The draw for the 29th edition of the $1.5-million Pepsi North America Cup took place this afternoon (Tuesday, June 12) at Mohawk Racetrack.
The NA Cup, which annually features the continent's top three-year-old pacers, will be contested Saturday, June 16 at the pristine seven-eighths mile oval in Campbellville, Ont.
Last weekend's eliminations saw divisional juggernaut Sweet Lou lower the national speed record for three-year-olds when he scorched home in 1:47.4 for driver Dave Palone and trainer Ron Burke. The John Campbell-driven and Bob McIntosh-trained Dapper Dude captured the other elim in 1:49.3.
The connections of the elim winners earned the right to select their horse's post positions for the final. Via a draw between the elim winners, the connections of Sweet Lou won the right to pick their charge's starting spot first, and selected Post 4. The connections of Dapper Dude then proceeded to choose Post 2.
"(Post 4) gives us a chance for him (Sweet Lou) to do whatever he wants to," Burke explained after declaring his decision.
The conditioner also stated that his strapping son of Yankee Cruiser has had a great week since having sprinted to victory in his elim. "It's the best week he's had," Burke explained. "He fought a virus two weeks before his elimination, but he's good now."
Although he wasn't in attendance, John Campbell was able to comment on Dapper Dude via telephone. Campbell conveyed that he was "really happy" with the performance that the son of The Panderosa put forth in his elim. He also stated that Dapper Dude bounced back very well after having raced over the 'sloppy' track June 2 at Mohawk (where he finished second in his division of the Somebeachsomewhere Stakes).
The open draw followed the elim winners' draw. The results appear below.
$1.5-Million Pepsi North America Cup
Post Position - Horse - Driver
1 - Bettors Edge - Tim Tetrick - 30-1
2 - Dapper Dude - John Campbell - 8-1
3 - Time To Roll - Andy Miller - 12-1
4 - Sweet Lou - Dave Palone - 3-5
5 - Thinking Out Loud - Randy Waples - 12-1
6 - State Treasurer - David Miller - 20-1
7 - A Rocknroll Dance - Yannick Gingras - 10-1
8 - Warrawee Needy - Jody Jamieson - 9-2
9 - Pet Rock - Brian Sears - 15-1
10 - Simply Business - Ron Pierce - 25-1
AE1 - Easy Again - TBA
Besides the NA Cup, Mohawk's stellar Saturday program will also feature the $642,000 Fan Hanover Stakes, $530,000 Elegantimage Stakes, $376,000 Armbro Flight Stakes, $351,000 Goodtimes Stakes and the $100,000 Mohawk Gold Cup.
The Pepsi North America Cup will be part of a special one and a half-hour national broadcast on The Score Television Network this Saturday evening from 8:30-10:00 p.m.