"In order to be the man, you have to beat the man."

And so far, Beau Jangles has looked like a man against boys in his first three sophomore starts of 2026. His first major test of the year comes this Saturday (June 6) in arguably one of the most stacked Pepsi North America Cup eliminations in the race's rich history.

In this forum, Beau Jangles needs little in the way of introduction but for the sake of formality he gets one.

Beau Jangles is the literal picture of perfection. He's yet to face defeat in his 15-race career after a perfect 12-start rookie season that landed him honours on both sides of the border as Horse of the Year. He's banked $1.86 million for owners Graham Grace Stables LLC of Clifton, Va., Kiwi Stables LLC of La Plata, Md. and Bolton Stables of Clermont, Fl.

Most recently, Beau Jangles battled the elements and his provincial rivals on May 23 at Woodbine Mohawk Park with an in-hand 1:50.3 score for driver Bob McClure and trainer Dr. Ian Moore. 

“He hasn't been exerted or tested, and I think he's coming into some pretty heavy races as sharp as you can possibly have him," said McClure after that rain-soaked performance.

 The 7-5 favourite in TROT Magazine’s 2026 Pepsi North America Cup Spring Book, Beau Jangles is the 4-5 choice in the second $50,000 Pepsi North America Cup elimination this weekend, leaving from post seven in his field of eight.

"He seems to be coming in good shape," noted Moore on Tuesday evening. "He'll be training at 7 a.m. [Wednesday] and ready to rattle."

Trot Insider spoke with Moore and co-owner Jonathan Roberts for an inside look at the colt.

He wintered in Florida. When did you start back with him?

Moore: "January the 19th."

Have you noticed any changes from last year to this year?

Moore: "He didn't really grown any; he did fill out some...bigger in the chest and that kind of thing."

What does his tentative schedule look like after the North America Cup?

Roberts: "We'll take it week by week. Everybody asks what his schedule is and I say 'well, he's eligible to a lot of stuff.' Doc has his way that he wants him to be and how often he wants him to race.  That's what we did last year."

What's his biggest asset/strength?

Roberts: "There's like five attributes that a racehorse can have. They can be smart, they can be quick, they can be long, they can carry their speed for a long way, and they can have really high speed. Most horses have two or three. This horse has all five. It's like a perfect storm. All of that just doesn't go together all the time. It's so rare, and I think that's what makes him great."

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

Moore: "He was a good two-year-old, so any good two-year-old you hope is going to be North America Cup material. But we're not thinking that too much as you're racing with a two-year-old. We're going to get through the two-year-old year and then start prepping him for some big races, including the N.A. Cup next year."

As someone who hasn't won this race before, how does it feel to have a horse that appears to have a legit shot at the North America Cup?

Moore: "We've had a lot of disappointments in that race," noting multiple winners — Physicallyinclined, Century Farroh and Stockade Seelster — in the Pepsi North America Cup Consolation. "It would be very nice for sure, as it would be for all the other trainers and owners entered."

(Standardbred Canada)