If all goes according to plan, John Levy could be part of the headline story on his own television sports network in just over a week’s time.
The founder, chairman and CEO of Score Media shares ownership of three-year-old pacing colt Hurrikane Kingcole, who will be vying for one of 10 spots in the prestigious $1.5 million Pepsi North America Cup at Mohawk Racetrack. Hurrikane Kingcole will start from post four in the second of two elimination races this Saturday, June 9 with driver Tim Tetrick aboard. The top five finishers from each elimination will advance to the rich final, which goes to post one week later on Saturday, June 16.
Levy’s interest in the sport of harness racing began in the 1970s while watching his uncle’s horses race and developed into a partnership with trainer Des Tackoor spanning the last two decades. During that time, he’s owned both trotters and pacers that have competed amongst the claiming and conditioning ranks and in the Ontario Sires Stakes program. He’s also experienced the thrill of competing – and winning – in some of the sport’s biggest races with 2000 Metro Pace champion Pro Bono Best and 2003 Meadowlands Pace winner Allamerican Theory.
And it’s through Tackoor that Levy was pulled into the storm of Hurrikane Kingcole. Tackoor’s good friend and fellow trainer John McDermott had a promising two-year-old pacing colt last year and was looking for an extra partner.
“We haven’t really had anything of great calibre over the last three to four years and Des has been on me saying, ‘come on we have to find something, we have to get back in the game here, we want to race in some of the big races again,’” said Levy. “He’s very good friends with McDermott and just a little bit into his two-year-old campaign the horse was doing very well and there was an opportunity for someone to buy into him. [McDermott] spoke to Des and Des approached me and twisted my arm a couple of times and we decided to come in and it’s been a lot of fun.”
Part of the fun has been getting to know his new partners. The colt is also owned by McDermott’s Hurrikane Racing Stable, Jeffrey Kuhen, along with Jonathan Klee, Mitchell Cohen, Arthur Brewer and Jeffrey Gordon from the ownership group of Klee Cohen Brewer And Gordo.
Another highlight for Levy has been watching Hurrikane Kingcole develop from two to three.
“We had an amazing two-year-old with ‘Pro Bono’, who was an unbelievable horse but just never made it back as a three-year-old, and with ‘Theory’ we had some issues with him as a two-year-old and he showed up as an amazing three-year-old,” said Levy. “This time, we’ve had one that was a really strong, competitive two-year-old and looks like he’s come back as a three-year-old even better. So I think the biggest thrill so far – in advance of maybe getting into the big race – is having a horse that’s been really talented as both a two-year-old and a three-year-old. I think that’s a credit to McDermott.”
Hurrikane Kingcole won five times in 13 starts as a freshman while banking $256,418. Among his highlights last year were a 1:51.4 victory in the Nassagaweya Stakes at Mohawk and a 1:51.2 season’s best performance in his Matron Stakes elimination at Dover Downs. The son of 1994 Cup winner Cams Card Shark, who ranked sixth at odds of 18-1 in Trot Magazine’s Spring Book, also hit the board in the Breeders Crown Championship behind world record holder Sweet Lou and A Rocknroll Dance.
This year Hurrikane Kingcole has already paced sub-1:50 with a 1:49.4 winning effort in a division of the New Jersey Sire Stakes at the Meadowlands Racetrack. He enters Saturday’s North America Cup eliminations off a third place finish in the Art Rooney over Yonkers Raceway’s half-mile oval.
“He raced pretty good on a half-mile track. He’s a big horse and had some issues in the stretch, but looked really sharp,” noted the resident of Hamilton, Ont. “The horse has got a ton of speed and of course we have Timmy on him – he’s one of the best in North America. Johnny’s got the horse into shape and ready for the big race. Anything can happen; these are all great horses that we’re up against. We probably drew into a tougher division, but we got a good [post position] and I think we've got a really good shot.
“I would love to be able to win the elimination so we can pick our own spot next week,” added the sports media pioneer. “I’ll settle for getting in, but if we’re close I’d sure like to win and then pick one of the magic spots so we don’t have to worry about a draw for next week.”
Hurrikane Kingcole could become Levy’s second Cup starter…and first winner. Allamerican Theory won his elimination in 2003 and finished fourth in the final to Yankee Cruiser. Nine years later, Yankee Cruiser is still a nemesis of Levy and Co. Yankee Cruiser is the sire of Sweet Lou, this year’s early Cup favourite, which will start from post one in Hurrikane Kingcole’s elimination.
The Score Television Network, which is seen in more than 6.8 million Canadian homes, will air the final of the North America Cup and Levy says some talent from his network may be joining the Woodbine Entertainment Group team to help spice up the show.
“That would be a real hoot if we happen to get lucky and get in the final and then got a good piece, or maybe even got it all, and was able to do it on The Score. You probably wouldn’t see many other highlights for the next couple of days other than that race,” laughed Levy. “But it’s just a thrill to be in the race and to have our guys out there from the network covering it will be a lot of fun. Getting in the race, putting on a good show and having a shot at winning this thing is a thrill. To win it would be indescribable.”
Here is a look at the North America Cup elimination fields in post position order with listed drivers and trainers:
Elimination 1 - Race 5 - $50,000 purse
1. Michaels Power - S. Zeron - C. Coleman
2. Pet Rock - B. Sears - V. Morgan
3. Secretsoftheknight - D. McNair - G. McNair
4. Dapper Dude - J. Campbell - R. McIntosh
5. Mel Mara - L. Ouellette - T. Alagna
6. A Rocknroll Dance - Y. Gingras - J. Mulinix
7. Time To Roll - A. Miller - J. Takter
8. Allstar Legend - T. Tetrick - G. Teague
9. State Treasurer - J. Jamieson - I. Moore
10. Hillbilly Hanover - D. Miller - R. Norman
Elimination 2 - Race 8 - $50,000 purse
1. Sweet Lou - D. Palone - R. Burke
2. I Fought Dalaw - D. Miller - S. DePinto
3. Simply Business - R. Pierce - J. Takter
4. Hurrikane Kingcole - T. Tetrick - J. McDermott
5. Major Bombay - J. Bartlett - T. Alagna
6. Warrawee Needy - J. Jamieson - C. Jamieson
7. Easy Again - M. Teague - G. Teague
8. Bettors Edge - T. Tetrick - L. Toscano
9. Thinking Out Loud - R. Waples - R. McIntosh
To view entries for Saturday night's star-studded card of harness racing, click one of the following links:
Saturday Entries - Mohawk Racetrack -- Saturday Program Pages - Mohawk Racetrack