Racing for Plate spots
Euchred, In Spades favoured in two Governor’s Plate eliminations Sunday at Summerside Raceway
The finest aged pacers on the East Coast will come together Sunday afternoon in Governor’s Plate elimination action at Red Shores at the Summerside Raceway.
The 12-dash afternoon program has a 1 p.m. start time with a pair of $5,000 eliminations for the 50th edition of the Governor’s Plate presented by Township Chevrolet Buck GMC. The first field of seven squares off in Race 10 with Euchred favoured from Post 4 for the combination of driver Adam Merner, trainer Terry Gallant and owner Kayla Kabicht Walker of Inverness, N.S. The six-year-old son of Shadow Play had his streak of top-two finishes snapped last week as he finished fourth in a blistering mile to In Spades.
Mr Irresistible rides a two-race win streak into the first elimination after a profitable last week on the mainland. The Jennifer Doyle-trainee was a winner in 1:54.2 in the preferred pace at Truro Raceway in Nova Scotia for driver Jason Hughes, then came back three days later to win the $5,000 Walter Dale Invitational at Exhibition Park Raceway in Saint John, N.B.
Other entries include: Zero Rate (Kenny Arsenault), Keep Coming (Corey MacPherson), Nogreatmischief (Walter Cheverie), Adkins Hanover (Ambyr Campbell) and Ashes To Ashes (Gilles Barrieau).
The second elimination lines up in Race 12 with defending champion Do Over Hanover leaving from Post 1 with Hughes in the bike for trainer Chris MacKay and owners Red Isle Racing of North Granville, Donald MacRae of Vernon Bridge and Allard Racing Inc., of Saint Esprit, Que. The winner of $260,000 was a nosedout second in his latest outing in 1:55.1.
In Spades will be the second elimination favourite fresh off a 1:53.1 win in Charlottetown for trainer-driver Austin Sorrie and owner Walter Simmons of Summerside. The Bettor’s Delight gelding leaves from Post 4.
The field also includes: Fast N Victorious (Merner), Czar Seelster (Arsenault), Give Em Heck (Barrieau), Tobinator (MacPherson) and Cartoon Daddy (Dale Spence).
Race 11 will feature another Governor’s Plate Decade of Champions race honouring the winners from 1991-2000. Offshore Cowboy is the favourite in the $1,700 class with Dale Spence in the bike for trainer Donnie Milligan.
Charlottetown
A tight-knit field of seven pacers will contest tonight’s top class at Red Shores at the Charlottetown Driving Park.
The 10-dash program at the capital oval kicks off at 6 p.m., with the featured pacers lining up in Race 9 for a $2,200 purse. Elm Grove Kaboom and trainerdriver Marc Campbell are the morning line choice from Post 3 for owners Larry and Kathy Chappell of Marshfield. Perfect Escape comes into the race with a 1:55.3 victory in his latest charted line with Barrieau back in the bike for trainer Jackie Matheson leaving from Post 6.
Race analyst Les MacIsaac is going with Elm Grove Kaboom for top spot.
“Elm Grove Kaboom might be risky at a short price given the fact that he’s only delivered 40 per cent of the time as the chalk this year,” MacIsaac said. “Having said that, he seems to be rounding into form and last year’s record should tell you what he’s capable of when he’s on his game. Top call.”
The field also includes Tempo Seelster (Vincent Poulton), Oh To Be Me (Gary Chappell), Narragansett (Jason Hughes), Stars Above (Steven Shepherd) and Red Magician (MacPherson).
Mick Dundee is the favourite in Race 12 for owner-trainerdriver Donnie MacNeil of New Haven. Big Surf makes his Island return in the $1,700 event, drawing Post 8 for driver MacPherson and trainer Trevor Hicken. The son of Somebeachsomewhere was formerly a top contender in the free-for-all ranks in Atlantic Canada before being sold to U.S. interests. His latest start was at The Meadows in Pennsylvania and was subsequently reacquired by former owner Perry Burke of Quebec.