Flamboro: Gingras, Burke prevail in both Charles Juravinski Memorial Cup elims
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Driver Yannick Gingras and trainer Ron Burke teamed up with Birthday and Bythemissal to win the pair of C$35,000 Charles Juravinski Memorial Cup eliminations for 4-year-old male pacers on Sunday night at Flamboro Downs.
Birthday got away in third from post one in the opening elimination but was out and on the move before the 26 3/5 quarter and took over command from Mind Hunter (Bob McClure) beyond that marker. From there, Birthday got to the half in 55 2/5 and then had to deal with a first-over bid by Frozen Hanover (Louis-Philippe Roy), which he handled successfully through three-quarters in 1:23.
There was no catching Birthday in the 28 1/5 last quarter, as he was able to get to the finish line half a length ahead of Camara Moment (Doug McNair), who rallied nicely three-wide from sixth to second in the final panel. Frozen Hanover stayed on gamely to collect third, and the last spot in next week's final went to Layton Hanover (James MacDonald).
A Sweet Lou gelding and homebred for Burke Racing Stable LLC. and Weaver Bruscemi LLC., Birthday picked up his eighth lifetime win and has now earned C$376,337. He paid $4.40 to win as the 6-5 favorite.
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In the other elimination Cold Creek Queso (Sylvain Filion) grabbed early control from post two, but Bythemissal was sent by Gingras from post seven and was able to hit the front prior to the 26 4/5 quarter. Bythemissal never really had an anxious moment after that, as he sailed through middle-half stations of 55 2/5 and 1:23 4/5 on his way to a one length victory over Cold Creek Queso in a 1:51 4/5 mile. Pleaseletmeknow (MacDonald) was third, followed by Roll With The Flow (McClure).
Bythemissal, a gelded son of Downbytheseaside, is owned by Burke Racing Stable LLC., Eric Good, Rich Lombardo Racing LLC., and Weaver Bruscemi LLC. Bythemissal has compiled a record of 17-2-1 from 20 career tries and pushed his bankroll to C$1,243,941. He was the 2-5 favorite and returned $2.90 to win.