The post position draw for Saturday's $1.5 million Pepsi North America Cup took place this afternoon at Mohawk Racetrack.
The 'Cup' eliminations were conducted last weekend at the Campbellville, ON oval and the connections of the elim winners gained the right to select their charge's post positions for Saturday's rich final.
This afternoon in a draw among the three elim winners, the connections of Deuce Seelster lucked out and won the right to select their position first. They chose Post 3. The connections of Somebeachsomewhere followed and chose Post 2. The connections of Badlands Nitro picked third and chose Post 4.
Governors Cup and 2007 Breeders Crown winner Santanna Blue Chip has drawn Post 1 for trainer Carl and driver Jody Jamieson. The bay Art Major colt has been gauged at odds of 10-1 in the morning line. The colt finished a close second to Somebeachsomewhere in the Burlington Stakes and a close third to Badlands Nitro in his Cup elim.
With Paul MacDonell at his controls for trainer Brent MacGrath, World Record holder and multiple O'Brien Award winner Somebeachsomewhere will be leaving from Post 2. The Mach Three colt has been installed as the 8-5 morning line favourite. The undefeated Metro Pace winner will be looking for his ninth career victory. Last week in his Cup elim, the Ontario-bred lowered his mark to 1:49 via a two-length win.
Somebeachsomewhere - NA Cup elim
Ontario-bred Western Maverick colt Deuce Seelster will start from Post 3 for trainer Darren McCall and driver John Campbell. The bay has been pegged as the 8-1 choice in the early odds. Deuce Seelster, who won his division of the Ontario Sires Stakes Super Finals last fall, finished second in his Burlington split before capturing his Cup elim by a neck in 1:50.3, a new life's mark.
Deuce Seelster - NA Cup elim
Unbeaten in his four starts this year, the George Teague, Jr.-trained Badlands Hanover colt Badlands Nitro will start from Post 4 with Brian Sears in the bike. The bay has been deemed the 4-1 second choice in the morning line. After recording a 1:50 victory in Pocono Downs' Max Hempt Memorial, Badlands Nitro arrived at Mohawk Racetrack and promptly notched a one and a quarter-length victory in 1:50.1 during his Cup elim.
Badlands Nitro - NA Cup elim
Trained by Jim Arledge, Jr. and driven by David Miller, Western Hanover colt Sand Shooter has drawn Post 5 and is 8-1 in the morning line. The bay finished second by a nose to Santanna Blue Chip in the Breeders Crown last year. The colt just missed in the Burlington Stakes and raced first-over in his Cup elim last week.
Sportsmaster gelding Mucho Sleazy has drawn Post 6 for trainer Casie Coleman and driver Mark MacDonald. The speedy invader -- who raced 17 times at two -- has been pegged at odds of 15-1 in the morning line. After contesting stakes at Balmoral Park in late May, Mucho Sleazy moved into Coleman's barn and paced a mile in 1:49.3 when finishing third to Somebeachsomewhere in the Cup elims.
The Joe Seekman-trained Art Major colt Art Official has drawn Post 7 for driver Tyler Buter. The upstart bay has been listed as the 5-1 third choice in the morning line odds. After being highly competitive in the Berry's Creek at the Meadowlands Racetrack, Art Official came to Mohawk where he displayed a strong closing kick in the Burlington and Cup elims.
Trained by Duane Marfisi and driven by Luc Ouellette, Real Artist colt Dali will start from Post 8. The 2007 Woodrow Wilson winner has been gauged at odds of 8-1 in the morning line. After capturing his division of the Burlington in 1:50.3, Dali finished second to Deuce Seelster in his elim after going a big first-over trip.
Ontario-bred No Pan Intended colt Lennon Blue Chip has drawn Post 9 for trainer Casie Coleman and driver Tim Tetrick. The bay has been listed at odds of 30-1 in the morning line. The multiple OSS winner captured the first Gold event of the year and went a big opening half-mile during Deuce Seelster's victory in the Cup elims. Lennon Blue Chip was the Cup elims' fourth-place finisher to draw into the final by lot.
Ontario-bred Rustler Hanover colt Keystone Horatio has drawn Post 10 for driver Randy Waples and trainer John Kopas. The bay, one of three Burlington Stakes winners, has been assessed at odds of 15-1 in the morning line. After leaving to the lead early in his Cup elim, Keystone Horatio finished second to Badlands Nitro, pacing his mile in 1:50.2.
$1.5 million Pepsi North America Cup
PP - Horse - Driver - Trainer - Line
1 - Santanna Blue Chip - J. Jamieson - C. Jamieson - 10-1
3 - Deuce Seelster - J. Campbell - D. McCall - 8-1
4 - Badlands Nitro - B. Sears - G. Teague - 4-1
5 - Sand Shooter - D. Miller - J. Arledge - 8-1
6 - Mucho Sleazy - M. MacDonald - C. Coleman - 15-1
7 - Art Official - T. Buter - J. Seekman - 5-1
8 - Dali - L. Ouellette - D. Marfisi - 8-1
9 - Lennon Blue Chip - J. Moiseyev - C. Coleman - 30-1
10 - Keystone Horatio - Ra. Waples - J. Kopas - 15-1