Governor’s Plate elims at Red Shores

CHARLOTTETOWN, PE – Dustylanegoliath paced into the record books his last time behind the harness racing starting gate and will now take on the Saturday evening feature at Red Shores Racetrack and Casino at the Charlottetown Driving Park.

The 12-dash Saturday presentation gets underway at 6 P.M., with the top class lining up in race 11.

Dustylanegoliath stamped himself as the fastest three-year-old Atlantic bred pacer ever on the East Coast in his last start when he won in 1:53.3 for trainer-driver Gilles Barrieau and owner Daniel Ross of Belfast.

The son of Steelhead Hanover has post 3 on Saturday evening in his $2,700 event as the morning line favourite. Well Ell cut out that record mile and gets post 6 this week for trainer-driver Marc Campbell. Ashes To Ashes was a 1:56.2 winner his last start and gets the services of Walter Cheverie on Saturday as third choice. Peter MacPhee places Dustylanegoliath on top of his Post Time Picks.

“Dustylanegoliath is off to an awesome start in 2021 and crushed his rivals in 1:53.3 last out,” MacPhee said. “He has to move up the class ladder but coming off that performance we think he scores win number four on the season.”

Also in the field are Smart Official (To be driven by Jason Hughes), Silverhill Buddy (David Dowling), JK Express (Kenny Arsenault), Pillage And Burn (Brian MacPhee) and Burn Out Hanover (Brady Sweet).

Daisy River has rail control in the race 9 Open Trot for a $2,900 pot. Hughes will again sit behind the champion daughter of Nikes Image from the William Lanigan stable of Montague. Her main rivals will be Cheeky Little Minx (Barrieau), Freddie (Campbell) and track record holder Mile Hill Willie (Paul Morrison).

Catch the action live at the track or tune into the Race Day broadcast at Redshores.ca and wager online at HPIBet.com. On site wagering opens at 12 Noon at Red Shores properties.

Governor’s Plate Hopefuls Descend On Summerside

SUMMERSIDE, PE – Governor’s Plate Week racing kicks off Sunday afternoon with an exceptional card. The 11-dash Sunday presentation will see a pair of eliminations for the 53rd running of the Governor’s Plate presented by Summerside Chrysler Dodge with all the action starting off at 1 P.M.

The afternoon program also features the popular Harness The Hope fundraiser with proceeds to the oncology department at the Prince County Hospital, Queen Elizabeth Hospital and the Canadian Cancer Society of PEI. The first $5,000 elimination is in race 10 of the day as Gold Cup and Saucer champion Time To Dance will look for his first Governor’s Plate title as he leaves from post 1 to earn his spot in the final.

Trainer Marc Campbell is in the seat of the Matt McDonald and Brent Campbell owned pacer with the horse looking for lifetime win number 22. GA Speed Sammy has the outside post 6 but has knocked off Time To Dance already this year for the combination of driver David Dowling and trainer Colin Johnson.

Also in that first elimination are Blood Money (Mitchell Downey), Screen Test (Corey MacPherson), Rose Run Quest (Walter Cheverie), Mc Pat (Gilles Barrieau) and Harry G (Ernie Laffin).

The Backstretch Beat in Sunday’s card places Time To Dance as the dominant entry. “We don’t want to say it but with post 1 and the dominant way Time To Dance won his last two we have little choice. Next.”

The second $5,000 elimination hits the track in race 11 with Day Delight the morning line favourite from post 2 with Barrieau driving his trainee for owners Wayne MacRae, Lloyd Stone, Howmac Farms Ltd., and Victor Puddy.

That son of Bettors Delight was a 1:55.1 victor his last time out. Another 1:55.1 winner in his last start is post 5 starter Woodmere Ideal Art with Todd Trites for the Ultimate Stable of New Brunswick. Woodmere Ideal Art and post 1 starter Little Manny (Stephen Trites) will vie to become the first Island bred horse to win the prestigious Governor’s Plate since Dunachton Gale in 2007.

Defending champion Bugsy Maguire has post 4 in that elimination for driver Brodie MacPhee, trainer Wade Sorrie and owner Walter Simmons of Summerside. Other entrants are Avatar J (Kenny Arsenault), Panimal Kingdom (Dowling), Imalookertoo (Campbell) and Cowboy Logic (Steven Shepherd). The Backstretch Beat puts Woodmere Ideal Art on top of the second elimination.

“There is no two ways about it, 1:55 over Saint John is an absolutely massive trip. We saw how this guy upped his game for the Gold Cup and Saucer last year so we’re going to buck the 8-1 morning line odds and treat this 23-time winner as the one to beat.”

The card also features a pair of $3,200 Ruby Chappell Memorial Open mares eliminations. For more information go to Redshores.ca and wager online at HPIBet.com. On track wagering opens at 11am on Sunday.

by Nicholas Oakes, for Red Shores