Eight of the Maritimes best free-for-all pacers are set to rock and roll Saturday night at Red Shores’ Summerside Raceway in the richest-ever Governor's Plate.
The Governor’s Plate is presented by Summerside Chrysler Dodge. The Bell-Aliant Race Day show will carry all of the action live from the Prince County oval, sponsored by the City of Summerside and the Journal Pioneer. The broadcast will get underway at 6:30 p.m. (AST).
The 46th edition of Summerside's most prestigious race will carry a purse of $25,000. The 14-dash card will get underway at 7 p.m.
Elimination 1 winner Red Rock has been saddled with post 6 for owners Donald, Bryan and Steven MacRae of Vernon Bridge and Melissa Trainor.
Red Rock had an eventful elimination journey. He finished second, but was placed first after the judges deemed the initial winner of the elimination, D Gs Camme, caused interference at the eighth pole and was placed back to second. Trainer Jason Hughes performed the driving duties in the elimination. This week he will hand the lines to Summerside native Gary Chappell, as he looks to win his first ever Governor's Plate.
Hughes was forced to pick off the elimination 1 winner after becoming the first trainer to ever have three horses qualify for the final of the Governor's Plate. The other two entries from the Hughes brigade are owned by Foxyhall Racing. Astor has drawn Post 2 for Hughes and Narragansett will start from Post 7 with the youngest driver in the field, Corey MacPherson, doing the driving.
D Gs Camme has been installed as the 5-2 morning line choice. The four-year-old Blissful Hall gelding lucked out at the draw again this week. He will start from Post 1 for the second week in a row. Gilles Barrieau, who has won the previous two Governor's Plates, will look to complete the natural hat trick when he teams up with trainer Jackie Matheson. The Matheson-Barrieau connection was successful in winning the 2012 edition with Mcapulco.
Modern Xhibit, who has drawn Post 3, will be looking to make history for his trainer, Jonah Moase. At just 18 years old, a Governor's Plate victory with Modern Xhibit would make Moase the youngest trainer to ever hoist the ‘Plate.’ Moase will rely on the Maritimes’ leading dash winner this season, Marc Campbell, to make the history unfold.
Judge Jon was a bang-up second-place finisher in his elimination on Monday night. He will line up right behind the car, in Post 4, on Saturday night and will be looking to get his driver, Mike Stevenson, back to the Governor's Plate winner’s circle. Stevenson last won the race 10 years ago with Igoddago. Anthony Stymest does the training.
Machinthesand has drawn Post 5 for owners Russell and Karen Noonan. He finished fourth in his elimination for Campbell, who has committed to drive Modern Xhibit. Trainer Mark Bradley will call on Brodie MacPhee to do the driving.
Luck was on the side of the Ultimate stable's Ultimate Luck. He has drawn into the coveted final, but his luck ran out at the draw. Ultimate Luck has drawn the outside Post 8 for trainer Sifroi Melanson and driver Kenny Arsenault.
The $9,250 Lobsterfest final for Open mares highlights the undercard. Elimination winner Stayoutofmyaffair has drawn the trailing Post 9 for Hughes. The eight-year-old daughter of Astreos was the fastest winner of the three divisions for owner Robi Hughes of Stratford, as she stopped the clock in 1:57.
The Barrieau-Matheson connection is together in the Lobsterfest final with a newcomer to the Maritimes, For All We Know. She is 3-1 on the morning line after having won her elimination in 1:58.1. Owned by Bruce Wood of Charlottetown, the gigantic daughter of Rocknroll Hanover has drawn Post 3.
It's been three years since Onehottvett has won the Lobsterfest final. On Saturday, trainer-driver Wade Sorrie will turn the reins over to National Driving Championship finalist Ryan Ellis. Keystone Nobility (Post 1), Firstclassflight (Post 2), Silky Britches (Post 4), Brodys Leona (Post 5) and There Paid For (Post 7) round out the field.
Race 9 will see one of the classiest horses to ever race in the Maritime free-for-alls, Outlawpositivcharg, take his final tour around his hometown oval. The 'East Coast Warrior' will lead the post parade for the Outlawpositivcharg Governor's Plate consolation.
Touch Of Lightning has drawn the rail in a compact field of five for the veteran driver-trainer Earl Smith. The winner of $127,562 in Maritime earnings is owned by Peter and Don Smith, Gerald Morrissey and Larry Chappell. Blissful Bro (Campbell), Cheyenne Ford (Arsenault), Likely To Win (Ellis), Carrera Angel (Rocky Schurman) complete the field.
To view the harness racing entries for Saturday at Summerside, click the following link: Saturday Entries – Summerside Raceway.
(Red Shores)