With the date for the 2024 Pepsi North America Cup eliminations just over three weeks away, many of the three-year-old pacers aiming for Canadian harness racing's biggest prize have made on-track appearances and statements as they stake their claim for divisional dominance.
This year's edition of the $1 million Pepsi North America Cup will be contested on Saturday, June 15 at Woodbine Mohawk Park in Campbellville, Ont., with eliminations the preceding Saturday, June 8.
Here are the horses that are still eligible to the Cup as of the April 15 sustaining payment and have raced or are in-to-go as of May 14.
A Class Yankee - qualified on May 11 at Flamboro Downs and finished third, individually timed in 1:58.2.
Always A Thrill - raced on May 11 at Woodbine Mohawk Park and finished seventh in the SBOA Stakes, individually timed in 1:51.4.
At Ease Hanover - raced on May 11 at at Woodbine Mohawk Park and finished fifth, individually timed in a 1:52; entered to race on May 18 in an overnight event at Woodbine Mohawk Park.
Better Is Nice - raced on May 11 at Meadowlands Racetrack and finished third in a New Jersey Sire Stakes, individually timed in 1:51.1.
Bold Spirit - raced on May 11 at Woodbine Mohawk Park and finished fourth, individually timed in 1:51.4; entered to race on May 18 in an overnight event at Woodbine Mohawk Park.
Booming Economy - raced on May 11 at Pocono Downs and finished fourth in the Pennsylvania All Stars, individually timed in 1:52; entered to race on May 18 in a Pennsylvania Sire Stakes at Pocono Downs.
Calicojack Hanover - qualified on May 13 at Woodbine Mohawk Park and finished second, individually timed in 1:54.1; entered to race on May 18 in an overnight event at Woodbine Mohawk Park.
Captain Albano - qualified on May 10 at Meadowlands Racetrack, winning in 1:52.3; entered to race on May 18 in a Pennsylvania Sire Stakes at Pocono Downs.
Captain Fear Not - raced on May 11 at Pocono Downs and finished third in the Pennsylvania All Stars, individually timed in 1:51.3; entered to race on May 18 in a Pennsylvania Sire Stakes at Pocono Downs.
Captain Luke - qualified on May 10 at Meadowlands Racetrack and finished fifth, individually timed in 1:54.
Captains Quarters - qualified on May 6 at Woodbine Mohawk Park, winning in 1:53; entered to race on May 18 in an overnight event at Woodbine Mohawk Park.
Century Komodo - raced on May 3 at Woodbine Mohawk Park and finished fourth, individually timed in 1:53.3.
Chain Gang - raced on May 11 at Woodbine Mohawk Park and finished fourth, individually timed in 1:54.2.
Chesterman - raced on May 10 at Woodbine Mohawk Park and finished third, individually timed in 1:52.2.
Clever Cody - raced on May 4 at Miami Valley Raceway, winning an Ohio Sire Stakes in 1:50.1; entered to race on May 18 in an overnight event at Woodbine Mohawk Park.
Courtship - raced on May 10 at Meadowlands Racetrack and finished second, individually timed in 1:50.3.
Crush Kill Destroy - raced on May 2 at Plainridge Park and finished sixth in the Paul Revere Pace, individually timed in 1:52.2.
Cupid Shuffle - raced on May 4 at The Meadows and finished fifth in a Pennsylvania Sire Stakes, individually timed in 1:53.1; entered to race on May 18 in an overnight event at Woodbine Mohawk Park.
Do Better - raced on May 11 at Woodbine Mohawk Park and finished fourth in the SBOA Stakes, individually timed in 1:51.1.
Enforcer - raced on May 11 at Woodbine Mohawk Park and finished eighth in the SBOA Stakes, individually timed in 1:52.1.
Funtime Bayama - raced on May 11 at Woodbine Mohawk Park, winning the SBOA Stakes in 1:49.4.
Gem Quality - raced on May 11 at Pocono Downs in the Pennsylvania All Stars, winning in 1:53; entered to race on May 18 in a Pennsylvania Sire Stakes at Pocono Downs.
Honolulu Vacation - qualified on May 11 at Flamboro Downs and finished second, individually timed in 1:57.4; entered to race on May 15 in the Prospect Series at The Raceway at Western Fair District.
Hugh Heston - raced on May 11 at Pocono Downs in the Pennsylvania All Stars and finished fifth, individually timed in 1:54.1; entered to race on May 18 in a Pennsylvania Sire Stakes at Pocono Downs.
Hundred Dollar Man - raced on May 4 at Miami Valley Raceway and finished third in an Ohio Sire Stakes, individually timed in 1:50.4.
