The final stop on the road to the Pepsi North America Cup took place Saturday, May 31 at Woodbine Mohawk Park with two divisions of the Somebeachsomewhere for three-year-old pacers, while four-year-olds shared the spotlight in the opening leg of the Graduate Series.
Prince Hal Hanover battled back gamely while confronted in the lane by Ayeaye Captain Deo to win the first Somebeachsomewhere division, sporting a purse of $80,500, in 1:49.4.
With travel issues forcing David Miller to miss Saturday’s races, driver Doug McNair got the last minute call behind the Dr. Ian Moore trained Prince Hal Hanover. The duo left out from post-seven to the top and posted fractions of :26.3, :54.4 and 1:22.
Pocket-sitter Ayeaye Captain Deo (Bob McClure) edged out at three-quarters to set up a stretch duel, taking a slight lead in mid-stretch. However, Prince Hal Hanover responded to the challenge to battle back and win a thriller by a neck.
Madden Oaks (Matt Kakaley) edged American Son (James MacDonald) for third.
“I was in the shower when I got the phone call, so I was glad I was able to get here in time and he was a real pleasure to drive,” said McNair of the opportunity to sit behind the Moore trainee. “I was going to float him, but then last minute I saw (Ayeaye Captain Deo) crossing over and I pushed on through there and he did the rest. He’s a pretty handy horse.”
A son of Captaintreacherous, Prince Hal Hanover is out of the Dr. Moore-trained Percy Bluechip and is now a four-time winner with more than $465,000 earned.
“We’ve had a lot of horses by stallions we used to race like Century Farroh, State Treasurer, Shadow Play,” said Dr. Moore. “This is the first one we’ve had out of a mare we used to race…so that’s a real thrill for us.”
Prince Hal Hanover, who is two-for-three this season, is now pointed to the Pepsi North America Cup eliminations next Saturday for owners Prince Hal Hanover Stable. A $2 win ticket on Prince Hal Hanover returned $5.50.
In the $81,500 second Somebeachsomewhere division, with a purse of $81,500 up for grabs, Bourbon County ($12) was able to takedown heavy favourite Lite Up The World.
Driven by Trevor Henry, Bourbon County got a three-hole trip and was able to angle out on the far turn to a second-over position behind the race favourite. Papis Pistol (Andy Miller) cut the mile, posting fractions of :27.1, :55.4 and 1:23.2, and led until halfway down the stretch.
Lite Up The World and driver James MacDonald would overtake Papis Pistol to strike the lead, but Bourbon County kept roaring up on the outside to nail the new leader late for a 1:50.1 score.
Courts On Fire couldn’t find room in the lane and settled for third. Papis Pistol was fourth.
A son of Always B Miki out of Captain Bombay, Bourbon County was making his second start of the season after a six-for-13 rookie season that included a Kentucky Sires Stakes Final victory at Cumberland Run. Racing exclusively south of the border at age two, Bourbon County moved into the barn of trainer Paul Reid for the start of his sophomore season.
“I train at Spring Garden Ranch with Steve Elliott (co-owner of Bourbon County) and I saw him train,” said Reid. “Steve mentioned if he came back good he’d be sending him up and he came back in great shape. He said he liked him and what he had, and Steve’s had some nice horses in his day, so I’ll take his word for it.”
Bourbon County now sits at just under $200,000 earned for owners Elliott, William Salmeri, Rick Berks and Jerry Glantz. Reid confirmed Bourbon County will be entered in the Pepsi North America Cup eliminations.
The entry box for the Pepsi North America Cup eliminations closes this Tuesday (June 3) at 10:30 a.m. The eliminations are scheduled for next Saturday (June 7) and the final will be held on Saturday, June 14.
The Graduate Series for four-year-olds kicked off for 2025 with three divisions on Saturday night at Woodbine Mohawk Park.
The pacing side needed two $68,000 splits for round one, while the trotting side featured a field of nine in one $102,000 dash.
Despite posting sizzling fractions, Captain Luke ($3.50) dug in tough to hold off several rivals narrowly in 1:49.2 to win the first pacing division.
With multiple U.S. based drivers unable to drive due to travel issues, Jody Jamieson was able to take advantage of the last-minute call behind Captain Luke.
Vandiemen Bluechip (McNair) rushed out to the lead to hang up a :26.1 opener and kept on rolling up the backstretch. Captain Luke pulled from third to attack the lead through a :53.4 half.
