With spring comes seasonal debuts for many sophomore Standardbreds looking to make an impact in that important three-year-old campaign. Over the last 24 hours, some North America Cup-eligible pacing colts qualified impressively in their first respective charted miles of the year.

Fans watching the North America Cup at Mohawk

Winless as a freshman, Caviart Stetson converted off a pocket ride in his first qualifier of the year on Friday (March 22) at Spring Garden Ranch. Sitting in the two hole behind Ohio Sires Stakes star Dislocator (Beau Brown) for the majority of the mile, Caviart Stetson and driver Leon Bailey emerged late and powered past the pacesetter for the half-length score in 1:56.2.

A homebred of Caviart Farms, Caviart Stetson (Well Said - Caviart Spring) is now under the guidance of Brian Brown after an 0-for-6 rookie season with Nancy Johansson.

At Harrah's Hoosier Park, Rockie Got Framed was the fastest three-year-old on a card that featured 18 qualifying races as the Indiana oval prepares for its seasonal bow next Saturday night.

With Ricky Macomber in the sulky for trainer/wife Jamie Macomber, Rockie Got Framed sat off the early pace of Shadys Starlight (Mike Oosting) before starting a first-over move after the half. Unleashing a strong :26.4 final quarter, 'Rockie' closed from more than eight lengths off the leader at the third quarter, narrowed that margin to three lengths at the head of the lane and then wore down the frontrunner for a three-quarter length decision in 1:56.3.

Owned by Rocco Ruffolo of Chicago, Ill. and Eleven Star Stables of Portland, Ind. Rockie Got Framed was winless in 10 freshman outings while being race timed in 1:51.3 at Hoosier.

At The Meadowlands, World On Edge made his second qualifying appearance of the season after a third-place effort one week ago. Driver Matt Kakaley guided World On Edge through on-the-engine fractions of
:29.1, :57.1 and 1:25.2 before closing the mile in :28.1 to trip the timer in 1:53.4 over older pacing mare Reclamation (Yannick Gingras).

A winner of one freshman start from 10 tries, World On Edge (Roll With Joe - Inanotherworld) is owned by trainer Ron Burke's Burke Racing Stable LLC along with Joseph Di Scala Jr. of Somers, N.Y., Silva Purnel & Libby of Delray Beach, Fl. and Adriano Sorella of Guelph, Ont.

There are 82 three-year-old pacers that been nominated to the 36th edition of the $1 million Pepsi North America Cup. Canada’s richest harness racing event, this year’s 'Cup' Final is scheduled for Saturday, June 15 at Woodbine Mohawk Park. The eliminations for the $1 million final will take place a week prior on Saturday, June 8.

Be sure to check out the April issue of TROT Magazine for its popular Pepsi North America Cup Spring Book.