Red Shores: Governor's Plate 54 lines up Saturday

David Dowling has no trouble stating he wants to drive every horse and win every race but driving No Plan Intended in the 54th edition of the Governor's Plate is a completely different feeling.

The Prince County classic will hit the track as race 13 of the Saturday evening card starting off at 6:30 P.M. as the culmination of Governor's Plate Week 2022 at Red Shores Summerside.

The Governor's Plate sees a purse increase to $30,000 for this edition and Dowling is looking for the lion's share of it with the Colin Johnson-trained No Plan Intended. Owned by Carl Jamieson of Ontario and Brian Paquet of Quebec, No Plan Intended was a winner in his elimination stopping the clock in 1:52 3/5 in line to Dowling, who has his sights set on his first Governor's Plate victory. The only drivers in the field to have previously won the race are Gilles Barrieau and Marc Campbell.

"Of course the Gold Cup is the big one," Dowling said. "But this is the next best one. You have in your head you'd like to win them all but these kinds of races mean more."

Dowling says there is no denying the early speed that this race is sure to bring as Y S Lotus' 1:51 4/5 track record is in jeopardy but says how his horse feels will tell that tale after putting in a first turn shuffle in his elimination.

"I kind of hauled him down to the rail quick and when I steered him down he kind of got a little funny," Dowling said. "In post parade he was kind of weird with his mouth so maybe it was just a little something bugging him. The rest of the mile he was perfect though. I'll have to leave a little bit to force them to go some speed up front. It will all depend on the weather, there are horses in there that definitely have the talent to beat 1:51 4/5."

Dowling looks at the program having his eye on rail-sitter Twin B Tuffenuff (to be driven by Dale Spence) as well as post 4 starter Island Beach Boy (Barrieau), who cut torrid fractions of 26 2/5 and 55 2/5 before being collared by No Plan Intended at the finish in elimination action.

"Gilles' horse is legit," Dowling said. "I only got by him halfway by the tote board and he was gassed hard at the start. And don't kid yourself about Rose Run Quest (Post 3, Adam Merner) either. You can chase him out of there in 27 and a piece. Merner has him good right now. He's legit and he's won this race before, you never know. You like to drive all the horses but it's nice to drive good horses. As long as you don't make a real big mistake they usually find a way to overcome it. This is going to be a great race."

The morning-line favorite in the field is post 1's Twin B Tuffenuff from the Ron Matheson barn for owner Pat Morris and 29-year-old driver Spence is looking forward to the chance for a career moment.

"It's quite humbling really," Spence said. "The best of the best are always in these races and it's something to be in it. Ronnie had called me and said 'you know Gilles is the number one driver but he'll be in with one of his at some point so are you ok being number two?' I said absolutely."

Spence said it would be surreal to win the race after watching history being made this night every year but knows what he has to do to become etched in the history books himself.

"I'll definitely be leaving," Spence said. "I have the rail in a big race that's just how it is. Island Beach Boy is coming, Rotten Ronnie (Post 5, Redmond Doucet Jr.) will be firing and No Plan Intended looked a little rough in the first last week but I'm sure they'll have that ironed out for this week but if we're cooking into the turn that will be a factor. We're going to be going, it'll be a quarter in 26 4/5 or more with the way the track has been lightning fast all week."

Also in the power-packed field are Beachin Lindy (Stephen Charlton) with post 6 and 2020 Governor's Plate Champion Bugsy Maguire (Corey MacPherson) from post 7 with 2021 champion Time To Dance drawing post 8.

"Theoretically I'd love to cut out the race because then I control my own destiny," Spence said. "But Gilles' horse is legit so it wouldn't be the worst thing to sit behind him and let David go first-up. Best horse will win the race at the end of day."

The program also features the Bob Dewar Governor's Plate consolation, the Ruby Chappell Open Pacing Mares Final and the Atlantic Sires Stakes for three-year-old pacing colts.

-edited release (By Nicholas Oakes for Red Shores)