JK Endofanera captured the 31st edition of the $1 million Pepsi North America Cup for three-year-old pacing colts and geldings on Saturday, June 14 at Mohawk Racetrack.
Jk Endofanera and driver Brian Sears swept by in deep stretch to win North America's richest pacing race in a career-best 1:48.4 for trainer Ron Burke and the 3 Brothers Stables.
Elimination winner Lyonssomewhere (Corey Callahan) was the first to the front from post four with eight-hole assignee Luck Be Withyou (Ron Pierce) rolling up into the pocket over the favoured elimination winner, Tellitlikeitis (Brett Miller). Lyonssomewhere matched the fastest first quarter in North America Cup history as he hit the mark in :25.1.
As the colts headed into the backstretch, Tellitlikeitis swept to command with Hes Watching (Tim Tetrick) hot on his heels and edging by at the half in :53.2.
Hes Watching raced to three-quarters in 1:20.3 with the fastest elimination winner, McWicked (David Miller), advancing first over. Meanwhile, JK Endofanera, who was caught outside in seventh from post nine early on, picked up his cover.
Hes Watching continued to lead into the stretch with McWicked looming and Tellitlikeitis slipping up the inside, but JK Endofanera kicked home off cover in :27-seconds to steal the glory. Tellitlikeitis finished second by one and a half lengths with Hes Watching two and a half lengths behind in third.
The complete order of finish was: JK Endofanera, Tellitlikeitis, Hes Watching, McWicked, Lyonssomewhere, Beat The Drum (Yannick Gingras), Luck Be Withyou, Lets Drink On It (Tyler Smith), Ideal Cowboy (Scott Zeron), and Sometimes Said (John Campbell).
"I really didn't see the fractions until the three-quarters in 1:20 and a piece and I thought they've got to come back to me just a little bit," commented Sears after the win. "My colt wasn't really real aggressive, but when I called on him he showed up."
A top colt heading into the season, ranked seventh in Trot Magazine's Spring Book, JK Endofanera was overlooked in the final after baring out in the stretch and finishing third in his elimination. He paid $26.30, $9.20 and $5.90 for the 12-1 upset with equipment changes that included removing a left Murphy blind and adding blinkers.
"The horse was a top colt going into the Meadowlands Pace and North America Cup, but it's a week to week thing," noted Sears. "When you're hot, you're hot and when you throw in a bad one, they forget about you."
Sears earned his second North America Cup victory, having previously hoisted the coveted trophy in 2005 with Rocknroll Hanover. The win was Burke's first in three Cup starts and a special one for Alan, Ron and Steve Katz of the 3 Brothers Stables as the homebred was named for their late father Jack Katz, using his initials, and veterinarian Dr. Stephen P. Dey II, who passed away on the day the colt was foaled at his Heritage Hills Farm, marking an end of an era for their family.
The son of Art Major is out of the 3 Brothers Stables' stakes winning mare Lady Presidential. He never finished worse than second in seven freshman starts, including four wins, while banking $371,850. He began his sophomore campaign with three straight stakes wins in the Simpson Memorial, Pocono Cup and Somebeachsomewhere before the North America Cup eliminations. Saturday's win more than doubled his career bankroll, leaving him just shy of the million-dollar mark.
Click here for recaps and replays of Saturday's undercard, including the $272,100 Goodtimes Trot for three-year-olds, $266,000 Armbro Flight for trotting mares, $330,000 Roses Are Red for pacing mares, $100,000 Mohawk Gold Cup Invitational Pace, and $457,500 Fan Hanover for three-year-old pacing fillies.
Important Links
- Entries - Saturday's overnight sheet
- Results - Saturday's racing results
- Program Pages - past performance program page for each race, courtesy of TrackIT
- News - all the previews and recaps leading up to Canadian harness racing's richest prize
- Live Video - watch the races here live starting at 6:45 p.m.