at the half-mile mark in the featured finale and prevailed in 1:54.3 by a neck after a stretch duel with The Rev. However, The Rev was placed sixth for causing interference to R Caan at the three-eighths mark of the race. Im Drinkin Doubles followed over three lengths behind and inherited the runner-up honours while All Turain was bumped up to third-place. Big Surf, who equalled the track record in his elimination, was moved up to fourth due to the placing.
A five-time winner on the 13-race card, Barrieau also teamed up with Matheson to win the $8,250 Governor's Plate Mares Final one race prior aboard General Luckypercy, prevailing by a head over pacesetter Ramblinglily in 1:57.3 for owner Jodi Lynn Matheson.
The race was marred by an accident though when Willow Warrior took a bad step racing in second-place near the three-quarters mark and fell causing interference to the trailing horses. Willow Warrior's driver Mark Bradley was taken to hospital for precautionary measures, according to local reports. Veronicavermillion also fell during the incident and her driver Mike McGuigan was able to walk off the track under his own power. The horses reportedly suffered only scrapes and bruises.
The $5,000 Governor's Plate Consolation went to Mach It Big, who scored in 1:56.4 for trainer Neal Moase and owner Mikaela Lustic of Cornwall, P.E.I., while the $2,500 Mares Consolation was won by Stayoutofmyaffair in 1:57.4 for trainer/driver Jason Hughes and owner Simon Hughes of Stratford, P.E.I.
Paul Larrabee's Osprey Impact trotted to a 1:59.2 track record for aged trotting mares in the $1,950 Open in rein to driver Mike Stevenson.
To view Saturday's harness racing results, click on the following link: Saturday Results - Summerside Raceway.