The countdown to the 2019 Pepsi North America Cup is on, with Trot Insider profiling the horses predicted to be the top contenders for Canadian harness racing's richest prize.
At 19-1, Blood Money enters a new barn for his sophomore season and comes in at #9 in TROT Magazine's 2019 Pepsi North America Cup Spring Book.
A regally-bred son of Sweet Lou from Blood Diamond -- a three-quarter sister to millionaire stallions Western Terror and If I Can Dream -- Blood Money banked $347,744 as a freshman while posting an impressive 5-4-3 summary from his 13 starts. His biggest win came in the 2018 Matron Final at Dover Downs, a gutsy first-over score in 1:51.1f while he also posted top-three finishes in the KYSS Final and the Governors Cup.
Owned by Diamond Creek Racing, Blood Money was trained as a freshman by Jimmy Takter. For his sophomore season, Blood Money will be managed by Nancy Johansson. Trot Insider spoke to both Diamond Creek's Adam Bowden (AB) and Johansson (NJ) for an update on Blood Money.
Blood Money doubles up rather early on the Artiscape-Arterra bloodlines. When you were making that decision to breed Blood Diamond, were there any concerns with that being too close?
AB: "4x3 to a great mare like Delinquent Account. No brainer for me. So far so good."
Where did he winter?
AB: "At our farm in Kentucky."
When did you start back with him?
AB: "After the first of year. He enjoyed his time off but was ready to go back."
Any noticeable changes in him from two to three?
AB: "He’s always been a good horse to be around. He’s easy on himself and doesn’t require a lot. Our job was to let him be a horse and put some weight on him. He did both.
"In the six weeks he was at the farm he put on 80 lbs."
Where are you at with him now and when do you plan to qualify him?
NJ: "He trained at The Meadowlands on March 30 and he plan to qualify him next Saturday (April 13).
"He trained fantastic, absolutely super at the Meadowlands last weekend and I could not be any happier with where that horse is at."
What will his early schedule look like leading up to the Pepsi North America Cup?
NJ: "He has the Art Rooney so that's what we're aiming him for...he'll probably go PA All-Stars, Rooney and then the North America Cup from there."
What does his tentative schedule look like after the North America Cup?
AB: "He's eligible to all the big ones."
What's his biggest asset/strength?
AB: "He is versatile and handy. He’s a good-size horse and can get around any size of track. He can lead or follow."
At what point last year did you think this horse was North America Cup material?
AB: "By the time he was qualifying Jimmy thought he had the talent but not until he raced in the Kentucky Sire Stakes and proved he could go 1:49 or 1:50."
Which race of his from 2018 impressed you the most?
AB: "The Matron. Came first over and cleared the leader down the backstretch. He was always knocking on the door of a big performance and he was slightly disappointing in the Breeders Crown final so to come back after and do that, I was impressed."
The North America Cup is one of the few races that has eluded you over the years. Where does this race sit on the bucket list of races you've yet to win?
AB: "Near the top. Hambletonian first and the North America Cup second. I’d rather win the N.A. Cup then the [Little Brown] Jug."
Previous North America Cup Spring Book Profiles:
► North America Cup Spring Book - #10