With the date for the 2024 Pepsi North America Cup eliminations just over four 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 7.
Always A Thrill - raced on May 4 at Woodbine Mohawk Park and finished fourth in an SBOA Stakes elimination, individually timed in 1:54.1.
At Ease Hanover - raced on May 4 at The Meadows and finished fourth in the Pennsylvania Stallion Series, individually timed in a 1:52.3.
Better Is Nice - raced on May 4 at Meadowlands Racetrack and finished second in a New Jersey Sire Stakes, individually timed in 1:52.
Bold Spirit - raced on May 4 at Woodbine Mohawk Park, winning in 1:53.4.
Booming Economy - raced on May 4 at The Meadows, winning a Pennsylvania Sire Stakes in 1:51.4; entered to race on May 11 in the Pennsylvania All Stars at Pocono Downs.
Calicojack Hanover - qualified on May 6 at Woodbine Mohawk Park and finished third, individually timed in 1:53.3.
Captain Albano - qualified on May 3 at Meadowlands Racetrack and finished sixth, individually timed in 1:55.
Captain Fear Not - raced on May 4 at The Meadows, winning a Pennsylvania Sire Stakes in 1:51.2; entered to race on May 11 in the Pennsylvania All Stars at Pocono Downs.
Captain Luke - qualified on April 20 at Meadowlands Racetrack, winning in 1:52.
Captains Quarters - qualified on May 6 at Woodbine Mohawk Park, winning in 1:53.
Century Komodo - raced on May 3 at Woodbine Mohawk Park and finished fourth, individually timed in 1:53.3.
Chain Gang - raced on May 4 at Woodbine Mohawk Park and finished sixth in an SBOA Stakes elimination, individually timed in 1:54.4.
Chesterman - raced on May 3 at Woodbine Mohawk Park, winning in 1:54.
Clever Cody - raced on May 4 at Miami Valley Raceway, winning an Ohio Sire Stakes in 1:50.1.
Courtship - raced on May 4 at Meadowlands Racetrack and finished eighth, individually timed in 1:51.4.
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.
Do Better - raced on May 4 at Woodbine Mohawk Park and finished fifth in an SBOA Stakes elimination, individually timed in 1:52.1.
Enforcer - raced on May 4 at Woodbine Mohawk Park, winning an SBOA Stakes elimination in 1:54.
Funtime Bayama - raced on May 4 at Woodbine Mohawk Park, winning an SBOA Stakes elimination in 1:51.2.
Gem Quality - qualified on May 3 at Meadowlands Racetrack, winning in 1:52.4; entered to race on May 11 in the Pennsylvania All Stars at Pocono Downs.
Honolulu Vacation - raced on April 19 at Woodbine Mohawk Park and finished fifth in the Ontario Sired Spring Series, individually timed in 1:53.4.
Hugh Heston - raced on May 4 at The Meadows and finished third in a Pennsylvania Sire Stakes, individually timed in 1:52.1; entered to race on May 11 in the Pennsylvania All Stars 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.
Ivy Park - qualified on April 27 at Meadowlands Racetrack and finished fifth, individually timed in 1:53.2; entered to race on May 11 in the Pennsylvania All Stars at Pocono Downs.
Janelle Granny - raced on May 4 at Miami Valley Raceway and finished eighth in an Ohio Sire Stakes, individually timed in 1:51.4.
Legendary Hanover - qualified on May 3 at Woodbine Mohawk Park, winning in 1:50.4.
Like A Glove - qualified on May 6 at Woodbine Mohawk Park and finished second, individually timed in 1:53.2.
Lous World - raced on May 3 at Woodbine Mohawk Park, winning in 1:52.2.
Lyons Benjamin - raced on May 4 at The Meadows and finished second in a Pennsylvania Sire Stakes, individually timed in 1:51.3.
Miki Ray - raced on May 4 at Meadowlands Racetrack and finished second, individually timed in 1:51.2.
Mirage Hanover - qualified on April 27 at Meadowlands Racetrack and finished second, individually timed in 1:52.1.
Natural History - raced on April 26 at The Meadows and finished fourth, individually timed in 1:56.
Nijinsky - qualified on May 3 at Woodbine Mohawk Park and finished second, individually timed in 1:51.
Number Cruncher - raced on May 4 at Meadowlands Racetrack and finished fifth, individually timed in 1:51.3.
Remember The Alamo - qualified on May 3 at Meadowlands Racetrack and finished third, individually timed in 1:53.1.
Rose Run Zeke - raced on May 4 at The Meadows and finished fifth in a Pennsylvania Sire Stakes, individually timed in 1:52.3; entered to race on May 11 in the Pennsylvania All Stars at Pocono Downs.
Special Menu - qualified on May 1 at Hoosier Park, winning in 1:52.3.
Stat That - raced on May 3 at Hoosier Park and finished fifth, individually timed in 1:51.
Storm Shadow - raced on May 4 at Woodbine Mohawk Park and finished third in an SBOA Stakes elimination, individually timed in 1:51.4.
Sudden Impact - qualified on May 7 at Harrah's Philadelphia and finished second, individually timed in 1:54.1.
Supplemental Fee - raced on April 27 at Pocono Downs and finished eighth in the Bobby Weiss Series final, individually timed 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.
Total Stranger - qualified on April 27 at Meadowlands Racetrack and finished second, individually timed in 1:55; entered to race on May 9 at Harrah's Philadelphia.
Twin B Loudacris - raced on April 28 at Harrah's Philadelphia, winning in 1:53.1.
Unrivaled Hanover - raced on May 4 at Woodbine Mohawk Park and finished second in an SBOA Stakes elimination, individually timed in 1:51.3.
Wallace Hartley - qualified on May 3 at Woodbine Mohawk Park and finished fourth, individually timed in 1:57.3.
Wishyouwell - raced on May 4 at Meadowlands Racetrack and finished fifth in a New Jersey Sire Stakes, individually timed in 1:52.1.
The following Cup eligibles have not started in a qualifier or race in 2024: A Class Yankee, Maxim Hanover, Newsroom, Nuclear, Vandiemen Bluechip and Zeppole Hanover.
(Photos clockwise from top left: Funtime Bayama, Enforcer and Lous World [New Image Media] and Clever Cody [Conrad Photo])
(Standardbred Canada)