Red Shores Governor’s Plate preview

SUMMERSIDE, PE – There is no question that Time To Dance will be the favourite in the 53rd running of the Governor’s Plate, presented by Summerside Chrysler Dodge, but he will have to best seven harness racing rivals to get to the winner’s circle Saturday evening at Red Shores at the Summerside Raceway.

The Western oval has a 15-dash presentation on the championship night with a 6:30 P.M. opening post time. The $25,000 Governor’s Plate final lines up in race 15 with Time To Dance getting rail control for trainer-driver Marc Campbell and owners Brent Campbell of Charlottetown and Matt McDonald of Edwards, Ont.

Post 2 belong to Rose Run Quest with Walter Cheverie in the bike of the Jeff Holmes trainee after a fourth-place finish in his elimination.

Blood Money has post 3 for driver Dr. Mitchell Downey and trainer Ellen Stevenson. The son of Sweet Lou finished second, eight lengths in arrears, to Time To Dance in elimination action.

Post 4 will see Woodmere Ideal Art and driver Todd Trites from the Sifroi Melanson barn of New Brunswick. The son of Articulator cut out all the fractions and finished third to Day Delight in their elimination Monday night.

Day Delight is the post 5 starter for trainer-driver Gilles Barrieau after winning his elimination in 1:54.3. Defending Governor’s Plate champion

Bugsy Maguire has post 6 after a fourth-place finish in elimination action for driver Brodie MacPhee and trainer Wade Sorrie.

Post 7 has McPat with Ken Murphy picking up the catch drive for his first Governor’s Plate appearance for trainer Gilles Barrieau.

Post 8 belongs to Avatar J from the Danny MacDonald stable. Jason Hughes will pick up the drive after Kenny Arsenault steered the American Ideal pacer to a second-place finish in their elimination.

Race 14 is the Ruby Chappell Memorial Open Mares pace carrying a $5,000 purse with Dreamfair Zenfire (To be driven by Redmond Doucet) the top choice from post 7. Race 9 has the $7,500 Bob Dewar Governor’s Plate consolation with a field of six horses that failed to make the final.

One of the most anticipated match-ups of the season is in race 13 in a $16,400 Atlantic Sires Stakes A-division for three-year-old pacing colts as Woodmere Stealdeal brings his undefeated two-year-old record to the start of his sophomore campaign with Campbell in the bike for trainer Danny Romo.

The son of Steelhead Hanover has never been bested in 13 lifetime tries but will have some tough competition in the field of seven including Rotten Ronnie (Doucet) who has won both his starts this season as well as 1:53.3 winner Dustylanegoliath (Barrieau).

Catch the action live at the track or watch the worldwide broadcast at Redshores.ca or on the Red Shores Youtube channel. Onsite wagering is available starting at 12 P.M. on race day at Red Shores locations or at HPIBet.com.

by Nicholas Oakes, for Red Shores