by Chris Roberts, director of racing operations, Great Canadian Gaming Corp.

Hamilton, ON — Art Rooney champ If I Can Dream, Ontario Sires Stakes star Fast Pay and New Jersey Classic victor Passmaster Hanover will lead a 13-horse charge for Confederation Cup XXXIII on Sunday afternoon (August 16) at Flamboro Downs.

The 13-horse contingent will be split into two C$50,000 eliminations at a press conference tomorrow morning. Twelve of the 13 starters had been paid into the Confederation Cup by way of sustaining payments. River Shark, owned partially by Brantford, Ontario resident Aaron Waxman, made a C$25,000 supplemental payment this morning to join the fray.

“We’ve assembled a group that’s a little short on numbers, but extremely high on quality,” said Race Secretary Sheri Minler-Grabatin. “The weather forecast looks outstanding, so we’re expecting some phenomenal racing.”

Raced in heats, each Confederation Cup elimination will carry a purse of C$50,000. The top four finishers from each elimination, plus one fifth place finisher drawn by lot, will return later on the Sunday card for the C$560,000 final.

Here are the starters for Confederation Cup XXXIII, in alphabetical order: Bay Of Sharks, Chief Of The Beach, Fast Pay, If I Can Dream, Lyons Horace, Nob Hill High, Passmaster Hanover, Primary Purpose, Rescue Plan, River Shark, Shipps Xpectancy, Stonebridge Master, and Vertigo Hanover.