Arbitrage Hanover captures Governor's Plate Elimination

SUMMERSIDE, PE – Driver Kenny Murphy couldn’t have scripted the trip any better as he drove Arbitrage Hanover (Bettors Wish) to a new all-age track record in Governor’s Plate elimination harness racing action Sunday afternoon at Red Shores at the Summerside Raceway.

After drawing post 2 in Sunday’s second Governor’s Plate elimination, Murphy and Arbitrage Hanover ($10.10) found themselves in the coveted two-hole behind pacesetter Ammo (Driven by Marc Campbell) and rode through fractions of 27.3, 55.2 and 1:23.1, while defending Governor’s Plate champion Miki Shan N (Corey MacPherson) was forced to grind first-over through the middle stages.

“I got my wheel down in front of Miki Shan N at the start and then Ammo comes, and I’m just smiling from ear to ear because I get the best horse in the race to follow,” Murphy said of his two-hole ride in his $12,500 Governor’s Plate elimination. “Then Miki Shan N came first-over on Ammo, and they’re both battling. I said, ‘Perfect, Corey, just keep on pushing.’ I had lots of horse and still had the ear plugs in. At the top of the turn, I tipped him, kicked the plugs out and smiled as we went by.”

When Murphy angled Arbitrage Hanover off the pylons in the stretch, the five-year-old Bettors Wish gelding responded with authority, pacing to a 1:50.3 victory over Miki Shan N, with Ammo holding third in the new track record, erasing the former standard of 1:51.1 held by Roll Em in his 2023 Governor’s Plate elimination. Jmr Speak Away (Gilles Barrieau) finished fourth to also earn a spot in the $50,000 Governor’s Plate final, presented by Summerside Chrysler Dodge, set for Saturday night at Red Shores Summerside.

ARBITRAGE HANOVER REPLAY

The victory came after a patient approach from Murphy and his father, trainer Clifford Murphy, along with his Nova Scotia ownership group of Ken Hardie, Glenn Hardie and Justin Hardie, who resisted rushing the horse back after health issues when he landed on P.E.I. earlier this season.

“They’re animals,” Murphy said. “They get sick on us, and at the end of the day the owners were just saying, ‘Do whatever you need to do. The horse comes first. What will be, will be.’ Good horses and good owners make good horses. They gave us the time to work on the horse and figure him out. I have to say thank you to the Hardie’s for letting us do that.”

Murphy, who always comes off the track with a smile and positive comments on the horses he drives, was also quick to credit the owners and trainers who supplied him with his 1,316 career wins and continue to support him every week.

“Everyone puts 110 per cent into the horse and you try your best,” Murphy said. “The people you drive for watch their horses race and they see what happens. They don’t need a play by play from me after the race. If it doesn’t work out, then next week will. We’re just the drivers—we’re not perfect. At the end of the day, if I screwed up, I’ll get them next week.”

While strategy and horsepower are vital in Invitational level events, Murphy believes one factor will dictate who wins Saturday’s coveted $50,000 final.

“Draw. That’s all it is—the draw. You’ve got to have the draw. If you don’t have the draw, nothing else matters in these kinds of races.”

In other Sunday afternoon action, the first $12,500 Governor’s Plate elimination saw Get Wings ($2.60) and pilot Marc Campbell slug out a two-length victory in 1:52.4 for trainer Vaughan Doyle and owners Gary Ford and Janet Kinney. Local favourite Doc Awesome (Adam Merner) fronted the field past the 27.3 quarter until releasing Get Wings going to the 55 second half-mile marker then riding through the 1:24.1 three-quarters to finish second with Bee Two Bee (Jason Hughes) third and The Tulsa King (Corey MacPherson) finishing fourth to make the final.

In $9,000 Ruby Chappell Memorial Open Mares Elimination action, Lady Café Au Lait ($3.30) equaled the Pacing Mares track record for trainer Earl Watts, owners Windemere Farms and Matt and David Burke in 1:53.1. Marc Campbell was in the seat for her three-and-three-quarter length win over Sugar Bowl (Brady Sweet), Badgirl Bridgette (Hughes) and More Than A Woman (Paul Langille).

The other Chappell Memorial elimination had Redland Misspretty ($15.60) go down the highway in 1:53.2 for driver Langille, trainer Kyle Williams and owners Brian MacGregor, Rebecca Blaisdell and Howard Anderson. Windemere Saddy (Murphy) was second, Rosetown Mary (MacPherson) was third and Sweet Molly (Barrieau) was fourth to make Saturday’s Chappell Memorial final.

The day was also one to remember for rookie trainer Grace Sorrie as Howmac Maximus ($7.70) and driver Jeremy Baker gave the Montague native her first win as a conditioner in 1:53.2 in a $4,200 conditioned event in race 11.

Langille had four wins on the day as a driver while trainer Kyle Williams doubled and Jaycob Sweet scored two wins as a trainer-driver.

Live racing continues with Governor’s Plate Week action Tuesday evening at 6 P.M., at Red Shores Summerside. For more go to Redshores.ca.

For complete race results, click here.

by Nicholas Oakes, for Red Shores