SUMMERSIDE, PE – The road to the harness racing winner's circle in the 51st running of the Governor's Plate became a little more complicated for the two elimination winners after drawing outside post positions for the final race of Governor's Plate week 2019 at Red Shores at the Summerside Raceway.
First race post time is 6:30 P.M. for the premier program with the final of 16-dashes seeing eight entrants line up in the $25,000 Township Chevrolet/Noonan Petroleum Governor's Plate final. Rose Run Quest dominated his elimination last Sunday afternoon with a front end score leaving from post 2 in 1:54.1 for trainer-driver Marc Campbell and owner Blair Hansen of Charlottetown. Tuesday's post draw was not as kind as the If I Can Dream gelding was given post 6 for the final.
Defending champion Czar Seelster came to life in his $5,000 Governor's Plate elimination, winning the other division in 1:54.3 with the winning combination of driver Kenny Arsenault and trainer Todd Weatherbee for owner Tammy Johnston of Stratford. The veteran 10-year-old Stonebridge Regal pacer will have to make things work out from post 7 to defend his title Saturday.
With a kinder post draw, Down On My Luck will have rail control in 'Plate' 51 with Walter Cheverie picking up the steer for trainer Patrick Shepherd and owner Robert Woodburn of St. Thomas, Ont. The five-year-old was a second place finisher to Czar Seelster Sunday with Jason Hughes at the lines, but Hughes elected to drive post 4 starter Do Over Hanover in Saturday's final.
Cecil Ladner Memorial champion Bugsy Maguire will attempt to fulfill a lifelong goal for hometown owner Walter Simmons of Summerside, who looks for his first ever Governor's Plate title. Myles Heffernan Sr., will steer the U.S. import from post 2 for trainer Wade Sorrie.
Burn Out Hanover has post 3 after rallying from last place to make the final with a fourth place finish in elimination one. The winningest driver in the history of the Governor's Plate, Gilles Barrieau, will drive for trainer Jeff Holmes and owner Orwell Bay Stable of Orwell.
The winner of the 2017 edition of the race, Do Over Hanover, leaves from post 4 with Hughes driving for trainer Chris MacKay and owners Donald MacRae of Vernon Bridge, Allard Racing of Saint-Esprit, Que., and Don MacNeill of Fort McMurray, Alta.
Screen Test made the final in his first East Coast season after racing as a top three-year-old in Western Canada in 2018. Corey MacPherson handles the driving duties for trainer Stephen Gass and owners Kicking Horse Stable of York, and William Andrew of Calgary, Alta.
The far outside belongs to post 8 starter Euchred for driver David Dowling, trainer Mike Dowling and owner Kayla Habicht Walker of Inverness, N.S. A runner-up in the 2018 edition, Euchred was third in his elimination Sunday after also leaving from post 8.
Also on the top notch card will be the Atlantic Sires Stakes for three-year-old pacing colts, the $5,000 Governor's Plate consolation, the $2,500 Andrew Perry Invitational trot and the $8,500 Governor's Plate Fillies and Mares Open final among other top events.
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By Nicholas Oakes For Red Shores