Juravinski Cup elims held at Flamboro

The newly named Charles Juravinski Cup for four-year-olds featured three $25,000 harness racing eliminations Sunday at Flamboro Downs. The top three finishers from each division return next Sunday (May 22) for the $273,500 final.

The 2^nd race first elimination division saw Century Heineken and driver Doug McNair lead the field from the start until mid-stretch before they were gunned down by the race favorite, Rockyroad Hanover ($2.30) and driver Dexter Dunn by three-quarters of a length in 1:51. Armor Seelster (Jody Jamieson) was third.

An accident marred the race between the half mile pole and the three-quarters when Twin B Heart Throb, who was third on the rail, make a break and interfered with three horses, including the winner.

ROCKYROAD HANOVER REPLAY

For Rockyroad Hanover, the son of Captaintreacherous posted his first win in two starts this season. He is trained by Tony Alagna for the M3 Racing Stable of Berlin, Ohio.

In the 5^th race, the second Juravinski elimination, it was the upset minded Desperate Man and driver Trevor Henry who used live first-over cover from American Courage to win at odds of 10-1.

Virgo (Doug McNair) led the field early on to the first quarter in :26.3. Then the race favorite, Charlie May and driver Dexter Dunn made a power move to take command before the half mile in :55.

American Courage and driver Matt Kakaley came first-over before the half mile but could not catch Charlie May as they past the three-quarters in 1:22.2.

But enjoying second-over cover was Desperate Man and Henry and they tipped out on the final turn and gunned down Charlie May and held off Linedrive Hanover (James MacDonald) to win by a head in 1:50.2. Charlie May was third.

DESPERATE MAN REPLAY

A gelded son of Shadow Play, it was his first win in two starts in 2022. He is trained by Kathy Ceechin, who co-owns Desperate Man with John Ceechin, Nicole Davies and Paul Davies, all of Ontario. He paid $22.30 to win

In the 7^th race, the third and final elimination division for the Juravinski Cup, it was Bulldog Hanover and driver Jody Jamieson who “bulldogged” their way to the lead from post six and never looked back.

Pressed right from the start on the outside by Powertrain and driver Sylvain Filion, Bulldog Hanover was not fazed at all through fractions of :27.1 and :54.3 before Powertrain spit out the bit at the three-quarters in 1:21.3.

In fact, at the three-quarters, Bulldog Hanover was up by three lengths and held that margin until the stretch where he held on to win by a half length in 1:49.3. Lou’s Pearlman (Yannick Gingras) was second with Dean B Hanover (Jordan Stratton) third and in the final.

Bulldog Hanover’s 1:49.3 clocking set a track and Canadian record and bests the previous track record for an aged pacing stallion of 1:50.4 set by All Bets Off in 2015. It also trumps the Canadian record of 1:50.3 first set by Sunfire Blue Chip in 2014 at Hippodrome 3R and matched by All Bets Off at 3R in 2015, Crombie A at Charlottetown Driving Park in 2015 and Evenin Of Pleasure at The Raceway at Western Fair District in 2016.

BULLDOG HANOVER REPLAY

It was the first start this year for Bulldog Hanover. The stallion by Shadow Play is trained and co-owned by Jack Darling with Brad Grant and paid $4.00 to win.

After the completion of the eliminations, Flamboro drew the field for the $273,500 Charles Juravinski Memorial Cup Final for Sunday, May 22. The field as they will align appears below:

Post-Horse Name-Driver-Trainer
1-Lous Pearlman by Sweet Lou -Yannick Gingras-Ron Burke
2-Bulldog Hanover by Shadow Play -Jody Jamieson-Jack Darling
3-Charlie May by McArdle -Dexter Dunn-Steve Carter
4-Rockyroad Hanover by Captaintreacherous -Dexter Dunn-Tony Alagna
5-Linedrive Hanover by Betting Line -James MacDonald-Anthony Beaton
6-Armor Seelster by Bettor’s Delight -Jody Jamieson-Gabriella Sasso
7-Century Heineken by Bettor’s Delight -Doug McNair-Gregg McNair
8-Desperate Man by Shadow Play -Trevor Henry-Kathy Cecchin
9-Dean B Hanover by Betting Line -Jordan Stratton-Jeff Gillis

The race was renamed from the Confederation Cup earlier this year to honour the track’s late co-founder.

For full race results, click here.

by Steve Wolf, for Harnesslink