"I can do anything with him; it feels like that, at least. ...You hear about all the great horses that have won big races and they have to be manageable in the race. I think that's his best attribute."

A win in the 2018 Pepsi North America Cup would certainly be a family affair if Ontario Sired pacing colt St Lads Neptune finds his way to the winner's circle.

Purchased from the 2016 Canadian Yearling Sale for $22,000, St Lads Neptune (Mach Three - Sunbather) is owned by the father-son tandem of Carl & Jody Jamieson along with Menary Racing Inc., while Jody's wife Stephanie handles the training.

After a fin-win rookie campaign, St Lads Neptune has only one win from three seasonal starts but has yet to finish worse than second. Those second-place finishes have both come at the hands of seasonally-undefeated Lather Up, the favourite heading into Saturday's rich final.

At Tuesday's post draw, a jubilant Team Jamieson erupted with cheers when the pill with #1 came out and drawmaster Connor Carrick flashed up St Lads Neptune. That position places the colt inside all three elimination winners: Stay Hungry (PP2, Doug McNair, 3-1) Wes Delight (PP3, Corey Callahan, 9-2) and favoured Lather Up (PP4, Montrell Teague, 2-1).

"We're going to be sitting likely two, three, maybe four...whatever, at least we're not back seven or eight," owner and developer Carl Jamieson told Trot Insider. "And I think we'll have a real good shot at getting home."

Jody Jamieson was also a guest on Sportsnet 590's The Good Show with Ashley Docking & JD Bunkis on Friday to discuss St Lads Neptune's North America Cup chances. That interview is available below.

The 35th edition of Canada’s richest harness race, showcasing the finest three-year-old pacers on the continent, will head postward at 10:40 p.m. (EDT) and will be broadcast live on TSN2 from 10:00 – 11:00 p.m. (EDT). The winner of the Pepsi North America Cup earns $500,000. This year’s edition marks the 18th anniversary of Pepsi’s sponsorship of the race.

2018 Pepsi North America Cup
(Post – Horse – Driver - Odds)
1 – St Lads Neptune – Jody Jamieson - 8/1
2 – Stay Hungry – Doug McNair - 5/2
3 – Wes Delight – Corey Callahan - 9/2
4 – Lather Up – Montrell Teague - 2/1
5 – American History – Yannick Gingras - 10/1
6 – Lost In Time – Scott Zeron - 12/1
7 – Done Well – Tim Tetrick - 4/1
8 – Nutcracker Sweet – David Miller - 15/1
9 – Hayden Hanover – Andy Miller - 20/1
10 – Hitman Hill – Brett Miller - 20/1

The Cup night card will offer three Pick-4 wagers, including an All Stakes Pick-4 with a $100,000 guaranteed pool, comprising of Races 9 through 12. There will also be a mandatory payout on the Jackpot Hi-5.

The North America Cup undercard features some of harness racing's premier competitors in the $415,000 Fan Hanover for three-year-old pacing fillies, $370,000 Roses Are Red for pacing mares, $250,000 Armbro Flight for trotting mares, $266,000 Goodtimes for three-year-old trotters and the $100,000 Mohawk Gold Cup Invitational for pacers.

Post time for the first of 15 races on the Pepsi North America Cup card is 6:30 p.m.

To view Saturday's entries, click on one of the following links:
Woodbine Mohawk Park - Saturday Entries - Program Pages (courtesy TrackIT).

The I Love Canadian Harness Racing Fan Club has also organized an online handicapping contest for Saturday's card. If you are heading to Mohawk on Saturday, make sure to visit the I Love Canadian Harness Racing Fan Club booth. The Fan Club be offering a trackside contest to select the winner of the Pepsi North America Cup and have some great new Fan Club swag for sale.