With the date for the 2024 Pepsi North America Cup eliminations just over two 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 22.
A Class Yankee - qualified on May 17 at Woodbine Mohawk Park and finished third, individually timed in 1:55.4.
Always A Thrill - raced on May 11 at Woodbine Mohawk Park and finished seventh in the SBOA Stakes, individually timed in 1:51.4; entered to race on May 25 in the Ontario Sires Stakes Gold Series at Woodbine Mohawk Park.
At Ease Hanover - raced on May 18 at Woodbine Mohawk Park and finished third, individually timed in a 1:51.4; entered to race on May 25 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 18 at Woodbine Mohawk Park and finished fifth, individually timed in 1:52; entered to race on May 25 at Woodbine Mohawk Park.
Booming Economy - raced on May 18 at Pocono Downs and finished fourth in a Pennsylvania Sire Stakes, individually timed in 1:51.1.
Calicojack Hanover - raced on May 18 at Woodbine Mohawk Park, winning in 1:51.2; entered to race on May 25 at Woodbine Mohawk Park.
Captain Albano - raced on May 18 at Pocono Downs, winning a Pennsylvania Sire Stakes in 1:50.4.
Captain Fear Not - raced on May 18 at Pocono Downs and finished fifth in a Pennsylvania Sire Stakes, individually timed in 1:52.
Captain Luke - raced on May 18 at Meadowlands Racetrack and finished second, individually timed in 1:50.
Captains Quarters - raced on May 18 at Woodbine Mohawk Park, winning in 1:50.1.
Century Komodo - raced on May 17 at Woodbine Mohawk Park, winning in 1:54.1; entered to race on May 25 in the Ontario Sires Stakes Gold Series at Woodbine Mohawk Park.
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; entered to race on May 25 in the Ontario Sires Stakes Gold Series at Woodbine Mohawk Park.
Clever Cody - raced on May 18 at Woodbine Mohawk Park and finished eighth with broken equipment, individually timed in 1:51.3.
Courtship - raced on May 18 at Meadowlands Racetrack and finished 10th, individually timed in 1:56.4.
Crush Kill Destroy - raced on May 18 at Meadowlands Racetrack and finished eighth, individually timed in 1:52.1.
Cupid Shuffle - raced on May 18 at Woodbine Mohawk Park and finished fifth, individually timed in 1:52.
Do Better - raced on May 11 at Woodbine Mohawk Park and finished fourth in the SBOA Stakes, individually timed in 1:51.1; entered to race on May 25 in the Ontario Sires Stakes Gold Series at Woodbine Mohawk Park.
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; entered to race on May 25 in the Ontario Sires Stakes Gold Series at Woodbine Mohawk Park.
Gem Quality - raced on May 18 at Pocono Downs, winning a Pennsylvania Sire Stakes in 1:51.
Honolulu Vacation - raced on May 15 at The Raceway at Western Fair District in the Prospect Series, winning in 1:57.4.
Hugh Heston - raced on May 18 at Pocono Downs in a Pennsylvania Sire Stakes and finished seventh, individually timed in 1:52.
Hundred Dollar Man - raced on May 20 at Harrington Raceway, winning in 1:55.1.
Its Saturday Night - raced on May 18 at Pocono Downs and finished third in a Pennsylvania Sire Stakes, individually timed in 1:51.1.
Ivy Park - raced on May 18 at Pocono Downs and finished second in a Pennsylvania Sire Stakes, individually timed in 1:50.4.
Janelle Granny - raced on May 11 at Scioto Downs and finished fifth, individually timed in 1:52.
Legendary Hanover - raced on May 18 at Woodbine Mohawk Park, winning in 1:48.3.
Like A Glove - raced on May 18 at Woodbine Mohawk Park and finished second, individually timed in 1:52; entered to race on May 25 in the Ontario Sires Stakes Gold Series at Woodbine Mohawk Park.
Lous World - raced on May 18 at Pocono Downs and finished third in a Pennsylvania Sire Stakes, individually timed in 1:51.3; entered to race on May 25 at Woodbine Mohawk Park.
Lyons Benjamin - raced on May 18 at Pocono Downs and finished third in a Pennsylvania Sire Stakes, individually timed in 1:51.1.
Miki Ray - raced on May 18 at Pocono Downs and finished fourth in a Pennsylvania Sire Stakes, individually timed in 1:51.1.
Maxim Hanover - qualified on May 18 at Meadowlands Racetrack, winning in 1:50.2.
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 18 at Meadowlands Racetrack and finished second, individually timed in 1:50.2.
Nijinsky - raced on May 11 at Woodbine Mohawk Park, winning in 1:51; entered to race on May 25 in the Ontario Sires Stakes Gold Series at Woodbine Mohawk Park.
Number Cruncher - raced on May 18 at Pocono Downs and finished fifth in a Pennsylvania Sire Stakes, individually timed in 1:53.
Remember The Alamo - raced on May 18 at Meadowlands Racetrack and finished third, individually timed in 1:50.3.
Rose Run Zeke - raced on May 18 at Pocono Downs and finished eighth in the Pennsylvania Stallion Series, individually timed in 1:55.4; entered to race on May 24 at The Meadows
Special Menu - raced on May 18 at Pocono Downs and finished sixth in a Pennsylvania Sire Stakes, individually timed in 1:51.4.
Stat That - raced on May 18 at Hoosier Park and finished seventh, individually timed in 1:51.3.
Storm Shadow - raced on May 11 at Woodbine Mohawk Park and finished third in the SBOA Stakes, individually timed in 1:50.3; entered to race on May 25 in the Ontario Sires Stakes Gold Series at Woodbine Mohawk Park.
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; entered to race on May 26 in a New York Sire Stakes at Saratoga Raceway.
The Dragon Reborn - raced on May 18 at Meadowlands Racetrack and finished fifth, individually timed in 1:51.4; entered to race on May 25 in the Ontario Sires Stakes Gold Series at Woodbine Mohawk Park.
T H Mcmurry - raced on May 18 at Woodbine Mohawk Park and finished sixth, individually timed in 1:52.2; entered to race on May 25 in the Ontario Sires Stakes Gold Series at Woodbine Mohawk Park.
Total Stranger - raced on May 19 at Harrah's Philadelphia, winning in 1:49.
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; entered to race on May 25 in the Ontario Sires Stakes Gold Series at Woodbine Mohawk Park.
Vandiemen Bluechip - qualified on May 18 at Meadowlands Racetrack and finished fifth, individually timed in 1:52.2; entered to race on May 26 in a New York Sire Stakes at Saratoga Raceway.
Wallace Hartley - raced on May 17 at Woodbine Mohawk Park and finished fourth, individually timed in 1:54.1; entered to race on May 24 at Woodbine Mohawk Park.
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 clockwise from top left: Legendary Hanover [New Image Media], Captain Albano [Curtis Salonick], Captains Quarters [New Image Media] and Calicojack Hanover [New Image Media])
(Standardbred Canada)