Cheverie, Murphy record driving hat tricks

Ramblinglily, Prettyndangerous top open mares

Ken Murphy and Walter Cheverie are off to strong starts in the 2017 Governor’s Plate Week of harness racing. Murphy and Cheverie each recorded driving hat tricks on Sunday afternoon’s opening card before a big crowd at Red Shores at Summerside Raceway.

One of Cheverie’s victories came in one of two $2,400 open mares paces on the 12dash program. Cheverie drove Ramblinglily to a 1:55.1 win in Race 5, and Adam Merner steered Prettyndangerous to a new race-win record of 1:54.4 mile in Race 7.

Trainer Allan Jones of Riverview, N.B., and Normand Leger of Shediac, N.B., own Ramblinglily, a seven-year-old bay mare by Articulator-Crafty Jewel-Drop Off. Shadows Mystery placed, and Scirocco Miley Kay finished in the show position. Trainer Bo Ford and Arnold Myers of Charlottetown own Prettyndangerous. Woodmere Articblue was second while Good Luck Kathy came third after fractions of 28.1, 56.4 and 1:26.1.

Other winners

Other winners were: Shouldabeenaclown (2:00.3 – a new race-win record), Kiss My Sass (1:59.3 – a new racewin record), Myambrose (1:57.1 – new race-win record), Sendmeasign (1:59), Heart and Guts (1:58.4), One Hot Camshaft (1:59.1 – new race-win record), Keep Coming (1:56.2), Old Buck (1:56.2 – new race-win record), Hot Deuce (1:52.1 – equals lifetime mark and fastest trip of the day) and Do Over Hanover (1:53.1).

The total wager was $35,502. There is no harness racing in Summerside on Monday night. The next live card is Tuesday at 7 p.m.

The Atlantic Sires Stakes for two- and three-year-old trotters will be featured.