The post position draw for the $1-million Pepsi North America Cup took place Tuesday, June 10 at Mohawk Racetrack. The richest race of the season for the continent’s top three-year-old male pacers will take centre stage this Saturday (June 14) at the pristine Campbellville, Ont. raceway.
A trio of $50,000 ‘Cup’ eliminations took place this past Saturday at Mohawk, and Lyonssomewhere, McWicked and Tellitlikeitis punched their tickets to the big dance courtesy of impressive wins. To view the race replays, comprehensive analysis and post-race reaction from all of the Cup eliminations, click here.
Two-time Stanley Cup champion and current Toronto Maple Leaf Dave Bolland served as the special celebrity drawmaster for the Cup post position draw. Courtesy of their victories last weekend, the connections of the elimination winners were able to choose their post positions before the open draw. The connections of Lyonssomewhere chose first and selected Post 4. The connections of Tellitlikeitis chose second and selected Post 3. The connections of McWicked chose third and selected Post 2.
McWicked's trainer, Casie Coleman, discussed her Cup shot at the draw and said that the elimination winner appears to be in good order heading into Saturday's big tilt.
“He couldn’t have come out of it (his elimination) any better (than what he did)," Coleman said. "I was actually walking him myself for a bit, cooling him out, and he was screaming and roaring after he went a (1:) 48 mile, so I was pretty happy with that.
"We checked his blood yesterday (Monday) and it was perfect. I’m going to train him tomorrow (Wednesday), but all looks great. He’s feeling great and the biggest thing is (to) keep him healthy and sound and happy this week and hope for some luck on Saturday.”
Beat The Drum (PP1, Yannick Gingras, 20-1), a son of 2007 Cup winner Tell All, will start from Post 1 for driver Yannick Gingras, trainer Staffan Lind, and owner Bender Sweden Inc. of Vero Beach, Florida. The bay has won just three of his 17 career starts, but will be looking to upset the apple cart in Saturday’s rich Cup final. After having started from Post 2 in his elimination, Beat The Drum was nestled into third early and sat the three-hole until past the 1:24 three quarters pole. Driver Brett Miller was looking around for racing room in the stretch and found it when eventual winner Lyonssomewhere, who was racing in front of him, shot through along the pylons. Miller followed suit, and was urging and rocking in the bike in a big final quarter. Miller and Beat The Drum were able to get up for second. They finished one and three-quarter lengths behind Lyonssomewhere. Beat The Drum’s final quarter was timed in :25.4 and his mile was individually clocked in 1:50.2.
McWicked (PP2, David Miller, 7-2), a son of Pennsylvania-based stallion McArdle, will start from Post 2 for driver David Miller, trainer Casie Coleman, and SSG Stables of North Boston, NY. The colt flew under the radar to an extent last year at age two, but has proven to be a top player in the division so far this season. McWicked was an impressive victor in his elimination, as he utilized multiple moves in order to hit the wire first. The bay started from Post 1 and left hard, eventually settling third as the opening quarter rang up in :26.4. Miller employed a first-over move and cleared to the lead past the :54.3 opening half-mile marker. The colt did not get any type of breather at that point, as he was instantly engaged by the outer flow. He was third, but in the garden spot, as Lets Drink On It clicked off three quarters in a hot 1:21.2. Miller angled his charge into the three-wide path right off the turn. McWicked responded to the clear path by propelling forward and wearing down Sometimes Said and Lets Drink On It. The win time was a life’s best 1:48.3 and the margin of victory was two lengths.
Tellitlikeitis (PP3, Brett Miller, 3-1), a son of 2009 Cup winner Well Said, will start from Post 3 for driver Brett Miller, trainer Jimmy Takter, and his breeder, Lothlorien of Cheltenham, Ont. The Cup eliminations were the scene of another big mile by Tellitlikeitis, who is holding sharp form heading into the Cup final. Tellitlikeitis started from Post 3 in his elimination and was quickest off the switch, as he and Miller led the field into the first turn. Under attack by Luck Be Withyou, Tellitlikeitis was second to the opening quarter (:27.1). Tellitlikeitis sat third by the time Hes Watching came calling to trip the half-mile clock in :54.2. The bay was charted further back in fourth by the time the three quarters were cut in 1:21.4, at which point he was in need of racing room. Miller found that racing room in the stretch, as he was able to tip Tellitlikeitis three wide in the lane. The colt responded by finding another gear. He went on to pass two rivals in the stretch and post an open-length victory in a life’s best 1:48.4.
Lyonssomewhere (PP4, Corey Callahan, 4-1), a son of 2008 Cup winner Somebeachsomewhere, will start from Post 4 for driver Corey Callahan, trainer Jimmy Takter, and owner Geoffrey Lyons Mound of Buford, Ont. The bay is undefeated heading into the final, as he has been perfect in all five of his career races heading into Saturday’s tilt. The Cup eliminations proved to be the biggest career test for the colt, and he responded with flying colours. Lyonssomewhere left hard from Post 6 in his elimination and was covered up by JK Endofanera just prior to the :27.4 quarter pole. Callahan sat the pocket with the Somebeachsomewhere colt through the middle fractions (:56.3, 1:24) and was rewarded when daylight opened up along the rail in the stretch. JK Endofanera had veered out wide and Lyonssomewhere seized the moment. He gunned through on the inside and went on to post a one and three-quarter-length victory in a life’s best 1:50.3.
