Two $35,000 eliminations for the 2025 Charles Juravinski Memorial Cup headlined the Sunday, May 11 card at Flamboro Downs, with Captain Fear Not and Calicojack Hanover delivering upsets to punch their tickets to next week’s $247,500 final.

Twelve top four-year-old pacers squared off for a spot in Flamboro’s signature event, formerly known as the Confederation Cup. The race was renamed in 2022 to honour the late Charles Juravinski, the track’s co-founder and Canadian Horse Racing Hall of Famer. The top four finishers from each elimination will advance to the final, along with one fifth-place finisher drawn by lot.

In the first elimination, Sweet Beach Life (James MacDonald) showed early speed and led through a :27 opening quarter before yielding to Arbitrage Hanover (Tyler Borth), who led through a :55 half. Captain Fear Not and driver Jody Jamieson launched a first-over bid from third, with even-money favourite Clever Cody (Louis-Philippe Roy) picking up cover through three-quarters in 1:23.1. Captain Fear Not surged in the stretch to open up by 2-1/4 lengths and score in a new lifetime mark of 1:51.1, returning $33.70 to win. Clever Cody finished second, with Lous World (Bob McClure) rounding out the top three. Chain Gang (Trevor Henry) was fourth and Sweet Beach Life took fifth place.

Captain Fear Not, a four-year-old gelded son of Captain Crunch out of Mikayla Rose, is trained by Paul Reid for Kathe Troy of Campbellville, Ont. The win was his fifth lifetime and first of 2025, boosting his seasonal earnings to $20,380 and career bankroll to $181,212.

The second elimination proved even faster. Calicojack Hanover and driver Louis-Philippe Roy blasted off the gate, but Captain Luke (Scott Zeron) took command before yielding to 7-5 favourite Howlenthehills (Travis Cullen). Fractions of :26.2 and :54.4 set the stage for a big stretch duel. Calicojack Hanover came first over with Timeisonmyside (James MacDonald) tracking his cover through three-quarters in 1:22.4. In the lane, Calicojack Hanover (pictured above) dug in to outbattle the favourite and win in a career-best 1:50.2 by 1-1/4 lengths, returning $15.20. Howlenthehills held second while Captain Luke was third. Timesonmyside was fourth and Storm Shadow (Bob McClure) took fifth. 

A four-year-old son of Captaintreacherous out of Charisma Hanover, Calicojack Hanover is trained by Luc Blais for Determination of Montreal, Que. The victory was his first of 2025 and sixth overall, pushing his career earnings to $211,181.

The field for the 2025 Charles Juravinski Memorial Cup was drawn after the elims on Sunday and is as follows:

Post - Horse - Listed Driver - Trainer
1. Storm Shadow - Bob McClure - Ian Moore
2. Lous World - Bob McClure - Garry Merner
3. Captain Fear Not - Jody Jamieson - Paul Reid
4. Calicojack Hanover - Louis-Philippe Roy - Luc Blais
5. Howlenthehills - Travis Cullen - Travis Alexander
6. Chain Gang - Trevor Henry - Nick Gallucci
7. Captain Luke - Scott Zeron - Andrew Harris
8. Timeisonmyside - James MacDonald - Harry Poulton
9. Clever Cody - Louis-Philippe Roy - Ian Moore
AE1. Sweet Beach Life - James MacDonald - Travis Alexander 
AE2. Arbitrage Hanover - Tyler Borth - Kyle Fellows

Sunday’s card included a $6,500 Ontario Harness Drivers Club amateur event, carded as Race 8. Driver Isaac Waxman guided Silver Beast ($2.50) to a 1:55 victory for trainer Cam McQueen.

To view Sunday's harness racing results, click the following link: Sunday Results - Flamboro Downs.

(Standardbred Canada)