Leader of the glamour boys Tall Dark Stranger dominated his competition once again, circling to the lead and rolling to a 1:48.2 victory to win the $1,000,000 37th edition of the Pepsi North America Cup on Saturday (Aug. 29) at Woodbine Mohawk Park.
Off a narrow win in his elimination, Tall Dark Stranger shot off the gate to sit pocket to Tattoo Artist moving towards a :25.4 first quarter. Into the backstretch Gingras vacated pocket and swept by Tattoo Artist to lead the field towards a :53.3 half.
“I talked to Nancy during the week and said ‘if I have to be on the front, I’m going to roll him,’” winning driver Yannick Gingras said after the race. “I think he’s just stronger than they are right now, and he can get them tired just by trying to keep up with him.”
Tall Dark Stranger sped around the final turn chased by Tattoo Artist, clipping three-quarters in 1:21. Off the turn Tattoo Artist tipped out of the pocket and challenged Tall Dark Stranger into the eighth pole, but the Bettors Delight colt turned away the late threat and opened a slight lead towards a 1:48.2 win. Tattoo Artist settled for second while 99-1 shot Moneyman Hill finished third and Odds On Osiris closed for fourth.
“I rolled him to three-quarters pretty hard but he just never quits,” Gingras said. “He’s just a tremendous horse—the best pacing colt I’ve ever driven, there’s no doubt in my mind. He’s just an amazing animal.”
The victory gave Gingras his first win in the North America Cup after seven tries while Nancy Takter scored her second-straight win after sending Captain Crunch to a stakes-record performance in 2019. Tall Dark Stranger also marked the first occasion he came into the race with a favourite.
“I feel awesome, there’s no doubt about it,” Gingras said. “This means so much. It’s been a tough couple of weeks and the kids are home—I miss you guys. I couldn’t be any happier right now.”
Tall Dark Stranger collected his sixth victory from seven starts this season and his 14th from 16 overall, earning $1,991,999 for owners Crawford Farms Racing, Marvin Katz, Caviart Farms and Howard Taylor.
“I’m overjoyed, I really am,” co-owner Marvin Katz said after the race. “I’ve been doing this for a very long time and I’ve been fortunate to have many great horses, but I think this guy really rates up with some of the greatest horses we’ve ever seen. This is historic—what he’s done tonight has never been done before. He won the Metro as a two-year-old, he won the Breeders Crown—he’s come back to win the Meadowlands Pace and he’s won the North America Cup. Somebeachsomewhere, Captaintreacherous… they couldn’t do it, but he’s done it.”
Sent the 3-5 favourite, Tall Dark Stranger paid $3.20 to win.
The 2020 Pepsi North America Cup Final was one of the many major stakes events on an action-packed Saturday card. Be sure to check out the 2020 Pepsi North America Cup News Centre for all recaps and replays.