No Plan Intended to defend Governor’s Plate Crown 

SUMMERSIDE, PE – No Plan Intended (Up The Credit) will have some stiff competition on his way to defend his Governor’s Plate trophy in harness racing elimination action on Sunday (July 9) afternoon at Red Shores at the Summerside Raceway.

The Prince County oval will host an 11-dash card for the start of Governor’s Plate Week racing starting at 1 P.M.

The first $7,500 Governor’s Plate elimination lines up in race 9 with No Plan Intended drawing the rail from the Jennifer Doyle barn with Jason Hughes listed to drive. Doyle co-owns the 2022 Governor’s Plate champion with Danny Birt of Earnscliffe.

Roll Em will be the favourite in the field of six with the top four advancing to the $35,000 Governor’s Plate final, presented by Summerside Chrysler Dodge, on July 15. Roll Em has post 5 Sunday for trainer-driver Marc Campbell after demolishing his foes in the Johnny Conroy Memorial Invitational his last start at the Truro Raceway in Nova Scotia.

Rollwithhottytoddy (Myles Heffernan Sr.) was second that day from the Trevor Hicken barn and has post 6 Sunday as he looks to punch his ticket to the final.

Other entries include American Risk (Paul Langille), Mantario (David Dowling) and Stash It Away (Corey MacPherson).

The Backstretch Beat puts Roll Em on top in the first elimination.

“Roll Em has fit into Campbell’s patented strategy: sit chilly through the first turn and make dead aim for the front at the quarter pole with no looking back. If he can make the lead again around the quarter mile mark without being burnt there should be nothing standing in his way.”

The second $7,500 Governor’s Plate elimination goes postward in race 11 as the field of seven chases post 1 starter Twin B Tuffenuff (Gilles Barrieau) from the Ron Matheson barn for owner Pat Morris of Charlottetown. The Rocknroll Heaven pacer has yet to score a victory in 2023 but sports two seconds and a fourth from three starts.

YS Mathis looms a large threat from post 6 after he was just two-fifths shy of the overall Summerside Raceway track record on June 20 then won his Cecil Ladner Invitational assignment the next start. First Glance (Dowling) was a winner in 1:54.2 his last start and has post 3 to work with Sunday.

Rounding out that field are Batterup Hanover (Langille), Vino Louie (Dale Spence), Century Invictus (Hughes) and Matticulous GB (Ken Murphy).

The Backstretch Beat likes Twin B Tuffenuff to deliver off the rail in the second elimination.

“Twin B Tuffenuff was parked every step of the mile in that June 24 start and still hung on for second. His left wheel is on the pylons today and his foes will have a hard time getting around him at any point of the race. We’ll key him to win.”

RIVALRY CONTINUES IN CHARLOTTETOWN FEATURE

CHARLOTTETOWN, PE – Mr Rielly will try to go all the way from the coveted rail position in the Saturday (July 8) evening featured pace at Red Shores Racetrack and Casino at the Charlottetown Driving Park.

The 11-dash Saturday card gets underway at 6 P.M. at the historic oval with the top event slated as race 11 for a $3,500 purse.

Corey MacPherson trains and drives morning line favourite Mr Rielly from post 1 in the event for owners Jim Gorman and Darlene Compton. The Steelhead Hanover five-year-old has been better than ever so far in 2023 including his latest trip, finishing fourth while race timed in 1:54.3 against bearcats like First Glance and Stash It Away.

His main rival on Saturday is slated as post 7 entry Navalny (To be driven by Adam Merner) from the Melissa Rennie stable along with post 8 entry Spicey P (Jason Hughes) riding a three-race win streak into the event.

Also in the top-class field are Cowboy Logic (Patrick Shepherd), Sports Royalty (Kenny Arsenault), Avatar J (Gilles Barrieau), Moonwriter (Marc Campbell) and Burn Out Hanover (David Dowling).

The Post Time Picks like Navalny on top.

“Navalny was less then two lengths away last week and remember that was from post eight. Moves in a spot and this is an evenly matched field, but he could land on the scene late and get all the marbles.”

Race 10 is the $2,800 Kenmac Energy Pace with JK Last Chance selected on top from post 1 for trainer-driver Kenny Arsenault and owner Daniel MacIsaac of Charlottetown.

The $2,600 David Rose Memorial lines up in race 6 in honour of the late Mount Stewart trainer-driver.

Saulsbrook Ian is the morning line favourite from post 3 riding a three-race win streak for driver Corey MacPherson, trainer Jamie Smith and owner Red Oak Stables of Charlottetown. The Betterthancheddar colt is selected over Fern Hill General (Brodie MacPhee) and Fern Hill Dynamic (Dowling).

Catch all the action live at the track or go to the Player’s Portal at Redshores.ca for race programs, live video, driver profiles and more.

by Nicholas Oakes, for Red Shores