Flamboro: Gingras with sights set on Juravinski win

Located in Ontario, Flamboro Downs isn't exactly in driver Yannick Gingras' backyard. While originally from Canada – Quebec to be more precise – Gingras now resides in New Jersey but unlike some drivers never minds traveling for a stakes race.

"It is probably further away from [Quebec] than it is [New Jersey]," quipped Gingras about the distance to Flamboro in Hamilton, Ontario. "I'll go anywhere for a big race. That's what makes me happy, winning those. Maybe guys don't want to deal with the aggravation of the border, but it really isn't that big of a deal, and I enjoy going."

On Sunday (May 21) Gingras will make the trip to Flamboro for the second consecutive week to drive morning-line favorite Bythemissal in the C$262,000 Charles Juravinski Memorial for 4-year-old pacers. The Hall of Fame driver had a decision to make coming into the race, as he drove both Bythemissal and fellow elimination winner Birthday last Sunday for trainer Ron Burke.

Bythemissal was the more visually impressive elimination winner of the pair, working a bit to the front in a 26 4/5 opening quarter from outside post seven before finishing off the mile well in-hand in 1:51 4/5.

"He was wrapped up," said Gingras. "It was the first time he was used all year, too. Even though he raced twice and qualified twice, he was never used three-deep to the first turn before. I was really happy with his performance. He had something left, and I was happy with that."

The Burke camp spoke in glowing terms of Bythemissal in 2022 and he delivered by winning over $1.1 million along with the Little Brown Jug, Milstein Memorial, Adios and Ohio Sires Stakes Championship. Being an Ohio-bred, Chris Page drove the son of Downbytheseaside almost every start and only with a pair of appearances at the Meadowlands in late April did Gingras get an opportunity to test-drive the gelding.

"He's a bit of a weird horse because some of them you sit behind and think 'oh my God, this thing is unbelievable' and you feel the power. This guy is a little different. The first time I went with him were slow miles, but going to the quarter and the half, he feels good and travels well. You don't feel the power. I went with him last week [Juravinski elimination], and it was really the same thing, slow half and three-quarters, he felt pretty good. He went the mile in 1:51 3/5 and at the end of it I thought, 'this guy is really nice.' He feels better as you go faster. It seems like his bottom is pretty deep," concluded Gingras, who has post three with Bythemissal on Sunday.

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While Gingras will cede the lines to Travis Cullen for Sunday's final, he praised Birthday's elimination victory despite perhaps the horse appearing a bit spent in the last few steps of the mile.

"He wasn't done-done, but he was definitely more tired than Bythemissal. 1:51 1/5 is a pretty good mile there, and I used him a couple of times. I was pleased with his effort. He definitely wasn't all-in," said Gingras, who added that the small track is in Birthday's comfort zone. "He drives well and the half-mile track is perfect for him."

Birthday starts from post five, one spot outside of Frozen Hanover and three inside of Camara Moment, who both finished within three-quarters of a length of him in the elimination.

The Charles Juravinski Memorial is scheduled as race 10 on a card that also includes the C$50,000 Margaret Juravinski companion event for 4-year-old pacing mares and four Ontario Sires Stakes Grassroots events. Post time is 6:55 P.M. (EDT).