It's that time of year again, time for my annual – and often controversial – look at the ‘Pretenders and Contenders’ in the Governor's Plate.
It’s a special year for Prince County’s most prestigious standardbred race, which will celebrate its 50th anniversary at Red Shores at Summerside Raceway on July 14.
However, before that, two $5,000 eliminations will go at the historic Summerside oval on Sunday to determine the eight finalists – the top four finishers of each elimination.
There’s a new format for the Governor’s Plate in which you need two Maritime starts to be eligible. I say you can take Y S Lotus’s track record of 1:51.4, and etch it in stone!
The Marc Campbell-driven Y S Lotus set that standard during the 48th running of the Governor’s Plate in July 2016.
Click here for story on fields announced for Governor's Plate eliminations:
FIRST ELIMINATION
Zero Rate has the coveted rail in the first elimination. He took his 1:55.2 record last year in Charlottetown, and paced in 1:54.4. He went up country for two months last fall, and had relatively no luck. He was a winner in1:56.4 three weeks ago. Kenny Arsenault is one of the most talented reinsman the East Coast has ever produced, and that's the only reason I'll make him a contender.
Keep Coming scores from Post 2. He took his lifetime record of 1:55.1 two weeks ago at the Charlottetown Driving Park for Marc Campbell. His career has blossomed since arriving from out west. He's as good as any, but someone has to be a pretender.
No. 3 is Nogreatmischief. He's a solid little half-mile horse for a very gifted trainer and driver, Walter Cheverie. He hasn't been as good as I thought he might be this year. He's a pretender.
From Post 4 in Elimination 1 is Euchred. He has been first or second in all off his Island starts, with the exception of last week. He paced his fastest trip in that defeat in 1:54.1. Terry Gallant has been to the big dance, and he's going back. He's a contender.
Adkins Hanover was back to his old self last week with a "choo-choo" victory in 1:56 and a piece. Ambyr Campbell would love to participate in the Governor's Plate, but I think she'll have to wait. He's a pretender.
Scoring from Post 6 is Mr Irresistible. He hasn't won since May 19 when he wired the field in 1:55.4, before hitting the road. He went to Truro to win in 1:54.2, and three days later won in 1:56.2 over Saint John. He's a contender.
Sometimes post position can hurt, and Ashes to Ashes is going to rely on the Maritime Magic Man, Gilles Barrieau, to map out a route to the final. Barrieau has been there and done that. He's a contender.
SECOND ELIMINATION
Reigning Governor’s Plate-champion Do Over Hanover has rail control in the second elimination. He looked like his old self last week, losing by a neck. Now is the time to show up and The Blue Knight, Jason Hughes, will get him there. He’s a contender.
Fast N Victorious won in his Summerside debut on June 24, and then came back with a “stinker” last week finishing fifth, and was ordered to re-qualify. I don’t know which one will show up. He’s a pretender.
Kenny Arsenault’s second elimination drive is behind Czar Seelster. He’s paced in 1:54 and fractions in all of his last three races. He’s got Post 3, and a great set of hands behind him. He’s a contender.
The fastest horse in the Maritimes leaves from Post 4, and he is In Spades. Rookie driver Austin Sorrie put him on the point last week in Charlottetown, stopping the clock in 1:53.1. He’s a contender.
Give Em Heck has Post 5 on the wings of the gate. Six starts ago he was in non-winners of $251, and this is the Governor’s Plate elimination. Not even Gilles Barrieau can get him in. He’s a pretender.
Tobinator is No. 6 in the second elimination. He had a stellar career during his two- and three-year-old stakes’ campaign, earning over $70,000. This is the Governor’s Plate, and I don’t see him at the table. He’s a pretender.
Cartoon Daddy is on the outside looking in. He won last week from the rail, but it’s a whole different story from Post 7 on Sunday. Driver Dale Spence continues to win races in all three Maritime provinces. Spence may have grown up at Exhibition Park Raceway in Saint John, N.B., but he’ll be at Summerside Raceway for his first shot at the Governor’s Plate. He’s a contender.
No disrespect
I mean no disrespect to any of these horses, or their connections, and any stable would be proud to have any of them in their barn.
This pretender/contender column has gathered quite a following since its inception, and is not an easy one to put together. I wish everyone the best of luck!
Picks
A look at Sunday’s picks:
Best bets – Backriver Duke in Race 1, and Prom King in Race 3.
Long shot possibilities – Whosurwinner in Race 2, and Sandhill Star in Race 4.
Vance Cameron is the track announcer in Summerside and Charlottetown. Comments and suggestions can be sent to [email protected].
