Post positions were drawn for the 43rd edition of the $1 million Pepsi North America Cup (Grade 1) on Tuesday, June 9 at a press conference at Woodbine Mohawk Park.

The North America Cup will headline a star-studded graded stakes card of harness racing this Saturday, June 13 at Mohawk.

Three-year-old pacers Odds On Mr Mamba and Sweet Lovin Lou won their respective Cup eliminations last Saturday, June 6 and earned the opportunity to draw for posts two through six for the 10-horse final. After the elimination winners received their posts, the remaining horses and post positions were drawn. Odds On Mr Mamba landed post three and Sweet Lovin Lou drew post four. ​

It was a dramatic face-off last Saturday when Odds On Mr Mamba handed Beau Jangles his first loss in the second Cup elimination. Trainer Melanie Wrenn was pleasantly surprised by Odds On Mr Mamba’s victory.

“I knew he was a super nice colt but I truly didn't think we were gonna win,” shared Melanie Wren “Beau Jangles is pretty massive, and it was a big surprise for me. I knew he was fast, but he's really fast.”

James MacDonald, the driver of both Odds On Mr Mamba and Sweet Lovin Lou in their respective eliminations, has selected to drive Odds On Mr Mamba in the Cup final for trainer Melanie Wrenn and breeder-owner Odds On Racing of Boca Raton, Fl. ​

“It's always tough when you bring a horse along at two, you baby race them, you fall in love with them, and it's always hard to make a decision like that,” MacDonald shared. ​

“I think the North America Cup is, is my opinion, one of the premier races in the world, and it's going to be a big crowd, and they, I can't wait to see the great racing, and [the Cup] is going to be a war.” ​

The fastest two-year old in harness racing history by virtue of his 1:47.4 score last year at Harrah's Hoosier Park, Odds On Mr Mamba heads into Saturday's Cup final with nine wins in 10 starts.

“He (Odds On Mr Mamba) clearly was drifting a little bit, as everyone saw, but Melanie and Pete (Wrenn) were confident they could have him steering better, and I think no matter how the race goes, it's good to have that kick, and hopefully I can work a trip out and do something productive, because he's a special horse,” said MacDonald.

Sweet Lovin Lou had a powerful performance to win last Saturday’s first elimination for trainer / co-owner Dan Lagace and co-owners Edwin Buhler of Wantagh, N.Y., Big Als Stables of Woodbridge, Ont. and Brittany Farms Micki Rae of Versailles, Ky. Lagace announced Scott Zeron will drive, a decision he came to easily.

“Even when I raced 'Lou' last year in Kentucky, I listed James down first, but I put Scott down as an alternative if James wasn't going to make it. I think they both have the same style and fit the horse great,” said Legace.

Reigning Horse of the Year Beau Jangles drew post five. The superstar went into the elimination undefeated with 15 wins, including the Metro Pace and Breeders Crown. He suffered his first loss on Saturday night, but he will look to rebound for trainer Dr. Ian Moore.

“We figured [the loss] was going to happen at some point in time. It might have happened at the wrong time, hopefully not, but I still think he raced very well under the circumstances, and he seems to be fine. I jogged him today after a couple days off. So, hopefully, we'll have him ready to go on Saturday, shared Dr. Moore. “I don't think we've ever drawn inside of eight in this before. So, it's that was good to see that five for sure, and that is my lucky number.”

Ron Burke trains three of Saturday’s Cup contenders: Melillo, Lindy Dragonwater, and Al Papi. Burke goes for his third North America Cup win after winning last year’s edition with Louprint (in a stakes record 1:47.1) and in 2014 with JK Endofanera.

Melillo, to be driven by 2025 Cup winner Ronnie Wrenn Jr., drew post one. Lindy Dragonwater, the 2025 Ohio Sire Stakes champion, has post six with Jason Bartlett picking up the drive. World record holder Al Papi drew post eight and gets the services of Yannick Gingras. ​

Azrael Blue Chip starts from post seven for driver Andy McCarthy and trainer Besim Odza, making his Cup debut. Azrael Blue Chip comes into Saturday's Cup with seven wins in lifetime 13 starts.

Brandon Blvd, winner of the Grade 3 Somebeachsomewhere Stakes, is one of the major players in the Cup, but had no luck in the draw, landing post 10. ​ The Andrew Harris trainee has nine wins in 13 starts. ​

“Brandon Blvd has done a lot of firsts, I mean, last year as a two-year-old, he was the first 1:48.4 pacer here at [Mohawk], and last week he was the first horse to go by Beau Jangles, so if there are any first out there he can accomplish, maybe this is it,” said Harris.

Local hopeful No Waitlist drew post nine for owner Tim Dickieson, trainer Blake MacIntosh, and driver Doug McNair.

Redland Rocket Man will be looking for the upset from post two for first-time Cup starter John Pentland of Dorchester, 2024 Cup-winning driver Louis-Philippe Roy, and owners Pentland, Murray Cox of Rockwood and Gary Volpe of St. Thomas, Ont.

The complete field is listed below in post position order.

$1 million G1 Pepsi North America Cup - Race 11 (10:45 p.m. ET).
Post - Horse - Listed Driver - Trainer
1. ​Melillo - Ronnie Wrenn Jr. - Ron Burke​
2. ​Redland Rocket Man - Louis-Philippe Roy - John Pentland
3. ​​Odds On Mr Mamba - James MacDonald - Melanie Wrenn
4. ​Sweet Lovin Lou - Scott Zeron - Dan Lagace
5. ​Beau Jangles - Bob McClure - Dr. Ian Moore
6. ​Lindy Dragonwater - Jason Bartlett - Ron Burke
7. Azrael Blue Chip - Andrew McCarthy - Besim Odza
8. Al Papi - Yannick Gingras - Ron Burke
9. ​​No Waitlist - Doug McNair - Blake MacIntosh
10. ​Brandon Blvd - Dexter Dunn - Andrew Harris

Michael Copeland, CEO of Woodbine Entertainment, also spoke at the draw. ​

“We're very proud of the racing here at Woodbine Mohawk Park, and we’re thankful for the people that give so much time and energy to make this one of the best Standardbred racing facilities in the world, said Copeland. “We're happy to share that with you this Saturday night.”

The lucrative undercard will include the Grade 1 filly companion stakes, the $420,000 Fan Hanover Stakes, along with the $320,000 Roses Are Red Stakes (Grade 1) for older pacing mares, $240,000 Goodtimes Stakes (Grade 2) for three-year-old trotting colts, $215,000 Armbro Flight Stakes (Grade 2) for older trotting mares and a $65,000 Free-For-All Trot. Those stakes fields and Saturday's complete entries will be available by clicking here. Doors open at 5 p.m. and post time for the Cup card at Mohawk is 6:30 p.m.

Click here for recaps and replays of the eliminations contested on Saturday, June 6.

A replay of the North America Cup post position draw is available below.

(Standardbred Canada and Woodbine)