Driver Gilles Barrieau earned his second Governor's Plate trophy on Saturday night as he guided Mcapulco to a dazzling 1:53.2 triumph the 44th edition of the Invitational Pace at Summerside Raceway.
Fresh off a pair of victories in the Walter Dale Memorial and his Governor's Plate elimination, Mcapulco left from post six in the $20,000 featured finale and cleared to command ahead of insider Oakmont (Danny Romo) past the :27.3 opening quarter. The fan favourite proceeded to the half in :56.4 and three-quarters in 1:24.4 while Firethorn (John MacDonald) advanced first up from third. Mcapulco maintained a one length lead into the stretch and put another half length between himself and the first over attacker as his sprinted home in :28.3 for the victory. The 1:53.2 clocking was just one-fifth of a second off the track record set in the 2010 edition of the Governor's Plate by P H Bestman. Following Firethorn in third was All Turain (Marc Campbell).
Mcapulco is trained by Jackie Matheson for owner Patrick Morris of Charlottetown. The seven-year-old son of Mcardle, who is now perfect in three starts since arriving on the East Coast, boasts 25 wins on his career resume and earnings totalling $352,891.
Barrieau also won the 1998 Governor's Plate with Comedy Hour.
The Barrieau and Matheson combination proved to be a winning one as the driver-trainer duo teamed up to sweep the final three races on the card, cumulating with the Governor's Plate.
They also won the $5,000 consolation with Oakrock Almighty ($10.20). The six-year-old Rambaran gelding followed favourite Jepson Hanover (Danny Romo) and two-time Plate winner Outlawpositivecharg (Terry Gallant) three-wide down the backstretch while Windemere Express (John Holmes) and Bet The House (John MacDonald) battled on top, and then came flying home to win in 1:55.1. Leading Camdidate (Jason Hughes) and Jepson Hanover finished second and third, respectively. Oakrock Almighty is owned by Jack Keenan of Stratford, P.E.I. and C. Joseph Dahl of Burlington, Ont.
Barrieau also guided Matheson trainee General Luckypercy to victory lane in the $7,500 Lobster Carnival Late Closer Final for fillies and mares. The six-year-old Blissfull Hall mare advanced first over and wore down elimination winner J K Special (Walter Cheverie) for 1:57.1 score. E F Fantasia (Brodie MacPhee) finished second in the win photo after closing up the pylons while J K Special had to settle for third. General Luckypercy is owned by Jodilyn Matheson of Cambridge, Ont. and Jack Brown of Stratford, P.E.I.
Lobster Carnival Week sires stakes action continued on Saturday with the three-year-old pacing colts and geldings taking their turn in the spotlight earlier on the card.
Dukes Up ($5.40) gave Barrieau another stakes triumph as the gelding pocketed his second ATSS trophy this year, prevailing by half a length in his $12,620 'A' division over early pacesetter Touch Of Lightning (Earl Smith) and first over challenger Putnams New Year (Todd Trites) in 1:57.1. Kevin MacLean trains the Fit For Life gelding for owner Reginald MacPherson of Stratford, P.E.I.
Driven by Greg Sparling, Maritime Breeders champion Junebugs Baby ($3.60) kept his sophomore Atlantic Sires Stakes record perfect as he converted from the pocket to win the first split in 1:56.4 by one and three-quarter lengths over pacesetter Mr Thompson (Mike Stevenson) and Windemere Eric (Gary Chappell). Trainer Fraser Turnball bred the Western Paradise colt and shares ownership with John Turnbull Jr. of Glace Bay, N.S.
Mark Bradley scored a driving double in the four $2,500 'B' divisions with his own trainee Athletic Putnam ($3) winning in a career-best 2:00.2 and the Frank Hansen-conditioned Ankaway ($6.60) scoring in 1:59.2. The other divisions went to Stimulus Bill ($4.80) and driver Marc Campbell in a new mark of 1:58.4 for trainer Darren Smith and Smooth Talkin Dan ($12.10) in 2:03.1 with Mike Stevenson aboard for trainer Wade Sorrie.
Former Battle of Waterloo winner Wellthereyougo ($4.90) converted from the pocket to win the weekly $2,200 Preferred Pace in 1:55.3 for driver John MacDonald, trainer Darren Trainor, and owner Jennifer Trainor of Vernon River, P.E.I. The five-year-old Camluck son, who won his first career start on the East Coast at Charlottetown Driving Park back in 2009 while racing for Dr. Ian Moore, made his return to the Island prior to the Governor's Plate eliminations.
To view Saturday's harness racing results, click on the following link: Saturday Results - Summerside Raceway.
Mcapulco really seems to
Mcapulco really seems to enjoy the Maritimes, three for three and the Gold Cup and Saucer is on the horizon. Good luck Gilles