Ontario-sired colts shone brightly at Mohawk Racetrack on Saturday night, capturing two of the three $50,000 eliminations for next Saturday's $1.5 million Pepsi North America Cup.
Somebeachsomewhere remained undefeated in his eight career starts after capturing his $50,000 Pepsi North America Cup elim in a lifetime best 1:49, the fastest of the three eliminations.
Driver Paul MacDonell had the Mach Three colt sitting in third as Mark MacDonald put Mucho Sleazy on the front through the :26.2 opening quarter. MacDonell quarter-poled 'Beach' out of third and cleared easily to the lead before hitting the half in :54.1. Pressure started first up in the form of Art Official (Tyler Buter) and sustained through the hot 1:21.4 three-quarter station.
Down the lane, MacDonell asked Somebeachsomewhere for a bit more and he responded, pulling away for a two-length win in 1:49, just one-fifth of a second off the track and Canadian record.
Somebeachsomewhere - North America Cup Elim #2
Art Official and Mucho Sleazy grabbed place and show dough, respectively.
"I'm pleased with his effort," stated trainer Brent MacGrath after the win. "The horse had only been trained once in 45 days, came into last week's race with no training in a month. If I can train him up this week, he'll be much sharper in the final."
When asked if the colt was still hampered by the bruise that kept him out of the first Ontario Sires Stakes event of the season, MacGrath replied "The horse can't talk, but I don't think it's 100 per cent. I'd say it's about 80 per cent. But he overcomes it, all the great ones do. He's still a bit tentative on it, but we bought ourselves another week."
Schooner Stables of Bible Hill, N.S. own Somebeachsomewhere (Mach Three - Wheres The Beach), now eight-for-eight lifetime.
Badlands Nitro held off stiff challenges down the stretch to capture the first $50,000 Pepsi North America Cup elimination.
Jody Jamieson had Santanna Blue Chip up and gunning for the front end against Keystone Horatio (Randy Waples) through the first quarter, contested in :27. After Jamieson cleared to the lead just past the quarter, driver Brian Sears had favoured Badlands Nitro out and challenging for the lead, finally getting there just past the :55.1 half.
There would be no break for Sears as John Campbell had Share The Delight out first up and making gains before that pacer rolled off-stride, knocking out some horses behind him.
After the 1:22.1 three-quarter marker, both Waples and Jamieson had their charges out for the drive but the leader was too string as Badlands Nitro scored the win in 1:50.1 over Keystone Horatio and Santanna Blue Chip.
Badlands Nitro - North America Cup Elim #1
"He's the kind of horse you want to have," said co-owner and trainer George Teague after the win. "He's smart, has all the right ingredients."
John Celii of Chadds Ford, Penn. and Teague Inc. of Harrington, De. own Badlands Nitro (Badlands Hanover - Pleasant Thoughts), now unbeaten in four starts this season.
John Campbell was able to lay off some hot fractions and lead changes and get Deuce Seelster home for the mild 8-1 upset in the third $50,000 Pepsi North America Cup elim.
Deuce Seelster got away on second as Lennon Blue Blue Chip (Mark MacDonald) hit the opening quarter in :26, with a rank Sand Shooter (Dave Miller) up and challenging. As soon as Miller cleared, Luc Ouellette was out from third with Dali with a rush to clear before the quick :53.2 half.
As Campbell pulled Deuce Seelster from fourth and advanced, Miller pulled back out from the pocket - giving Campbell cover - to heat up the pace through three-quarters in 1:22.1. Down the lane, Dali pulled away from Sand Shooter but couldn't hold off the bid of Deuce Seelster as that one nailed favoured Dali by a nose in a lifetime best 1:50.3.
Deuce Seelster - North America Cup Elim #3
Sand Shooter stayed for third over Lennon Blue Chip. Both of those colts will advance to next week's final as Lennon Blue Chip was the lucky one to draw into the final.
"He's had some sickness since his first start this year," said trainer Darren McCall after the win. "We missed the Gold final to get healthy. It's been a battle with the weather always changing. Tonight he finally acted likehe felt better, and we changed the bridle on him - that helped him a lot."
Katherine Bardis of Sacramento, Cal. owns Deuce Seelster (Western Maverick - Demi Seelster), now a winner of 10 of 15 lifetime outings.
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