The 56th edition of the Governor’s Plate, presented by Summerside Chrysler Dodge, had Twin B Tuffenuff and driver Gilles Barrieau take a second-over tow to victory on Saturday, July 20 at Red Shores at the Summerside Raceway.
In the $35,000 Invitational event, Bee Two Bee (Jason Hughes) hit the lead through splits of :27 and :56.1 with elimination winner Rollwithhottytoddy (Myles Heffernan Sr.) taking the outside route first-over. Twin B Tuffenuff grabbed the cover and followed second-over to three-quarters in 1:24.4. Rollwithhottytoddy struck the lead in the stretch drive and Twin B Tuffenuff flipped off cover to power up to a one-length victory in 1:53.4. Rollwithhottytoddy was second while Fern Hill General (Brodie MacPhee) finished third.
Ron Matheson trains Twin B Tuffenuff, a nine-year-old Rock N Roll Heaven-In The Pink gelding, for owner Pat Morris of Charlottetown, P.E.I.
Barrieau also captured the Basil Whelan Memorial trophy for top driver of Governor’s Plate Week as part of his four-win performance.
Saulsbrook Ian weaved through traffic to win the $12,500 Bob Dewar Memorial Governor’s Plate Consolation in 1:54.2 for driver Corey MacPherson and trainer Jamie Smith.
The $7,500 Ruby Chappell Memorial Open Mares final was upset by Tobins Brownie in 1:55 at 15-1 odds for trainer/driver David Dowling.
A $5,000 consolation for the Open Mares went to Bo Ford trainee Share The Moment (Barrieau) in 1:55.1.
In the lone $29,200 Atlantic Sires Stakes 'A' division for three-year-old pacing colts, Tobins Chester (Hughes) won in 1:54.4 while snapping the win streak and undefeated season of second-place finisher Merigo Magic (Adam Merner). The Shanghai Phil-Putnam MacKenzie gelding extended his own win streak to four for trainer Ashley Gamester and owner Don MacRae of Vernon Bridge, P.E.I.
Four $6,000 Atlantic Sires Stakes 'B' divisions for three-year-old pacing colts were won by Check Your Chip in 1:57.2 for trainer/driver Heffernan, Little Leroy (MacPherson) in a 1:56.2 clocking for trainer Joseph Baxter, the Gamester-trained Tobins Barn Party (Hughes) in 1:59 and Jack Boswall (Marc Campbell) in 1:56 for conditioner Keith MacDonell.
First Glance (Dowling) won a $3,800 Preferred 2 Pace on the undercard in 1:54 for the Jennifer Doyle stable.
Ashley Gamester and Jeff Holmes both scored training triples on the mega 16-race program. Hughes drove three winners.
Live harness racing continues on Monday evening at 6 p.m. at Red Shores Summerside.
To view Saturday's harness racing results, click the following link: Saturday Results - Summerside Raceway.
(With files from Red Shores)