After clearing entering the final turn, Captain Luke took the field by three-quarters in an eye-popping 1:20.2. The pacers had to battle through a stretch headwind, with Captain Luke holding a short lead over a trio of outside rivals, while Vandiemen Bluechip had no room behind the leader.
At the wire, Captain Luke made one final push to win by a neck over Arbitrage Hanover (Billy Davis, Jr.). Chain Gang (Henry) was third by half a length, while Howlenthehills (Kakaley) was fourth by three-quarters of a length.
Captain Luke is trained by Andrew Harris and is now one-for-three to start his four-year-old season. The son of Captaintreacherous - Bodacious Hanover made over $450,000 at age three, despite just three wins from 20 starts.
A now six-time winner, Captain Luke is approaching $900,000 in career earnings. He is owned by William Pollock, Bruce Areman and Harris.
O'Brien Award winner Nijinsky picked up his first win of the season with a strong 1:48.3 score in the second Graduate Pace division.
Teaming with regular driver Louis-Philippe Roy, Nijinsky dropped in third before making a second-quarter rush to the lead, overtaking a moving Sweet Beach Life (Kakaley). The second split was spicy as he took the field by the half in :54 off a :27.2 opener.
Nijinsky led the field to three-quarters in 1:21 and would get away on his rivals in the stretch. Several rivals made a late bid, but it was all over as Nijinsky secured the victory by three parts of a length. Calicojack Hanover (Tyler Jones) was second, while Timeisonmyside (MacDonald) and Storm Shadow (McClure) completed the top four.
Trained by Anthony Beaton, Nijinsky will now bypass the next Graduate Series leg on June 13 and aim for the Mohawk Gold Cup Invitational on June 14. The Gold Cup is part of the Pepsi North America Cup card, which last year saw Nijinsky prevail in Canada’s most prestigious harness race.
Nijinsky is now a 13-time winner with more than $1.8 million earned for owners West Wins Stable, John Fielding, Mark Dumain and Winbak Farm. He paid $2.30 to win.
Private Access ($15.30) continued the trend of battle back winners on Saturday by edging Warrawee Michelle in the $102,000 Graduate Trot.
Louis-Philippe Roy used a little bit of early speed from Private Access to go forward, ultimately marching up to the lead at a :27.2 opening quarter. The duo would get things their own way through middle-half clips of :56.2 and 1:24.2.
Warrawee Michelle came first-up on the far turn and got onto even terms with Private Access with an eighth of a mile remaining. The Ake Svanstedt-trained and driven mare got a short lead late, but Private Access fought his way back to regain the top and win by a neck in 1:52.3.
Security Protected (Jamieson) finished third, while Mars Hill (MacDonald) was fourth.
Owned by Determination, Private Access was making his first start of the season on Saturday after three qualifiers. The Luc Blais trainee had just one win in 14 starts last season, but made in excess of $400,000 in the process.
The next leg of the Graduate Series is scheduled for Friday, June 13 at The Meadowlands Racetrack.
Soaring Now delivered as the 1-2 choice in the $36,000 Preferred Pace, winning by a diminishing half length in 1:49.4 for his fourth straight win and second consecutive at the Preferred level. Driver Louis-Philippe Roy allowed Taurasi (McNair) to trip the first timer in :27 but was already on the move from fourth as the O'Brien Award winner hit that beam. McNair grabbed for grips and allowed Soaring Now to land on the lead.
After a :54.4 half and 1:22.1 third quarter, Soaring Now appeared to have put away his rivals but Taurasi found his best stride late and put a scare into those backing Soaring Now but the favourite found the finish line in time and held on for the 1:49.4 score. Taurasi closed well for the place spot with Write Me A Rose (Tyler Borth) rounding out the top trio.
Victor Puddy trains Soaring Now (JK Endofanera - Sunflower) for Howmac Farms Ltd., Gordon McDonald, Christopher Boland, and Limco Inc. The six-year-old stallion sports 24 lifetime victories with more than $658,000 in earnings.
For the full results from Saturday's card of harness racing outside Campbellville, click the following link: Saturday Results - Woodbine Mohawk Park.
(Woodbine & Standardbred Canada; photo of, clockwise from top left, Captain Luke, Private Access, Nijinsky, Bourbon County and Prince Hal Hanover)