The connections of 63 three-year-old pacing colts and geldings have made the first sustaining payment to remain eligible to this year’s Pepsi North America Cup.
The $1 million showcase, to be contested on Saturday, June 20 at Mohawk Racetrack, is Canada’s richest harness race.
Headlining the top-notch group of sophomore pacers is O’Brien and Dan Patch Award winner Artspeak. The Tony Alagna-trainee put together a fantastic rookie campaign last season that saw the son of Western Ideal capture the Metro Pace and Governors Cup.
Artspeak is only the third two-year-old to win the Metro Pace and Governors Cup in the same season -- Artsplace and Jeremes Jet being the others. However, he could become the first to win the Pepsi North America Cup the following season at three.
O’Brien Award finalist Go Daddy Go, multiple stakes-winner In The Arsenal and winter-series standout Wiggle It Jiggleit are just a few of the notables that remain eligible to this year’s ‘Cup.’
As excitement builds towards the 31st edition of Canada’s richest harness race, the Woodbine Entertainment Group (WEG) has unveiled the official event logo for the 2015 edition of the Pepsi North America Cup.
All members of the WEG creative team had an opportunity to create a logo with a committee making the final selection of this year’s event logo.
The selected logo pays homage to both sides of the border by incorporating a pattern of the maple leaf and stars along with the colours of Canada, the United States and the title sponsor, Pepsi.
“The symbols of the star and leaf helps support the rivalries theme of the Pepsi North America Cup,” said Ken McConnachie, Creative Director for WEG. “The chosen logo is bold with a sports-team type feel. The new logo can work in all sizes and applications, from print to broadcasting.”
The 31st edition logo will be used on merchandise, advertising and in other material leading up to the big race on June 20.
A full list of the 63 horses that remain eligible to the Pepsi North America Cup can be viewed below.
ALLBEEF N NOBULL
AMERICANPRIMETIME
AMORA BEACH
ARQUE HANOVER
ARTSPEAK
ASAP HANOVER
AZOREAN ART
BERKLEY
BETTING EXCHANGE
BRING ON THE BEACH
CAMTURO ROCK
CORSICA HALL
DEALT A WINNER
DERBY DALE
DRACHAN HANOVER
DUDES THE MAN
EDWARD TEACH
FIRST CLASS HORSE
FREEDOMFORMYSOUL
GALLIC BEACH
GO DADDY GO
GOOD FRIDAY THREE
HARFO HANOVER
HURRIKANE ALI
IF YOU WANT FIRE
IN THE ARSENAL
JO PAS WELL SAID
JOE HILL
LYONS AGAIN
LYONS GEOFFJNR
LYONS LEVI LEWIS
MAXDADDY BLUE CHIP
MIKES POWERHOUSE
MITT JAGGER
MOHEGAN BLUE CHIP
MULLET BLUE CHIP
ONEISALONELYNUMBER
PAPARAZZI HANOVER
PENJI HANOVER
PHYSICALLYINCLINED
PIERCE HANOVER
RANDYS PLAN
REVENGE SHARK
REVEREND HANOVER
RICH WISDOM
ROCK N ROLL WORLD
ROCK THE NITE
ROCKIN IN HEAVEN
ROCKNTOUCH
SICILY
SOMWHEREONTHEBEACH
SPLIT THE HOUSE
SPORTS BETTOR
SPORTS IMAGE
STOVER
THE SPY
THE WAYFARING MAN
TRACEUR HANOVER
TRADING UP
WAKIZASHI HANOVER
WELL WELL WELL
WIGGLE IT JIGGLEIT
YANKEE BOUNTY
(with files from WEG)