The connections of 56 three-year-old pacers have made the first sustaining payment to remain eligible to the 34th Pepsi North America Cup.

The $1 million Pepsi North America Cup is Canada’s richest harness race and will take place on Saturday, June 17 at Mohawk Racetrack.

A total of 60 three-year-olds were originally nominated and all but four have been kept eligible through the first sustaining payment.

Huntsville, winning in 1:49 at The Red Mile

Ray Schnittker trainee Huntsville and Brian Brown trainee Downbytheseaside headline the group of eligible three-year-olds. Both colts are sired by 2008 Pepsi North America Cup champion Somebeachsomewhere and both set World Records during their rookie campaigns.

Downbytheseaside, winning at Woodbine Racetrack

2016 Metro Pace winner Beyond Delight, who is trained by Tony O’Sullivan, is another notable pacer on the list eligible three-year-olds. The son of Bettors Delight won the O’Brien Award as Canada’s top two-year-old pacing colt in 2016.

2016 Metro Pace winner Beyond Delight

The eliminations for this year’s Pepsi North America Cup will take place on Saturday, June 10. The $1 million final will take place the following week.

The next sustaining payment for the Pepsi North America Cup is due April 15. The fee is $1,000 CAD or $715 USD.

Below is the list of current eligible three-year-old pacers to the 2017 Pepsi North America Cup.

Sustain 1 Payment – 56 horses

(with files from WEG)