Field Set for Confederation Cup

The horses for the 35^th Confederation Cup drew on Thursday afternoon. 16 horses entered Flamboro’s signature event and will race in two heats. The top four from races eight and nine plus one selected fifth-place finisher will advance to the US$539,335 final, scheduled for race 12. The race will take place on Sunday, August 14. First race post time is scheduled for 1 pm.

The likely choice is North America Cup champion Up The Credit. With a lifetime mark of 1:49 and seasonal earnings of $939,000, Up The Credit comes off a second-place effort at Mohawk in a Preferred event. Up The Credit is owned by Carl Jamieson, Thomas Kyron, Brian Paquet and Joanne Morrison. He is trained by Carl Jamieson and World Driving Champion Jody Jamieson is listed to drive.

One of the outsiders is Mystician. The 2010 Metro Pace champion has mainly camped in Canada, competing in the Ontario Sires Stakes. He has traveled the Flamboro oval several times in his career. He is owned by Jeffrey Gillis, Ken Henwood, Mac Nichol and Gerald Stay. He is trained by Jeffrey Gillis.

Also watch Rollwithitharry. He has raced several times over the half-mile tracks in New York and has done very well. Also watch Wink N Atcha, who was third in the Meadowlands Pace and watch Bestofbest Hanover, who I expected to win the Meadowlands Pace. He returns to Canada, where he did his best.

Here are the 16 horses that will compete in the US$642,211 Confederation Cup. The top four and a selected fifth-place finisher will advance to the final, scheduled for race 12.

Race 8 First Heat, First Elimination US$50,787

1. Prodigal Seelster

2. Mystician

3. Foreclosure N

4. Mystic Desire

5. Odysseus Blue Chip

6. Arsenal

7. Up The Credit

8. Bestofbest Hanover

Race 9 First Heat, Second Elimination US$50,787

1. Mickey Hanover

2. Eighteen

3. Rollwithitharry

4. Townslight Hanover

5. Keystone Velocity

6. Hare Craft

7. Rock To Glory

8. Wink N Atcha

Dunn Stays on Top in Third Round

New Zealand’s Dexter Dunn stays on top of the standings in the $28,100 World Driving Championship at Monticello Raceway. Spain’s Juan Rierra-Rossello is second and U.S.A’s Corey Callahan is in third.

Juan Rierra-Rossello took the first “Championship” in 1:59.2, returning $3.60 to win. Dexter Dunn was second with Always Right and Real Navigator was third with Birger Jorgensen in the bike.

Sweden’s Bjorn Goop took the second Championship, going the distance of a mile and three-quarters. He went the distance in 3:44 and paid $11 to win. Smooth Muscles was second with Birger Jorgensen and Sir Kensington with Corey Callahan was third.

Bjorn Goop took the third Championship aboard Four Starz Ransome. He went the mile in 2:03.1 and paid $5.50 to win. Dexter Dunn was second with Pine Ranger and Moon City Special was third with Corey Callahan in the sulky.

Denmark’s Birger Jorgensen took the final Championship aboard Candy’s Pool in 1:59, returning $3 to win. Christoffer Bliss was second with Micheal Nimczyk was second and Cam’s Accord with Juan Rierra-Rossello was third.

Here are the current standings of the World Driving Championship. The competition will continue at the Meadowlands Racetrack on Aug. 4 and conclude at Yonkers Raceway on Aug. 5.

Rank-Driver-Driver’s Coutnry-Points

1st-DEXTER DUNN (NEW ZEALAND)—99

2nd-JUAN RIERRA-ROSSELLO (SPAIN)--96

3rd-COREY CALLAHAN (USA)—91

4th-BJORN GOOP (SWEDEN)—89

5th-BIRGER JORGENSON (DENMARK)—87

6th-JODY JAMIESON (CANADA)—76

7th-ENRICO BELLEI (ITALY)—67

8th-FRANCK NIVARD (FRANCE)—66

9th-CHRIS LEWIS (AUSTRALIA)—61

10th-MICHEAL NIMZCYK (GERMANY)—60

Dexter Dunn Leads After Second Round

Dexter Dunn, representing New Zealand, took the lead in the $34,000 World Driving Championship at Tioga Downs on Monday, Aug. 1. Dunn’s lead is two points ahead of Canada’s Jody Jamieson and 34 points ahead of Germany’s Micheal Nimczyk, who is currently at the bottom of the standings.

Corey Callahan took the first “Championship” aboard an even-money Curly Top. He went the mile and a quarter in 2:28.3. Spin Spanky Spin was second for France’s Franck Nivard and Photo Master was third with Italy’s Enrico Bellei, who paid $25.80 to show.

Dexter Dunn took the second Championship aboard Charismatic, a $29.40 winner, in 1:55.3. Savannah Scion was second with Franck Nivard and Canada’s Jody Jamieson steered Sun Moon Lake to a third-place effort. 

Juan Rierra-Rossello upset in the third Championship aboard He’smyman. He paid $47.20 and went the mile in 1:57.4. Smooth Power with Chris Lewis finished second and Extreme Yankee with Dexter Dunn was third. 

Reigning champion Birger Jorgenson won the final Championship of the day on True Desire ($13.20 to win) in 1:54. Overseer NZ with Jody Jamieson finished second and Prince Tasman with Dexter Dunn finished third.

The World Driving Championship will return to Monticello on Wednesday, Aug. 3, then it goes to the Meadowlands on Aug. 4 and concludes at Yonkers on Aug. 5.

Here are the current standings after round two of the World Driving Championship.

Rank-Driver-Country-Points

1st-DEXTER DUNN (NEW ZEALAND)—68pts

2nd-JODY JAMIESON (CANADA)—64pts

3rd-COREY CALLAHAN (USA)—60pts

4th-JUAN RIERRA-ROSSELLO (SPAIN)—59pts.

5th-FRANCK NIVARD (FRANCE)—55pts

6th-CHRIS LEWIS (AUSTRALIA)—47pts

6th-ENRICO BELLEI (ITALY)—47pts

8th-BJORN GOOP (SWEDEN)—46pts

8th-BIRGER JORGENSON (DENMARK)—46pts

10th-MICHEAL NIMZCYK (GERMANY)—34pts