With the date for the 2024 Pepsi North America Cup eliminations just over a week 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 May 15 sustaining payment and have raced or are in-to-go as of May 28.
A Class Yankee - qualified on May 24 at Woodbine Mohawk Park, winning in 1:52.3 with broken equipment.
Always A Thrill - raced on May 25 at Woodbine Mohawk Park and finished seventh in the Ontario Sires Stakes Gold Series, individually timed in 1:50.4.
At Ease Hanover - raced on May 25 at Woodbine Mohawk Park and finished fifth with broken equipment, individually timed in 1:52.2.
Better Is Nice - raced on May 25 at Meadowlands Racetrack and finished second in the New Jersey Sire Stakes final, individually timed in 1:49.1.
Booming Economy - raced on May 26 at Harrah's Philadelphia and finished fourth in a Pennsylvania Sire Stakes, individually timed in 1:50.2.
Calicojack Hanover - raced on May 25 at Woodbine Mohawk Park and finished sixth, individually timed in 1:52.3.
Captain Albano - raced on May 26 at Harrah's Philadelphia, winning a Pennsylvania Sire Stakes in 1:49.4.
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 25 at Meadowlands Racetrack, winning in 1:49.3.
Captains Quarters - raced on May 18 at Woodbine Mohawk Park, winning in 1:50.1.
Century Komodo - raced on May 25 at Woodbine Mohawk Park and finished seventh in the Ontario Sires Stakes Gold Series, individually timed in 1:51.4.
Chesterman - raced on May 25 at Woodbine Mohawk Park in the Ontario Sires Stakes Gold Series and finished eighth, individually timed in 1:51.
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 26 at Harrah's Philadelphia and finished third in the Pennsylvania Stallion Series, individually timed in 1:50.2.
Crush Kill Destroy - raced on May 25 at Meadowlands Racetrack and finished fourth, individually timed in 1:51.1.
Cupid Shuffle - raced on May 18 at Woodbine Mohawk Park and finished fifth, individually timed in 1:52.
Do Better - raced on May 25 at Woodbine Mohawk Park and finished third in the Ontario Sires Stakes Gold Series, individually timed in 1:50.4.
Funtime Bayama - raced on May 25 at Woodbine Mohawk Park and finished second in the Ontario Sires Stakes Gold Series, individually timed in 1:49.4.
Gem Quality - raced on May 26 at Harrah's Philadelphia and finished second in a Pennsylvania Sire Stakes, individually timed in 1:50.
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 and finished seventh in a Pennsylvania Sire Stakes, 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 26 at Harrah's Philadelphia and finished third in a Pennsylvania Sire Stakes, individually timed in 1:50.2..
Ivy Park - raced on May 26 at Harrah's Philadelphia and finished second in a Pennsylvania Sire Stakes, individually timed in 1:50.
Janelle Granny - qualified on May 23 at Northfield Park, winning in 1:56.3.
Legendary Hanover - raced on May 18 at Woodbine Mohawk Park, winning in 1:48.3.
Like A Glove - raced on May 25 at Woodbine Mohawk Park and finished fourth in the Ontario Sires Stakes Gold Series, individually timed in 1:51.1.
Lous World - raced on May 25 at Woodbine Mohawk Park and finished fourth, individually timed in 1:52.1.
Lyons Benjamin - raced on May 26 at Harrah's Philadelphia and finished third in a Pennsylvania Sire Stakes, individually timed in 1:50.3.
Miki Ray - raced on May 26 at Harrah's Philadelphia and finished fourth in a Pennsylvania Sire Stakes, individually timed in 1:50.3.
Maxim Hanover - raced on May 26 at Harrah's Philadelphia and finished fifth in a Pennsylvania Sire Stakes, individually timed in 1:50.2.
Mirage Hanover - raced on May 25 at Meadowlands Racetrack and finished second, individually timed in 1:48.4.
Newsroom - qualified on May 25 at Meadowlands Racetrack, winning in 1:51.
Nijinsky - raced on May 25 at Woodbine Mohawk Park in the Ontario Sires Stakes Gold Series, winning in 1:49.4.
Number Cruncher - raced on May 25 at Meadowlands Racetrack and finished third, individually timed in 1:50.4.
Remember The Alamo - raced on May 25 at Meadowlands Racetrack and finished second, individually timed in 1:50.
Rose Run Zeke - raced on May 24 at The Meadows and finished ninth, individually timed in 1:58.4.
Special Menu - raced on May 26 at Harrah's Philadelphia and finished fourth in a Pennsylvania Sire Stakes, individually timed in 1:50.3.
Stat That - raced on May 27 at Hoosier Park and finished second in an Indiana Sires Stakes, individually timed in 1:50.3.
Storm Shadow - raced on May 25 at Woodbine Mohawk Park and finished second in the Ontario Sires Stakes Gold Series, individually timed in 1:50.
Sudden Impact - qualified on May 7 at Harrah's Philadelphia and finished second, individually timed in 1:54.1.
Supplemental Fee - raced on May 26 at Saratoga Raceway and finished seventh in a New York Sire Stakes, individually timed in 1:58.2.
The Dragon Reborn - raced on May 25 at Woodbine Mohawk Park and finished 10th in the Ontario Sires Stakes Gold Series, individually timed in 1:52.
T H Mcmurry - raced on May 25 at Woodbine Mohawk Park and finished ninth in the Ontario Sires Stakes Gold Series, individually timed in 1:52.3.
Total Stranger - raced on May 19 at Harrah's Philadelphia, winning in 1:49.
Unrivaled Hanover - raced on May 25 at Woodbine Mohawk Park and finished third in the Ontario Sires Stakes Gold Series, individually timed in 1:50.2.
Vandiemen Bluechip - raced on May 26 at Saratoga Raceway and finished fourth in a New York Sire Stakes, individually timed in 1:52.
Wallace Hartley - raced on May 24 at Woodbine Mohawk Park, winning in 1:52.3.
Wishyouwell - raced on May 25 at Meadowlands Racetrack and finished fifth in the New Jersey Sire Stakes final, individually timed in 1:50.1.
The following Cup eligible has not started in a qualifier or race in 2024: Zeppole Hanover.
(Photos clockwise from top left: Nijinsky [New Image Media], Captain Albano [Grace Zimmers], Wallace Hartley [New Image Media] and Captain Luke [Lisa Photo, pictured winning last year])
(Standardbred Canada)