Eliminations for this year’s Upper Canada Cup will go postward Saturday evening at Georgian Downs, with the top three finishers from each of the $25,000 tilts earning a berth into the final on May 28
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Dreamfair Kovu, fresh off a 1:52.1 performance at Woodbine Racetrack, is the 2-1 morning line favourite in the first elimination for the tandem of driver Randy Waples and trainer Pat Fletcher. The chestnut son of P Forty Seven-J Cs Nathalie, who went 3-for-7 as a rookie for owner/breeder John Lamers, will take on six foes in his quest to repeat. He’s drawn Post 7 in the Race 2 tilt.
The 2-1 favourite in the second elimination will also start from Post 7, and that colt’s name is Watermelonwine. The son of Life Sign-Arukiddinme, who went 2-for-12 last season and banked just over $175,000 for owner Brad Gray, will be making his first start of 2011. Trainer Dave Menary gave the speedster a pair of qualifiers at Mohawk, including a winning effort in 1:52.4 on May 12. Rick Zeron, who was aboard for both qualifiers, is listed to drive the pacer in the fourth race elimination.
The marquee match-up takes place in Race 5 between a pair of Camluck colts. Prodigal Seelster (Post 3) and Mystician (Post 1) won major races as rookies, and they both enter their 2011 debuts following victorious qualifiers at Mohawk Racetrack.
Prodigal Seelster captured the $300,000 Battle Of Waterloo at Grand River Raceway early in his rookie year before finishing off the season with an authoritative triumph in the $300,000 OSS Super Final at Woodbine Racetrack. Trainer Dave Menary’s star student, who went 6-for-10 and stashed away close to $480,000, will be paired up with driver Randy Waples. Menary will be shooting for back-to-back Upper Canada Cup titles. He sent out last year's winner, Haul Away.
Mystician, who is best known for his shocking upset in the $1 million Metro Pace at Mohawk Racetrack, finished his freshman campaign with a 5-4-0 record from 12 starts and an impressive bankroll that topped $800,000. Trainer Jeff Gillis has prepped the colt with a pair of qualifiers at Mohawk this season. He’ll be driven by Jody Jamieson.
First race post time on Saturday evening is 7:25 p.m.
To view entries for Saturday's card of harness racing, click the following link: Saturday Entries – Georgian Downs.