$262,000 Juravinski Cup to Fourever Boy

Dundas, ON — Harness racing driver Trevor Henry utilized the pylon post with Fourever Boy (Sweet Lou) and procured a pocket ride to glory when he then shot through the open stretch and took the $262,000 Charles Juravinski Memorial Cup for pacing 4-year-olds on Sunday night (May 21) at Flamboro Downs.

The complexion of the race changed earlier in the evening when morning line choice Bythemissal was a scratch due to sickness, allowing Ron to draw in and leave from post three.

Camara Moment (Doug McNair) motored from post eight to take the lead while odds-on favorite Birthday (Yannick Gingras) struggled to find position through the first turn. He eventually found cover from Frozen Hanover (Louis-Philippe Roy), who pushed forward first over through a :27.2 first quarter in pursuit of the lead but was denied control by Camara Moment coming to the half.

Frozen Hanover stayed alongside Camara Moment through a :54.4 half, though the torrid tempo took its toll and Frozen Hanover started backing through the field up the backstretch. Birthday sprung three-wide around the fader to go nose to nose with Camara Moment at three-quarters in 1:23.2.

And through all this action, Fourever Boy sat in the pocket waiting to make a move. Racetrack opened into the stretch and Henry hustled the fresh legs of the 4-year-old stallion through the inside and zipped clear to a 1-1/4 length victory in 1:51.3. Camara Moment clung to finish second in a dead-heat with fast-charging Layton Hanover (Jody Jamieson) with Pleaseletmeknow (James MacDonald) closing wide on the track for fourth.

FOUREVER BOY REPLAY

“Going into the last turn, I had thoughts of getting out,” said Trevor Henry, who picked up the drive on Fourever Boy after Dexter Dunn qualified him for the final. “Dougie (McNair’s) horse (Camara Moment) was pacing the turns better, so I figured he’ll carry me to the head of the stretch, and he did. And when we came to the stretch, Dougie’s kind of drifted out a bit, I got up the inside nice and easy and it worked out great.”

Fourever Boy squeaked into the Juravinski Memorial final after finishing fifth in his elimination to Birthday last week.

“I expected him to be way better,” trainer Tim Twaddle said after the race. “Deep down, I obviously was dreaming about winning the race, but second-guessing myself after last week of course. I spoke to Dexter a couple times through the week and made a few changes. I did a small shoeing change; we did a little vet work. He was just much sharper coming into the race.”

Fourever Boy races for owners Micki Rae Stables and Tim Twaddle. In his march to millionaire status, Fourever Boy collected his sixth victory from 39 starts. His earnings currently sit at $842,888 and he paid $11 to win.

Silver Label (Bettor’s Delight) led pillar to post in the C$50,000 Margaret Juravinski Memorial to stop the clock in 1:52.3.

Driver James MacDonald cleared control from Need To Breathe to a :27 first quarter and toyed with her competition from that point onward. Past a solid :55.4 half, Silver Label strolled up the backstretch with Need To Breathe growing increasingly antsy from the pocket and Goudawon making steady gains first over to three-quarters in 1:23.4.

Goudawon began a retreat from first over around the final turn and gave room for Need To Breathe to lay her attack at the top of the stretch. But MacDonald cut the corner with Silver Label and caught a two-length cushion while Need To Breathe gathered her momentum while drifting on the outside. Need To Breathe came charging late, though MacDonald had the race measured and Silver Label won by a half-length. Raptors Won rallied from second over to finish third and Intothemysticmoon settled for fourth.

SILVER LABEL REPLAY

Nick Gallucci trains Silver Label, a 4-year-old mare for owner-breeder Millar Farms. She won her 15th race from 27 career starts, has now earned $705,486 and paid $2.40 to win.

For complete race results, click here.

From Standardbred Canada