Trot Insider continues to profile the horses predicted to be the top contenders for Canadian harness racing's richest prize, the 2020 Pepsi North America Cup.

This year's edition of the North America Cup was originally slated to be contested on Saturday, June 20 at Woodbine Mohawk Park. On Wednesday (April 15), Woodbine Entertainment CEO Jim Lawson announced the race would be postponed due to the global COVID-19 pandemic.

Prior to the viral outbreak, TROT Magazine compiled its annual ranking of the horses expected to be in contention for the 2020 Pepsi North America Cup.

Continuing the countdown, Elver Hanover comes at #3 in TROT Magazine's 2020 Pepsi North America Cup Spring Book at odds of 6-1.

A gelded son of Yankee Cruiser - Edra Hanover, Elver Hanover comes into his three-year-old season with an unblemished record after going undefeated as a two-year-old. A winner of all nine freshman starts, Elver Hanover earned $363,450 and set a world record of 1:48.3 at The Red Mile in the Bluegrass Stakes to make him harness racing's fastest two-year-old male pacer. Elver Hanover’s richest payday came in the $300,000 Ohio Sire Stakes Final, where he paced Northfield Park in 1:51.2 and just missed the divisional world record by one-fifth of a second. Ron Burke trains Elver Hanover for Burke Racing Stable LLC, Bridgette Jablonsky, Jason Melillo, Jandt Silva Purnel & Libby.

Trot Insider was able to catch up with Burke for an update on Elver Hanover, his second horse in the North America Cup Spring Book top five.

Where did he winter?

“He wintered in South Carolina, he was done after Lexington so he had an earlier start. He got plenty of rest time and came back in January. He is more than ready right now, and would be racing right now if it wasn’t for everything that is going on [COVID-19].”

How has he changed from two to three?

“He grew a lot. Last year he was on the smaller side. I wondered about him if he would show progression because I worried if he was just a quick little horse that wouldn't get any better. He grew a lot and got a lot heavier. I am very happy with him that way. He did some special things last year but he didn't look like a special horse. This year, he looks special...he's a very good looking horse.”

You’ve trained speedy sons of Yankee Cruiser before, are the differences from two to three in Elver Hanover similar to others you have trained?

“No, Sweet Lou was a big two-year-old so he didn't have as much growth from two to three. This [Elver] is more from his mare’s side. I’ve had other good ones from that mare and they all progressed and got better as they got older so I am hoping that Elver will follow and if he improves the way they did from two to three and from three to four - he’ll be a force.”

What did his schedule look like coming into the North America Cup?

“He would have been racing already, I would have raced him in the Scarlet and Grey and then after that started him in the Sire Stakes. His schedule would have been set up good for him to come into the Cup tight and race ready to go.”

How is he staked this year?

“He is staked to everything we could stake him to. People asked why we didn't pay him into The [Little Brown] Jug but we that's the same week as our Breeders Championships, we have the Adios but it’s hard to pay into two things when the Ohio program is so good right now.”

What makes him such a good horse?

“He just does absolutely whatever it takes to win. That is what makes him so special. He really will do whatever he has to in order to get up for a win. There have been times last year when he should have got beat but it just wasn't going to happen.”

At what point last year did you think this horse was NA Cup material?

“He was actually in our second group training down and then every time we went faster and faster we would say 'you know what this colt might be alright.' In his first qualifier he was third and we said 'wow, this horse is good.' He trained with a horse called Opportune Hanover who was a good colt last year too and Chris Page said Opportune was a better horse, after he drove Elver he said 'yeah you’re right, this is a way better colt.'”

Previous Spring Book Profiles:

► Trot N.A. Cup Spring Book: #4
► Trot N.A. Cup Spring Book: #5
► Trot N.A. Cup Spring Book: #6
► Trot N.A. Cup Spring Book: #7
► Trot N.A. Cup Spring Book: #8
► Trot N.A. Cup Spring Book: #9
► Trot N.A. Cup Spring Book: #10