by Mark McKelvie, WEG Communications

Dundas, ON — The return of Confederation Cup night is just around the corner and the hype continues to build for the big night this Sunday (May 17) at Flamboro Downs.

The C$226,575 Confederation Cup for 4-year-old pacers will see an impressive field of nine battle in Canada’s signature half-mile track event. Carded as Race 10, the Confederation Cup final features a field with combined earnings of more than C$3.8 million.

The highest-earning horse in the field is elimination winner All Bets Off. The Ron Burke trainee won his elimination last Sunday in a track record time of 1:50.4. All Bets off has 16 career victories and earnings of more than $1.1 million. He will leave from post position five Sunday evening with driver Matt Kakaley.

Burke will also send out Limelight Beach from post position six. Limelight Beach won last year’s Little Brown Jug and will be looking to recreate that magic of a half-mile track with regular driver Yannick Gingras.

The other elimination winner Let’s Drink On It will leave from post position eight. Let’s Drink On It races for the Midwest connections of Joe and Tina Seekman and will be driven by Billy Davis Jr.

Davis is currently the second leading driver during the 2015 Flamboro Downs meet with 72 victories. Davis, who was a last-second replacement to drive Let’s Drink On It in the elimination, will be seeking the biggest victory of his career.

A pair of local horses will be looking to pull off the upset in Sunday’s final.

Nirvana Seelster, who starts from post position four, is trained by Bill Budd of Waterdown. The Budd trainee has four victories this season and will be driven by past Confederation Cup winner Jody Jamieson.

Somewhere Fancy will start in the second-tier from post nine for trainer Sean Mehlenbacher of Hamilton. Somewhere Fancy finished a solid second in his elimination and will be driven by Doug McNair, who won the 2010 edition of the Confederation Cup.

Here is the full field for the C$226,575 Confederation Cup.

1. Ideal Cowboy–Tim Tetrick–5/2
2. Big Boy Dreams–Sylvain Filion–10/1
3. National Debt–Chris Christoforou–9/2
4. Nirvana Seelster–Jody Jamieson–25/1
5. All Bets Off–Matt Kakaley–8/5
6. Limelight Beach–Yannick Gingras–5/1
7. Bettorever–Corey Callahan–7/1
8. Let’s Drink On It–Billy Davis Jr.–9/2
9. Somewhere Fancy–Doug McNair–12/1

Confederation Cup night will be an evening of non-stop action at Flamboro Downs. Fans will be entertained by Flamboro’s famous miniature race, a Racing Under Saddle event, the Money Machine Madness and sampling stations. Fans will also have a chance to get up close and meet drivers and RUS riders.

Greg Blanchard and Ken Middleton will provide commentary and analysis all evening for both fans on track and watching via simulcast.

Fans are also asked to bring a canned food item Sunday in support of the Good Shepherd Food Bank of Hamilton. Those who bring a canned food item will receive a ballot for a chance to win a dinner for eight at Flamboro Downs.

Post time for Confederation Cup night is 6 p.m. For more information and details visit www.FlamboroDowns.com.