Lets Drink On It (PP5, Tyler Smith, 6-1), a son of Art Official, the only horse to ever defeat the great Somebeachsomewhere, will start from Post 5 for driver Tyler Smith, trainer Joe Seekman, and the ownership group which consists of Tina Seekman (Beecher, Illinois), Larry Bond (Frankfort, Indiana), Hal Hewitt (Versailles, Kentucky) and Vincent Boido Jr. (White Lake, Michigan). Lets Drink On It was forwardly placed early in his Cup elimination, as Smith worked the bay into fourth. A second-over move by Lets Drink On It on the backstretch turned into a first-over advance on the final turn, as the colt took his shot at the leaders. Lets Drink On It was first to the three quarters in 1:21.2, but was under attack by Something Said as the field straightened for home. Smith and his colt were charted third by one length at the head of the lane. Smith had his charge under urging the rest of the way home, and the pair finished third, beaten three and half lengths by McWicked, and was individually clocked in 1:49.1.
Ideal Cowboy (PP6, Scott Zeron, ), a son of American Ideal, will start from Post 6 for trainer PJ Fraley and an ownership group that consists of Bamond Racing LLC (Brick, New Jersey) and J And T Silva Stables LLC (Long Beach, NY). Although he didn’t win his elimination, the gelding finished fourth in his Cup elimination and was beaten by McWicked by three and a half lengths. The bay paced his final quarter in :27.1 and was individually clocked in 1:49.2.
Hes Watching (PP7, Tim Tetrick, 5-1), the Dan Patch Award winning son of American Ideal, will start from Post 7 for driver Tim Tetrick, trainer Dave Menary, and an ownership group that consists of Menary Racing Inc. (Rockton, Ont.), Brad Gray (Dundas, Ont.), Michael Guerriero (Puslinch, Ont.) and Muscara Racing Trust (Ivyland, Pennsylvania). Hes Watching started from Post 1 in his Cup elimination. Driver Jody Jamieson positioned the American Ideal colt in the three hole early, but the duo were out and moving quickly. After Luck Be Withyou made a quarter pole move to the lead, Jamieson followed suit and sent Hes Watching to the lead past the :27.1 opening stanza. Hes Watching settled onto the point before the half and proceeded to cut the middle fractions (:54.2, :1:21.4). The bay looked well within himself in the final quarter, but was ultimately beaten two and a quarter lengths by Tellitlikeitis. Hes Watching finished second and was individually clocked in 1:49.1.
Luck Be Withyou (PP8, Ron Pierce, 12-1), a son of New Jersey-based sire Western Ideal, will start from Post 8 for driver Ron Pierce, trainer Bill Cass of Milton, Ont., and owner John Craig of North York, Ont. Luck Be Withyou, who won the Breeders Crown last fall, started from Post 2 in his Cup elimination. After having left alertly, Pierce employed a quarter-pole move and clicked off the opening stanza in :27.1 while overland. The duo was instantly engaged in the second quarter and opted for a two-hole ride behind Hes Watching through the middle fractions (:54.2, 1:21.4). Pierce called on Luck Be Withyou in the stretch, but his charge was unable to pass Hes Watching. Tellitlikeitis went on to win the elimination and Luck Be Withyou finished third, beaten two and a half lengths, and was individually timed in 1:49.1.
JK Endofanera (PP9, Brian Sears, 10-1), a son of two-time O’Brien Award winner Art Major, will start from Post 9 for driver Brian Sears, trainer Ron Burke, and his breeder, the 3 Brothers Stable of New York, NY. The colt had not finished worse than second heading into his Cup elimination, but that all changed last weekend. JK Endofanera appeared to be on cruise control in his elimination until he hit the homestretch. The bay had started from Post 1, and, after leaving, he made a move to the lead, which he secured at the quarter pole (:27.4). Sears then led the bay to the half-mile (:56.3) and three-quarters marker (1:24), but trouble came in the lane. Western Vintage had moved first-over on the turn and was up to contest the lead as JK Endofanera led the field into the stretch. It was in the lane where JK Endofanera began to drift out wide while putting in steps. The colt continued to drift out and put in steps before Sears got him back in order. The duo was able to salvage the elimination by finishing third. JK Endofanera finished two and three-quarter lengths behind the race winner (Lyonssomewhere). Although he had issues in his final quarter, JK Endofanera paced his final panel in :26.4 and was individually race-timed in 1:50.4.
Sometimes Said (PP10, John Campbell, 20-1), a son of 2009 Cup winner Well Said, will start from Post 10 for driver John Campbell, trainer Jim Campbell, and Fashion Farms LLC of New Hope, Pennsylvania. The colt has won just two of his 14 starts heading in the Cup final, but has recorded nine second-place finishes and has banked over $317,ooo in earnings to this point. John Campbell took a cautious approach with Sometimes Said early in his elimination. The duo eased off the gate and landed in fifth as the field mixed it up early on the front end. Campbell flushed cover heading into the final turn and was carried up to the leaders on the bend. Sometimes Said was able to grab the lead as the field straightened for home, but was upended when McWicked came back on to best the field of eight. Sometimes Said was individually clocked in 1:49 and finished second to McWicked, beaten two lengths.
$1 Million Pepsi North America Cup
(Post – Horse – Driver – Morning Line Odds)
1 – Beat The Drum – Yannick Gingras – 20-1
2 – McWicked – David Miller - 7-2
3 – Tellitlikeitis – Brett Miller - 3-1
4 – Lyonssomewhere – Corey Callahan - 4-1
5 – Lets Drink On It – Tyler Smith - 6-1
6 – Ideal Cowboy – Scott Zeron - 15-1
7 – Hes Watching – Tim Tetrick - 5-1
8 – Luck Be Withyou – Ron Pierce - 12-1
9 – JK Endofanera – Brian Sears - 10-1
10 – Sometimes Said – John Campbell - 20-1
AE – Jet Airway – Scott Zeron
For a free, printable program page of Mohawk’s Saturday card (courtesy of TrackIT), click here.