The road to the 2019 Governor’s Plate is heating up as trainer Patrick Shepherd brings a possible contender to Eastern Canada in preparation for the Prince County classic on July 13.
Red Shores Summerside will host a 10-dash card Sunday afternoon with a 1:00 P.M. first race post time. Down On My Luck has drawn the outside in a close field of five in the $2,900 Preferred pace. The top class will line up in the ninth race as Jason Hughes picks up the catch drive behind Down On My Luck for trainer Patrick Shepherd and owner Robert Woodburn of St. Thomas, Ont. The five-year-old son of Camluck ships in from Ontario, but it was a shot across the border that gave his seasonal best as he sports a mark of 1:54.2 over the half-mile oval at Buffalo Raceway in New York.
The road to the winner’s circle will not be clear sailing though as the red-hot Soccer Hanover leaves from post three while riding a three-race win streak. David Dowling picks up the catch-driving call behind the Leith Waite-owned and trained son of Dragon Again. Red Magician was an impressive winner in 1:56.1 in his latest and gets rail control Sunday for driver Adam Merner and trainer Melissa Rennie.
Completing the field are Woodmere Ideal Art (Dale Spence) and Screen Test (Corey MacPherson).
Another newcomer to the Island racing scene competes in the Sunday finale as Island native and leading Vernon Downs trainer-driver John MacDonald sends Dreas Good Powow back home for his brother Joe MacDonald of Breadalbane. The nine-year-old pacing mare was third in her last two starts at Vernon before shipping East and MacDonald will entrust the reins to MacPherson in her debut. Other top entries in the field include Ultimatelyhandsome (Hughes) and JK Cowboy (Spence).
Harness driver Dale Spence will be special guest on Inside Track with host Rocky Schurman. The interview segment airs at 12:35 p.m. on the Red Shores broadcast. Catch the action live at the track or tune into the worldwide broadcast at Redshores.ca.
To view the entries for Sunday's card, click the following link: Sunday Entries - Summerside Raceway.
(with files from Red Shores)