By Nicholas Oakes For Red Shores
SUMMERSIDE, PE – The 56th edition of the Governor’s Plate, presented by Summerside Chrysler Dodge, had Twin B Tuffenuff take a second-over tow to victory Saturday at Red Shores at the Summerside Raceway.
The $35,000 Invitational event saw Bee Two Bee (Driven by Jason Hughes) hit the lead through splits of 27 and 56.1 with elimination winner Rollwithhottytoddy (Myles Heffernan Sr.) taking the outside route first-over. Twin B Tuffenuff (Gilles Barrieau) grabbed the cover and followed second-over to three-quarters in 1:24.4. Rollwithhottytoddy struck the lead in the stretch drive and Twin B Tuffenuff flipped off cover to power up to a one-length victory in 1:53.4. Rollwithhottytoddy was second while Fern Hill General (Brodie MacPhee) was third. Ron Matheson trains Twin B Tuffenuff for owner Pat Morris of Charlottetown.
Barrieau also captured the Basil Whelan Memorial trophy for top driver of Governor’s Plate Week as part of his four-win performance.
Saulsbrook Ian weaved traffic to win the $12,500 Bob Dewar Memorial Governor’s Plate consolation in 1:54.2 for driver Corey MacPherson and trainer Jamie Smith.
The $7,500 Ruby Chappell Memorial Open Mares Finale was upset by Tobins Brownie in 1:55 at 15-1 odds for trainer-driver David Dowling.
The lone $29,200 Atlantic Sires Stakes A-division for three-year-old pacing colts saw Tobins Chester (Hughes) win in 1:54.4 while snapping the win streak of second-place finisher Merigo Magic (Adam Merner).
The Atlantic Sires Stakes B-divisions for three-year-old pacing colts were won by Check Your Chip (Heffernan) in 1:57.2, Little Leroy (MacPherson) in a 1:56.2 clocking and Tobins Barn Party in 1:59.
Trainers Ashley Gamester and Jeff Holmes both scored training triples on the program. Hughes drove three winners.
Live racing continues Monday evening at 6 P.M. at Red Shores Summerside.
