In track record fashion, Roll Em stamped himself as the early favourite for the 55th edition of the Governor’s Plate, presented by Summerside Chrysler Dodge, in elimination action on Sunday afternoon (July 9) at Red Shores at the Summerside Raceway.
In the first $7,500 elimination, American Risk (Paul Langille) was first to the front during the :27.2 opening quarter but released race favourite Roll Em and trainer/driver Marc Campbell to the lead. The half was reached in :55.4 followed by three-quarters of 1:24.1 before the front-stepping Roll Em started to pace away from his foes for a new overall track record of 1:51.1, lowering YS Lotus’ track record of 1:51.4 set in 2016.
Campbell trains the winning pacer, a five-year-old son of Time To Roll, for owners Brady Doyle, Brent Campbell, Ryan MacLeod and the Savage Stable.
American Risk was second with Rollwithhottytoddy (Myles Heffernan Sr.) third and Stash It Away (Corey MacPherson) finishing fourth to earn a spot in next Saturday’s $35,000 final.
The second elimination had race favourite Twin B Tuffenuff (Gilles Barrieau) cut out the mile with fractions of :27.1, :55.1 and 1:24.2 before Matticulous GB and driver Ken Murphy swooped from third in the stretch drive to win at 10-1 odds by a length in 1:53.1.
The winning eight-year-old son of Hasty Hall hangs his harness bag in the Colin Johnson barn for owners Debbie Element and Matt and David Burke.
Pocket-sitter Batterup Hanover (Langille) was second ahead of Twin B Tuffenuff in third and Vino Louie (Dale Spence) getting the final spot in fourth.
In the $4,500 Ruby Chappell Memorial eliminations for Open mares, Sugar Bowl continued her winning streak as the four-year-old daughter of Sweet Lou earned her fifth straight in 1:56.1 for trainer/driver Jason Hughes and owners Brian MacPhee and Tommy Collings.
Joining her in next Saturday’s final are Dreamfair Zenfire (Campbell), Ill Tell Me Ma (Corey MacPherson) and Better Be In Love (Spence).
Acefortyfour Dome, a six-year-old Up The Credit mare, won the other Chappell elimination in 1:55.1 for trainer/driver Hughes and owner Donald MacRae.
Share The Moment (Barrieau) was second with Plain Jane (Campbell) third and Dollys Sky (Murphy) fourth.
On the undercard, nine-year-old pacing mare Filly Forty Seven reached a milestone as she earned her 50th career win. The Proven Lover mare wired a field of conditioned-claiming distaffers in 1:56.2 for trainer/driver Marc Campbell, winning by 2-3/4 lengths over La Vie En Rose (Kyle Desroche) and Southfield Skye (Adam Merner).
As career winner of nearly $300,000 from 191 starts, Filly Forty Seven is currently owned by Alan MacDonald, Cory Carver and Katelyn Smallwood.
Governor’s Plate Week racing continues on Tuesday evening at 6 p.m. at Red Shores Summerside with the Atlantic Sires Stakes for two and three-year-old trotters.
To view Sunday's harness racing results, click the following link: Sunday Results - Summerside Raceway.
(With files from Red Shores)