By Nicholas Oakes For Red Shores
SUMMERSIDE, PE – In nothing short of a perfect trip, Czar Seelster was steered to victory by veteran driver Kenny Arsenault in the Governor’s Plate final that capped off Governor’s Plate week racing at Red Shores at the Summerside Raceway.
Kenny Arsenault captured his second Governor’s Plate final Saturday night in the $25,000 event for trainer Todd Weatherbee and owner Tammy Johnston of Vernon Bridge. Post time favourite Euchred and driver Adam Merner set the early tempo with fractions of 27.1, 55.4 and 1:24.1 while being unchallenged on the front end with Czar Seelster sitting the pocket. Czar Seelster vacated the two-hole for the stretch drive to power past Euchred and capture the 50th edition of the Prince County Classic in 1:53.2. Euchred was second with Mr Irresistible (Driven by Gilles Barrieau) finishing third and defending champion Do Over Hanover (Jason Hughes) fourth.
Driver Corey MacPherson had a night to remember on Saturday, winning five races on the 16-dash program. MacPherson won the fastest $12,800 Atlantic Sires Stakes A-division for three-year-old pacing colts with Sock It Away in 1:54.2 to remain undefeated on the season for trainer Kevin MacLean and owner Reg MacPherson of Stratford. MacPherson also had major wins in the $2,500 Andrew Perry Memorial Invitational trot in 1:59.2 for trainer-driver Keith Campbell of Tyne Valley and the $5,000 Governor’s Plate consolation with Tobinator in 1:58.3 for trainer Trevor Hicken of Montague. The Cornwall driver’s other trips to the winner’s circle came with Big Surf in a $1,900 event in 1:55.4 for trainer Hicken and in a $2,500 B-Division for three-year-old pacing colts with Dustylanekazaam in 1:59.4 for Paul MacDonald of Cornwall.
The other $12,800 Atlantic Sires Stakes A-division for three-year-old pacing colts was won by Weekend Atnannies in 1:56.3 for driver Mike McGuigan, trainer Len McGuigan and owner Glen Dunn of Summerville.
The $3,500 Fillies and Mares Open pace was won by Sodwana Bay to continue her undefeated streak in Atlantic Canada with a 1:55.2 win for trainer-driver Gilles Barrieau and owners Wayne MacRae of Fall River, N.S., and Howmac Farms Ltd., of North Wiltshire.
Live racing on Prince Edward Island returns to a regular schedule in the coming week with cards Thursday and Saturday at Red Shores Charlottetown with Red Shores Summerside holding its next card on Sunday (July 22). For race replays and more go to www.Redshores.ca.