Its Saturday Night - raced on May 4 at The Meadows and broke stride in a Pennsylvania Sire Stakes, finishing a distanced sixth; entered to race on May 18 in a Pennsylvania Sire Stakes at Pocono Downs.
Ivy Park - raced on May 11 at Pocono Downs in the Pennsylvania All Stars, winning in 1:51.3; entered to race on May 18 in a Pennsylvania Sire Stakes at Pocono Downs.
Janelle Granny - raced on May 11 at Scioto Downs and finished fifth, individually timed in 1:52.
Legendary Hanover - raced on May 11 at Woodbine Mohawk Park, winning in 1:49.4; entered to race on May 18 in an overnight event at Woodbine Mohawk Park.
Like A Glove - raced on May 11 at Woodbine Mohawk Park and finished fourth, individually timed in 1:52.4; entered to race on May 18 in an overnight event at Woodbine Mohawk Park.
Lous World - raced on May 11 at Woodbine Mohawk Park and finished third, individually timed in 1:51.4; entered to race on May 18 in a Pennsylvania Sire Stakes at Pocono Downs.
Lyons Benjamin - raced on May 4 at The Meadows and finished second in a Pennsylvania Sire Stakes, individually timed in 1:51.3; entered to race on May 18 in a Pennsylvania Sire Stakes at Pocono Downs.
Miki Ray - raced on May 4 at Meadowlands Racetrack and finished second, individually timed in 1:51.2; entered to race on May 18 in a Pennsylvania Sire Stakes at Pocono Downs.
Maxim Hanover - qualified on May 10 at Meadowlands Racetrack and finished fourth, individually timed in 1:55.2.
Mirage Hanover - raced on May 11 at Meadowlands Racetrack, winning in 1:49.3.
Natural History - raced on April 26 at The Meadows and finished fourth, individually timed in 1:56.
Newsroom - qualified on May 10 at Meadowlands Racetrack and finished fourth, individually timed in 1:53.4.
Nijinsky - raced on May 11 at Woodbine Mohawk Park, winning in 1:51.
Number Cruncher - raced on May 10 at Meadowlands Racetrack, winning in 1:50.3; entered to race on May 18 in a Pennsylvania Sire Stakes at Pocono Downs.
Remember The Alamo - qualified on May 10 at Meadowlands Racetrack and finished second, individually timed in 1:52.3.
Rose Run Zeke - raced on May 11 in the Pennsylvania All Stars at Pocono Downs and finished sixth, individually timed in 1:54.1; entered to race on May 18 in the Pennsylvania Stallion Series at Pocono Downs.
Special Menu - qualified on May 8 at Hoosier Park and finished second, individually timed in 1:52.4; entered to race on May 18 in a Pennsylvania Sire Stakes at Pocono Downs.
Stat That - raced on May 10 at Hoosier Park and finished second, individually timed in 1:52.
Storm Shadow - raced on May 11 at Woodbine Mohawk Park and finished third in the SBOA Stakes, individually timed in 1:50.3.
Sudden Impact - qualified on May 7 at Harrah's Philadelphia and finished second, individually timed in 1:54.1.
Supplemental Fee - raced on May 12 at Tioga Downs, winning in 1:52.
The Dragon Reborn - raced on May 4 at Meadowlands Racetrack, winning in 1:51.1.
T H Mcmurry - raced on May 4 at Woodbine Mohawk Park and finished fourth, individually timed in 1:52.3; entered to race on May 18 in an overnight event at Woodbine Mohawk Park.
Total Stranger - raced on May 9 at Harrah's Philadelphia, winning in 1:49.1.
Twin B Loudacris - raced on April 28 at Harrah's Philadelphia, winning in 1:53.1.
Unrivaled Hanover - raced on May 11 at Woodbine Mohawk Park and finished second in the SBOA Stakes, individually timed in 1:50.2.
Vandiemen Bluechip - qualified on May 10 at Meadowlands Racetrack and finished second, individually timed in 1:54.4.
Wallace Hartley - raced on May 10 at Woodbine Mohawk Park and finished fifth, individually timed in 1:52.4.
Wishyouwell - raced on May 11 at Meadowlands Racetrack and finished fourth in a New Jersey Sire Stakes, individually timed in 1:51.2.
The following Cup eligibles have not started in a qualifier or race in 2024: Nuclear and Zeppole Hanover.
(Photos courtesy New Image Media, clockwise from top left: Funtime Bayama, Legendary Hanover, Nijinsky and Mirage Hanover [pictured winning last year])
(Standardbred Canada)