Governor’s Plate elims held at Summerside

SUMMERSIDE, PE – The top harness racing guns came out to play Sunday afternoon at Red Shores at the Summerside Raceway in Governor’s Plate elimination action and Avatar J stamped himself as the one to beat in next week’s prestigious final.

The front end held up in both $5,000 eliminations for next Saturday’s Governor’s Plate Invitational final, presented by Summerside Chrysler Dodge.

Avatar J captured the fastest elimination in 1:53 for driver Gilles Barrieau, trainer Danny MacDonald and owners Dean Larkin of Edwards, Ont., and Jody Sanderson of Cornwall. The American Ideal pacer waltzed through splits of 27.2, 56 and 1:24 while fighting off Screen Test (Driven by Corey MacPherson) in the final half. Screen Test finishing second, Time To Dance (Marc Campbell) was third and Mantario (Kenny Arsenault) was fourth to earn a spot in the final.

Defending champion Rose Run Quest won the second $5,000 elimination in 1:54.2 after cutting out fractions of 28.2, 57.2 and 1:26.3 for trainer-driver Campbell and owner Blair Hansen of Charlottetown. Simple Kinda Man (Jason Hughes) charged hard late to be second, with Hes Marvalous (Myles Heffernan Sr.) third and Bugsy Maguire (Brodie MacPhee) rounding out the field finishing fourth.

The card was opened up with a race rookie driver Taylor Doyle will never forget as he scored in 1:59.4 with the Chris MacKay trained Scotlynn Seelster for the first career win for both the horse and the Kensington driver.

Go to Redshores.ca for race replays and more.

By Nicholas Oakes, for Red Shores