A slew of eliminations join the festivities for the 35th Pepsi North America Cup this weekend at Woodbine Mohawk Park, featuring top-level trotters competing Friday, June 8, with mares in two eliminations for the Armbro Flight and the glamour boys in two eliminations of the Goodtimes, and pacers on Saturday, June 9 with three-year-old fillies in two eliminations of the Fan Hanover and aged mares in two eliminations for the Roses Are Red.
Last year’s Horse of the Year Hannelore Hanover headlines the Friday program starting from post 6 in the first elimination of the Armbro Flight. Owned by Burke Racing Stable LLC, Weaver Bruscemi LLC, Frank Baldachino and Jerry and Theresa Silva Stables, the six-year-old mare by Swan For All has 38 wins from 60 starts to date, accruing over $2.7 million in earnings and holding a world-record mark of 1:49.2 taken last fall at The Red Mile. Yannick Gingras pilots the Ron Burke trainee, who competes against Dream Together, third recently to world champion Emoticon Hanover in a prelim of the Miss Versatility and third in last year’s Hambletonian Oaks.
Emoticon Hanover starts in the second Armbro Flight elimination. The five-year-old Luc Blais-trained daughter of Kadabra debuted a winner in 1:53.2 in the Miss Versatility at Woodbine Mohawk Park following a season consisting of 5 wins in 13 starts, one of which was a world-record 1:50.2 mile at Tioga Downs, and over $400,000 earned. Bob McClure sits behind the $1.2-million earner from post 6 against Ice Attraction from post 2, who upset Ariana G in the Kentucky Filly Futurity last year.
Team Antonacci, now headed by Domenico Cecere, returns to defend their title in the Goodtimes Trot with Hat Trick Habit, starting from post 3, in the first elimination. The Hambletonian-eligible son of Donato Hanover has two wins from two starts this season shipping north, with his most recent a 1:52.4 victory at the Meadowlands. David Miller will drive for owner Fred Monteleone Stable LLC.
Elimination two collects last year’s William Wellwood winner Alarm Detector, from post 5, and last year’s frosh Breeders Crown champion Fiftydallarbill, starting from post 1. Alarm Detector, shelved following his 1:52.4 win by five and one-quarter lengths in the Wellwood, enters the Goodtimes off two qualifiers, his most recent in 1:55.4, while Fiftydallarbill ships to Mohawk off a 1:53.4 win in a $75,000 Indiana Sires Stakes final.
Alarm Detector, by Chapter Seven, races for trainer Benoit Baillargeon, who conditions for owners Thomas and Elizabeth Rankin, Claude Hamel and Santo Vena, and will be driven by Trevor Henry. Fiftydallarbill, by Swan For All, competes for owner John Barnard and will be driven by Trace Tetrick for trainer William Crone.
Dr. Ian Moore trainee Jan looks to continue her undefeated season in the first elimination of the Fan Hanover as she goes for her fourth consecutive victory. Owned by Wilma and James MacKenzie, the daughter of Rock N Roll Heaven has ascended the conditioned class ladder at Woodbine Mohawk Park following a winless freshman campaign. Trevor Henry will pilot the up and comer from post 5 against Big Thong, entering off a 1:55.2 victory in the Ontario Sires Stakes (OSS) at Western Fair, from post 4.
World champion Youaremycandygirl draws post 2 against the local rivalry of Percy Bluechip, victorious in the OSS Super Final Final last year, and Kendall Seelster, third in the Super Final, in the second elimination. The Ron Burke-trained daughter of American Ideal enters off a 1:51.1 win at Tioga Downs in a division of New York Sires Stakes and will be driven by Yannick Gingras for owner William Donovan.
Percy Bluechip has won both of her starts this season, the first a 1:51.4 victory in the $115,792 SBOA final at Woodbine Mohawk Park and the other a 1:54.3 win in the OSS at Western Fair. The Dr. Ian Moore-trained daughter of Shadow Play has amassed over $500,000 in earnings from seven wins in 11 starts for owners Shadow Two Stable, James and Wilma MacKenzie and Hudson Standardbred Stable Inc. Sylvain Filion sits behind from post 3 while Kendall Seelster, trying for her first win of the season, races from post 5 with Randy Waples driving for trainer Paul Reid.
Current mare pacing star Shartin N starts from post 3 in the first elimination for the Roses Are Red. The five-year-old New Zealand import by Tintin In America has won 10 races in 12 starts so far this season, including the $373,000 Blue Chip Matchmaker Final, $102,200 Chip Noble Memorial and $150,000 Betsy Ross Invitational. Tim Tetrick drives the Jim King Jr. trainee for owners Richard Poillucci and Joann Looney King.
After supplementing to the Roses Are Red, Australian invader Firebby A races from post 7 in the second elimination for trainer Ron Adams and driver Louis-Philippe Roy. The six-year-old daughter of Courage Under Fire shipped to Woodbine Mohawk Park after winning three straight in the States, taking the Filly and Mare Preferred in 1:51.1 with a :26.2 final quarter. She’s owned by David Kryway and Ron Adams.
Post time for both Friday, June 8 and Saturday, June 9's program is 7:30 p.m. (EDT).
To view Friday's harness racing entries, click on the following link: Friday Entries - Woodbine Mohawk Park.
To view Saturday's harness racing entries, click on the following link: Saturday Entries - Woodbine Mohawk Park.