Flamboro: Confederation Cup eliminations won by Western Joe, Filibuster Hanover

Western Joe, with Doug McNair in the bike, showed incredible quickness early, and then manhandled the competition in the first of two C$20,000 eliminations for the Confederation Cup on Sunday night at Flamboro Downs.

With experience on his side this year, the 4-year-old Western Joe left alertly and secured the front from Maroma Beach prior to the 26 4/5 opening quarter. Second choice Funknwaffles had the pole position but could only get away third in the early stages. Western Joe controlled the half-mile pace, hitting that barrier in 56 2/5 and then setting sail into the third turn.

With Funknwaffles and Corey Callahan on the offensive, McNair hardly moved a muscle as Western Joe took the bit and sprinted off with a 27 4/5 third quarter and then a 27 2/5 final panel, securing the 1:51 3/5 victory over pocket-sitter Maroma Beach. Eddard Hanover made a bold move down the backstretch, then appeared to flatten on the final turn, but re-rallied to secure the third spot over Funknwaffles. All four return for the final.

Chris Choate trains Western Joe, now with seven wins in 14 starts this year for owner Anthony Ruggeri. Western Joe returned $3.40 as the betting choice.

Filibuster Hanover made it two-for-two in 2018 as the 1-5 favorite in the second C$20,000 elimination heat. Though the odds were short, driver Yannick Gingras was given no favors as Art Scene quickly looped him into the first turn, securing the front and relegating the favorite to a three-hole. Driver Louis-Philippe Roy had Art Scene in front through a 26 3/5 opening quarter and cut a lively half of 55 3/5 before being joined by the favorite.

The sprint off the third turn was hard, but Art Scene had no answer when Filibuster Hanover drew alongside, and by three-quarters in 1:23 1/5, the favorite had the lead, but was far from home free as taking up the chase behind him were Daiymir and Odds On Delray. Daiymir attacked on the outside as Odds On Delray rushed to the inside, but neither horse was able to dent the margin, as Gingras drove Filibuster Hanover to the wire and a 1:51 4/5 victory. Odds On Delray remained second, with a hard-charging Boogie Shuffle third to cross the wire ahead of Daiymir.

Burke Stable, Joseph DiScala Jr., J. & T. Silva Stable and Weaver Bruscemi share ownership in Filibuster Hanover, a gelded son of Somebeachsomewhere. Ron Burke trains Filibuster Hanover, and the sport’s leading conditioner has three of the eight headed toward the May 20 final.

Filibuster Hanover returned $2.50 to win.