It's no wonder the 2013 Pepsi North America Cup field has displayed such immense talent heading into the $1 million race this Saturday at Mohawk Racetrack with connections running deep to some of the sport's most celebrated horses and horsemen.
Nine starters in the 10-horse field as well as the 'Also Eligible' have connections to Canadian Horse Racing Hall of Fame inductees.
Here is a look at a horse by horse breakdown of the 2013 Pepsi North America Cup field’s Hall of Fame ties.
Apprentice Hanover – Sired by 2009 inductee Somebeachsomewhere, who also traces back to Cam Fella (1986) and Matts Scooter (1992).
Vegas Vacation – Sired by 2007 inductee Bettors Delight, who is a grandson of both Cam Fella (1986) and Armbro Emerson (2006). Bettors Delight is out of Armbro Emerson's daughter and 2010 inductee Classic Wish.
Fool Me Once – Sired by Art Major with connections to 2013 Hall of Fame inductee Niatross and 1976 inductee Silent Majority, can also be traced back to Cam Fella through his mother Fool That I Am, who is a great-granddaughter of Cam Fella.
Captaintreacherous – Sired by Somebeachsomewhere with Cam Fella and Matts Scooter connections as well as having Hall ties on his mother’s side. Worldly Treasure is a great-granddaughter of Niatross and Silent Majority.
Twilight Bonfire - goes back to Cam Fella through the mare Firelight Dancer, who is a Cam Fella daughter.
Wake Up Peter – Niatross shows up in this horse’s pedigree through his mother Lovely Lady, who is a great-granddaughter of the 2013 inductee. Wake Up Peter's sire Rocknroll Hanover is a daughter of 2009 inductee Rich N Elegant.
Sunshine Beach – Sired by Somebeachsomewhere, who in turn traces back to Cam Fella and Matts Scooter as previously mentioned. His mother Light Up also traces back to Silent Majority.
Odds on Equuleus - Driven by Hall of Fame driver John Campbell (1987), Odds On Equuleus has Hall bloodlines on both sides of his pedigree. His dam, Latte Lady is a great-granddaughter of Cam Fella while his sire, Art Major, is a great-grandson of Niatross. Both sides also trace back to Silent Majority.
Captive Audience – Shares the same sire line as Odds on Equuleus as a son of Art Major, a great-grandson of Niatross and Silent Majority.
Varadero Hanover - Sired by Somebeachsomewhere with connections further back in his pedigree to both Cam Fella and Matts Scooter.
(With files from Canadian Horse Racing Hall of Fame)
To view the harness racing entries for Saturday at Mohawk, click the following link: Saturday Entries - Mohawk Racetrack.
For free, printable program pages for Pepsi North America Cup Night courtesy of TrackIT, click here.
First-race post time for Saturday's card is 7:05 p.m. The $1-million Pepsi North America Cup has been carded as Race 7.
The Woodbine Entertainment Group has signed a deal with Sportsnet to air the NA Cup on The Score. The one-hour broadcast, a joint production between WEG and Sportsnet, is scheduled for 9:00 p.m. (EDT). It will be the first time that a standardbred race will be shot and aired live in high-definition (HD) in Canada.
Pepsi North America Cup night will not only feature some of, if not the best harness racing in Canada this year, but also loads of contests, draws, music and entertainment for fans on track at Mohawk.
Every customer can register on site for a free $2 bet. There will be free commemorative NA Cup posters given away and you can have it signed at the driver’s autograph session from 6:00 p.m. to 6:30 p.m.
There will be a draw for the Pepsi Best Seats at the Track and you can take the Pepsi Taste Challenge for a chance to win a BBQ set valued at $2,000.
Visit Labatt’s Beerville to play great games and win cool prizes.
There will be a $100,000 guaranteed Early Pick 4, and HPI members will receive four times the HPI points when you wager on Mohawk at Mohawk on Pepsi NA Cup night.