It was 10 years ago this year that pacing colt Somebeachsomewhere dominated harness racing's headlines throughout his nearly flawless sophomore season.

In honour of the Canadian-sired superstar many consider one of the greatest Standardbreds to ever look through a bridle, Trot Insider will post the news stories from his on-track appearances throughout the year as they happened a decade ago along with the replays from those captivating races.

Ten years ago today, August 17, 2008, Somebeachsomewhere became the first sophomore in harness racing history to pace sub-1:50 on a half-mile track with his awe-inspiring two-heat performance in the Confederation Cup at Flamboro Downs.

Driver Paul MacDonell discusses the lead-up to the Confederation Cup in this special interview.

"I was a little bit shocked that he did that so easy that day," MacDonell relayed to Trot Insider. "I think I backed the second quarter down to 29 and change and he was still able to pull that 49 and 2 mile off...and he was just as strong at the wire as he was anywhere."

Confederation Cup Elims Complete; Final Set

Somebeachsomewhere and Shadow Play won their respective $50,000 Confederation Cup eliminations as expected on Sunday at Flamboro Downs with the draw for the final now complete.

Under a confident drive from Paul MacDonell, Somebeachsomewhere delivered at 1-9 in Sunday's first $50,000 Confederation Cup elimination.

Floating out from third while Deuce Seelster made the front, MacDonell fired his charge down the backstretch and cleared to the top just after the :26.2 opener. From there, the pace slowed in the field of six through a :56 half and with a breather like that few could outsprint 'The Beach'. Santanna Blue Chip (Jody Jamieson) made it a race with a rush on the leader down the backstretch through a 1:24.2 third station but the favourite kicked home in :26.4 to trip the timer in 1:51.3 with Deuce Seelster coming back on for second and Santanna Blue Chip staying for third ahead of The Mohegan Pan (Steve Condren).

"Anytime a horse goes 26 openers and closers, that's a good mile," stated trainer Brent MacGrath. "Paul [MacDonell] said he was awesome, and when he says that you know it means something."

Somebeachsomewhere is now 13-for-14 lifetime, and with the win surpasses $2 million US in lifetime earnings - making him the horse to achieve $2 million in the fewest number of lifetime starts. Rocknroll Hanover did it in 15 lifetime starts.

Somebeachsomewhere In World Record 1:49.2

A monstrous performance from Somebeachsomewhere and driver Paul MacDonell established a new world record of 1:49.2 in the $493,000 final of Sunday's 32nd edition of the Confederation Cup at Flamboro Downs.

Leaving alertly from post 2 and getting command early, Somebeachsomewhere carved out fractions of :26.1, :55.2, and 1:22.4 before powering home in a menacing :26.3 to stop the clock in 1:49.2. Santanna Blue Chip rode the pocket to finish second with The Mohegan Pan (Steve Condren) in third.

The time of the mile shaves three-fifths of a second off Mr Feelgood's mark of 1:50 set in the 2006 Little Brown Jug final at Delaware.

"We knew he had that kind of a mile in him," stated a jubilant trainer and co-owner Brent MacGrath after the race. "The post meant a lot. He drew good, and Paul rated him well.

"He touched a quarter in his elim. I was just trying to lighten him up and I had the bell boots off him, but he's so good gaited it wasn't an issue. It was just superficial and he's fine."

When asked if this changed his mind about an appearance in the Little Brown Jug, MacGrath stood firm on his prior opinions.

"We want to prep this horse for a world record in Kentucky. We think he can do something that no other horse has done, and if we're doing that it's not fair to the horse to do both [the Jug and Kentucky]. It just doesn't make sense."

Paul MacDonell has unquestionably owned this event, notching his fifth Cup win - more than any other driver. It also marks the first Confederation Cup win for trainer Brent MacGrath, breeder Stephanie Smith and sire Mach Three.

Somebeachsomewhere (Mach Three - Wheres The Beach) is now 14-for-15 lifetime with over $2.3 million earned for his owners in the Schooner Stables of Bible Hill, N.S.