The road to the Governor's Plate winner's circle became a little more complicated for the two elimination winners after drawing outside post positions for Saturday's coveted prize.
First race post time at Red Shores at the Summerside Raceway is 6:30 p.m. for the stakes-laden program with 16 races carded. Eight entrants line up in the $25,000 Township Chevrolet/Noonan Petroleum Governor’s Plate, the final race of the night.
Rose Run Quest dominated his elimination last Sunday afternoon with a front-end score in 1:54.1 for trainer-driver Marc Campbell and owner Blair Hansen of Charlottetown, P.E.I. After drawing the two hole in his elim, Tuesday’s post draw was not as kind as the If I Can Dream gelding drew post six for the final.
Defending champion Czar Seelster came to life in his $5,000 Governor’s Plate elimination, winning the other division in 1:54.3 for driver Kenny Arsenault, trainer Todd Weatherbee and owner Tammy Johnston of Stratford, P.E.I. The veteran 10-year-old Stonebridge Regal pacer will have to make things work from post seven to defend his title Saturday.
With a kinder post draw, Down On My Luck will have rail control in Plate 51 with Walter Cheverie picking up the steer for trainer Patrick Shepherd and owner Robert Woodburn of St. Thomas, Ont. The five-year-old was a second-place finisher to Czar Seelster on Sunday with Jason Hughes at the lines, but Hughes elected to drive Do Over Hanover in Saturday’s final.
The winner of the 2017 edition of the race, Do Over Hanover leaves from post four with Hughes driving for trainer Chris MacKay and owners Donald MacRae of Vernon Bridge, Allard Racing of Saint-Esprit, Que., and Don MacNeill of Fort McMurray, Alta.
Cecil Ladner Memorial champion Bugsy Maguire will attempt to fulfill a lifelong goal for hometown owner Walter Simmons of Summerside, who looks for his first ever Governor’s Plate title. Myles Heffernan Sr., will steer the U.S. import from post two for trainer Wade Sorrie.
Burn Out Hanover has post three after rallying from last place to make the final with a fourth-place finish in elimination one. The winningest driver in the history of the Governor’s Plate, Gilles Barrieau will drive for trainer Jeff Holmes and owner Orwell Bay Stable of Orwell.
Newcomer to Atlantic Canada, Screen Test made the final in his first try after racing as a top three-year-old in Western Canada in 2018. Corey MacPherson handles the driving duties for trainer Stephen Gass and owners Kicking Horse Stable of York, and William Andrew of Calgary, Alta.
The far outside belongs to post eight starter Euchred for driver David Dowling, trainer Mike Dowling and owner Kayla Habicht Walker of Inverness, N.S. A runner-up in the 2018 edition, Euchred was third in his elimination Sunday after also leaving from post eight.
The top-notch card also features the Atlantic Sires Stakes for three-year-old pacing colts, the $5,000 Governor’s Plate consolation, the $2,500 Andrew Perry Invitational trot and the $8,500 Governor’s Plate Fillies and Mares Open final among other top events.
Check out Redshores.ca for race programs, live video, promotional plays and more. To view the entries for Saturday, click the following link: Saturday Entries - Summerside Raceway.
(with files from Red Shores)