After back-to-back wins against the 2025 Horse of the Year, Odds On Mr Mamba has put the harness racing industry on notice. But what's next for the 2026 Pepsi North America Cup champ?
According to his connections, some home cooking before taking his show on the road once again.
Now back in the Hoosier State, Indiana-bred Odds On Mr Mamba made his first road trip a memorable one for trainer Melanie Wrenn and breeder-owner Dana Parham (as Odds On Racing and Odds On Nourrir). A winner of his 2026 Pepsi North America Cup elimination by a neck in 1:48.2, handing Beau Jangles his first career loss, the son of Odds On Equuleus-Honky Tonk Woman came back a bit straighter and slightly faster in the Cup final, crossing the wire a half length better than a dead-game Brandon Blvd and Beau Jangles in 1:48.1.
(Side note: Honky Tonk Woman took her lifetime mark of 1:50.2 almost 15 years ago to the day at the very same racetrack, winning that year's Fan Hanover Consolation on Saturday, June 18, 2011 at Mohawk for driver Jody Jamieson and trainer Tony O'Sullivan.)
According to Wrenn, Odds On Mr Mamba's next scheduled start comes at his home track of Harrah's Hoosier Park, returning to Indiana Sires Stakes action on Friday, June 26. That start would preface a return to Grand Circuit competition on Saturday, July 4 in the eliminations for the 2026 Meadowlands Pace.
James MacDonald, who picked up the drive behind harness racing's fastest two-year-old in his Pepsi North America Cup, told Trot Insider that he plans to drive the speedster in his Indiana Sires Stakes leg on June 26, travel permitting.
The likely frontrunner for top honours in the first Hambletonian Society / Breeders Crown poll of the year, Odds On Mr Mamba is perfect in three sophomore appearances with $591,667 in earnings. Lifetime, the millionaire pacer is 10-for-11 with his only blemish thus far a fourth-place finish coming in his first career start.
(Standardbred Canada)