North America Cup-Date: May 2
As the calendar turns to May, a number of the three-year-old pacers aiming for Canadian harness racing's biggest prize have made on-track appearances and statements as they aim to displace the reigning divisional kingpins.
For the past several years, Trot Magazine's Pepsi North America Cup Spring Book has served as an initial barometer for the colts and geldings that may be in the running for the sophomore pacing set's single biggest payday.
This year's edition of the $1 million Pepsi North America Cup will be contested on Saturday, June 18 at Mohawk Racetrack in Campbellville, Ontario.
Listed by the Spring Book odds as featured in the April 2016 edition of Trot Magazine, here are the horses that are still Cup-eligible as of the April 15 sustaining payment and have raced or are in-to-go as of May 2, 2016. (► indicates a horse not listed last week)
► Betting Line / 8-1 -- qualified on April 29 at Mohawk Racetrack, finished 5th, individually timed in 1:57.1
• Big Top Hanover / 10-1 -- raced on April 30 at Mohegan Sun Pocono, finished 2nd, individually timed in 1:50.4
► Katies Rocker / 20-1 -- entered to qualify on May 3 at Harrah's Philadelphia
• Ideal Rocky / 22-1 -- qualified on April 30 at The Meadowlands, finished second, individually timed in 1:52.3
► Nocturnal Bluechip / 24-1 -- entered to qualify on May 2 at Mohawk Racetrack
► Voracity / 25-1 -- qualified on April 30 at The Meadowlands, finished first, timed in 1:52.3
► Im Some Graduate / 30-1 -- entered to qualify on May 3 at Harrah's Philadelphia
• Pretty Boy Hill / 30-1 -- qualified on April 30 at The Meadowlands, finished fourth, individually timed in 1:52.3
• Check Six / 32-1 -- raced on April 30 at Mohegan Sun Pocono, finished first, timed in 1:50.4
• All The Cookies / 35-1 -- qualified on April 30 at The Meadowlands, finished fourth, individually timed in 1:53.2
► Mystical Rock / 35-1 -- qualified on April 27 at Mohegan Sun Pocono, finished third, individually timed in 1:54.1
• Rollaroundtheworld / 38-1 -- last raced on April 24 at Mohegan Sun Pocono, finished fourth, individually timed in 1:52.2
• Inspiration View / 40-1 -- raced on April 30 at Mohawk Racetrack, finished seventh after making a break
► JDs Chancey Design / 40-1 -- qualified on April 28 at Thunder Ridge Raceway, finished first, individually timed in 1:57.1
• Easy Lover Hanover / 40-1 -- raced on April 30 at Mohegan Sun Pocono, finished eighth, individually timed in 1:51.4
• Magnum J / 42-1 -- qualified on April 29 at Mohawk Racetrack, finished first in 1:52.3
• Kokanee Seelster / 45-1 -- raced on April 30 at Mohawk Racetrack, finished sixth, individually timed in 1:54.2
• The Catamount Kid / 45-1 -- raced on April 30 at Mohegan Sun Pocono, finished second, individually timed in 1:51.1
► Mindtrip / 48-1 -- qualified on April 30 at The Meadowlands, finished first in 1:52.4
► Tom Hill / 50-1 -- qualified on April 30 at The Meadowlands, finished seventh after making a break
• Manhattan Beach / 50-1 -- raced on April 30 at Mohegan Sun Pocono, finished third, individually timed in 1:51.3
• Arsenic / 50-1 -- qualified on April 29 at Mohawk Racetrack, finished first in 1:55.4
► New Talent / 50-1 -- entered to qualify on May 2 at Mohawk Racetrack
► Highlandbeachycove / 55-1 -- qualified on April 30 at The Meadowlands, finished third, individually timed in 1:53.1
• Tap Into Power / 60-1 -- qualified on April 30 at The Meadowlands, finished second, individually timed in 1:53
• Cruise Patrol / 60-1 -- last qualified on April 23 at The Meadowlands, finished sixth, individually timed in 1:57.2
• Dreamfair Mesa / 60-1 -- raced on April 30 at Mohawk Racetrack, finished fourth, individually timed in 1:53.1
• Flaherty / 60-1 -- raced on April 30 at Mohawk Racetrack, finished fourth, individually timed in 1:52.3
• Bettor Memories / 65-1 -- raced on May 1 at Mohegan Sun Pocono, finished third, individually timed in 1:52.2
• Stonebridge Beach / 65-1 -- raced April 25 at Pompano Park, finished first in 1:52.3
• Think On It / 65-1 -- last raced on April 21 at Mohawk Racetrack, finished fourth, individually timed in 1:53.2
► Good Living / 65-1 -- entered to qualify on May 3 at Harrah's Philadelphia
► Dr J Hanover / 70-1 -- qualified on April 30 at The Meadowlands, finished sixth, individually timed in 1:53.1
• Lyons Snyder / 70-1 -- raced on April 30 at Mohegan Sun Pocono, finished third, individually timed in 1:50.4
• Some Gold / 70-1 -- raced on April 30 at Mohawk Racetrack, finished fifth, individually timed in 1:53.4
• Max Is Back / 70-1 -- last qualified on April 14 at Mohawk Racetrack, finished second, individually timed in 1:54.4
• Major Hill / 75-1 -- raced on April 28 at Mohawk Racetrack, finished first, timed in 1:53
• Sutton Seelster / 90-1 -- raced on April 30 at Mohawk Racetrack, finished sixth, individually timed in 1:53.4
• Beast Mode / 100-1 -- qualified on April 25 at Mohawk Racetrack, finished first, timed in 1:54
• Brookdale Sonny / 100-1 -- raced on April 28 at Mohawk Racetrack, finished third, individually timed in 1:52.2
• Totally Great / 110-1 -- last raced on January 24 at Flamboro Downs, finished ninth, individually timed in 2:05.3