A dozen of the sport's top four-year-old pacers have been entered in the fourth edition of the Charles Juravinski Memorial Cup and will face off in a pair of $35,000 eliminations on Sunday, May 11 at Flamboro Downs.
The pacers will be vying for a spot in the $200,000 (added) final, which will take place at the Dundas, Ont. half-mile oval the following weekend on Sunday, May 18.
Arbitrage Hanover headlines the first elimination field as the 9-5 morning line favourite with an inside draw for trainer Kyle Fellows. After going nine-for-12 and earning $377,579 during his sophomore season stateside, the multiple New Jersey stakes winner was acquired by Nova Scotia connections, Ken Hardie of Bedford, Glenn Hardie of Middle Sackville and Anthony Stymest of Bedford. The Bettors Wish-Ana Hanover gelding enters the Juravinski elimination round off a pair of Preferred starts this year at Woodbine Mohawk Park.
Howlenthehills gets the nod as the early favourite in the second elimination, at 8-5 on the morning line, from post one for trainer Travis Alexander. The American Ideal-Arielle Lynn gelding was a multiple New York stakes winner during his $762,143 sophomore campaign, going 13-for-17, for owner Symmetry Stables of Pleasant Valley, New York. During one of his first three starts this year, he blazed Yonkers Raceway's half-mile oval winning an Open event in 1:51.3. Century Komodo is among the contenders he'll face, with that David Menary trainee 9-5 on the morning line after just missing in the Canadian Graduate Series championship last Saturday night at Woodbine Mohawk Park.
Alexander has a pair of starters entered and will also send out Sweet Beach Life, the Pennsylvania champion who edged out Howlenthehills in last year's Messenger Stakes, in the first elimination.
Dr. Ian Moore also has two contenders with Ohio champion Clever Cody and Ontario Sires Stakes graduate Storm Shadow in separate elims.
Formerly known as the Confederation Cup, Flamboro Downs' signature race for four-year-old pacers was renamed in 2022 in honour of the track's co-founder and Canadian Horse Racing Hall of Famer who passed away in February that year.
Post time for the 11-race card on Sunday is 6:55 p.m., with the eliminations scheduled as the third and fifth races.
The complete fields for the eliminations are listed below in post position order with listed drivers and trainers.
$35,000 Charles Juravinski Memorial Cup Elimination #1 (Race 3)
Post - Horse - Listed Driver - Trainer - Morning Line Odds
1. Arbitrage Hanover - Tyler Borth - Kyle Fellows - 9-5
2. Captain Fear Not - James MacDonald - Paul Reid - 8-1
3. Chain Gang - Trevor Henry - Nick Gallucci - 5-2
4. Clever Cody - Louis-Philippe Roy - Dr. Ian Moore - 7-2
5. Sweet Beach Life - James MacDonald - Travis Alexander - 4-1
6. Lous World - Bob McClure - Garry Merner - 3-1
$35,000 Charles Juravinski Memorial Cup Elimination #2 (Race 5)
Post - Horse - Listed Driver - Trainer - Morning Line Odds
1. Howlenthehills - James MacDonald - Travis Alexander - 8-5
2. Timeisonmyside - James MacDonald - Harry Poulton - 7-2
3. Century Komodo - Doug McNair - David Menary - 9-5
4. Calicojack Hanover - Louis-Philippe Roy - Luc Blais - 6-1
5. Storm Shadow - Bob McClure - Dr. Ian Moore - 4-1
6. Captain Luke - Scott Zeron - Andrew Harris - 5-2
To view Sunday's harness racing entries, click the following link: Sunday Entries - Flamboro Downs.
(Standardbred Canada; photo of Howlenthehills winning the New York Sire Stakes championship last year at Yonkers Raceway)