SUMMERSIDE – The Governor’s Plate drivers all agree on one thing.
There will be an early speed duel in the 50th running of Prince County’s most prestigious standardbred race at Red Shores at Summerside Raceway on Saturday. The 16-dash card, which will also feature the Atlantic Sires Stakes for three-year-old pacing colts, is scheduled to begin at 6:30 p.m., with post time for the $25,000 Governor’s Plate, presented by Township Chevrolet, listed for 11:40 p.m.
Euchred
“I only got one strategy,” said rail-sitter Euchred’s driver, Adam Merner. “That is to leave and leave! I’m going to go out as tight as I can go, and hopefully end up on the front. . .
“The rail is the shortest way around the racetrack, so I’m going to take advantage of it.”
Euchred and Czar Seelster won the two $5,000 eliminations on Sunday in identical times of 1:54. Merner feels Euchred can go faster.
“He was out by himself and won by five lengths,” said Merner. “He’s a real good horse, and he’ll fight them if they come to him. He could be tired, and he’ll still dig in.”
Click here for related story on Governor's Plate 50:
Czar Seelster
“I’m going to try and stay as close to the front as I possibly can,” said Czar Seelster driver Kenny Arsenault, who has Post 2. “I got a good position; I’m going to use it.”
Arsenault liked what he saw from Czar Seelster on Sunday.
“He raced fantastic to tell you the truth,” assessed Arsenault. “He finished up real strong, they charted him in 27.4. He felt good throughout the whole mile.
“It was another speed duel up front, and it worked out well for me. They were at the half in 55 and they went in 54. . .
“(Trainer) Greg Weatherbee had him really good last Sunday, and I hope he has him really good this Saturday.”
Click here for Vance Cameron's column on Governor's Plate eliminations:
Mr Irresistible
Gilles Barrieau will drive Mr Irresistible from Post 3.
“I’m guessing somebody is going to get parked,” said Barrieau, who has won a record six Governor’s Plates. “I’m just guessing it’s going to be a speed duel up front, and somebody from the back will pick up the pieces.”
Barrieau will be driving Mr Irresistible for the first time.
“Jason (Hughes, who normally drives Mr Irresistible) asked me to drive him because he had two (horses) in there,” said Barrieau. “I have raced against him many times. . .
“He’s a nice, big strong horse, and I’m looking forward to the challenge.”
Barrieau said Post 3 suits him just fine.
“Hopefully, we can stay up close near the front, sitting four or five, and hopefully we’ll pick up some pieces,” said Barrieau.
Click here for story on Governor's Plate eliminations:
Keep Coming
Corey MacPherson, who is looking for his first Governor’s Plate win, will steer Keep Coming from Post 4.
“It’s going to be hot fractions for sure,” said MacPherson. “Now whether that will set up for a long shot coming from the back or the front end will hold up, it’s hard to say. They will definitely be gunning for the front.”
MacPherson is hoping to see a different horse Saturday.
“Usually my horse is really aggressive, and last week he wasn’t at all,” said MacPherson. “I expect him to be a little more aggressive this week.
“Hopefully, he will follow along, and we’ll see what happens.”
Click here for Vance Cameron's column on Governor's Plate:
Nogreatmischief
Summerside native Walter Cheverie will drive No. 5, Nogreatmischief.
“The Euchred horse will leave, the (No.) 7 horse (In Spades) will leave hard and there are a couple of other horses who can leave enough to sit third and fourth,” predicted Cheverie. “If things get a little dicey or mixed up at the quarter, and if they don’t get things backed off at the half, it opens it up for the rest of the field.”
Cheverie describes Nogreatmischief as a “sweet little horse,” adding, “I bought him as a yearling, and it’s a fun thing to have him in the Governor’s Plate.”
Click here for Joe MacIntyre's column featuring Governor's Plate highlights over the years:
Do Over Hanover
Hughes will drive defending Governor’s Plate-champion Do Over Hanover from Post 6. Hughes said it’s “hard to say” how he’ll approach the start.
“He’s pretty good off the gate, and the (No.) 1 horse is good off the gate and the outside 7 horse (In Spades) can get off the gate pretty good, too,” said Hughes, who feels Do Over Hanover is peaking at the right time.
“Two weeks ago he raced pretty good, last week he raced a little better,” added Hughes. “He had a little bit of a break, and this week I expect him to be even better.”
Click here for story on post positions drawn for Governor's Plate:
In Spades
Austin Sorrie, who can become the youngest driver to win the Governor’s Plate at 18, will sit behind In Spades from Post 7.
“I just have to go in with an open mind and see what happens when they leave the gate,” said Sorrie.
Will Sorrie go into the race with a plan?
“You kind of have a strategy, but you need to have two of them because the first one doesn’t always work out,” answered Sorrie.
Longtime Summerside horseman Walter Simmons owns In Spades. Sorrie said it would be extra special to win the race with and for Simmons.
“That’s the one race he wants to win,” added Sorrie.
Cartoon Daddy
Dale Spence and Cartoon Daddy will leave from the far outside – Post 8.
“I’m going to need there to be some serious flow in order for me to get my horse in the race just from the outside,” said Spence, who lives in Tyne Valley. “Post position means a lot on a half-mile racetrack.”
Although Cartoon Daddy has the longest distance to go in Plate 50, an upbeat Spence is not deterred.
“We are up to the challenge though,” said Spence, who describes Cartoon Daddy as a real nice racehorse.
“He actually stands stud here in the Maritimes,” continued Spence. “He came from Younkers Raceway, which is actually a half-mile racetrack in the (United) States. He went a mile in 1:52.4, so he is no slouch. Definitely do not count him out of your ticket!”
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