A monstrous performance from Somebeachsomewhere and driver Paul MacDonell established a new world record of 1:49.2 in the $493,000 final of Sunday's 32nd edition of the Confederation Cup at Flamboro Downs.
Leaving alertly from post 2 and getting command early, Somebeachsomewhere carved out fractions of :26.1, :55.2, and 1:22.4 before powering home in a menacing :26.3 to stop the clock in 1:49.2. Santanna Blue Chip rode the pocket to finish second with The Mohegan Pan (Steve Condren) in third.
The time of the mile shaves three-fifths of a second off Mr Feelgood's mark of 1:50 set in the 2006 Little Brown Jug final at Delaware.
"We knew he had that kind of a mile in him," stated a jubilant trainer and co-owner Brent MacGrath after the race. "The post meant a lot. He drew good, and Paul rated him well.
"He touched a quarter in his elim. I was just trying to lighten him up and I had the bell boots off him, but he's so good gaited it wasn't an issue. It was just superficial and he's fine."
When asked if this changed his mind about an appearance in the Little Brown Jug, MacGrath stood firm on his prior opinions.
"We want to prep this horse for a world record in Kentucky. We think he can do something that no other horse has done, and if we're doing that it's not fair to the horse to do both [the Jug and Kentucky]. It just doesn't make sense."
Paul MacDonell has unquestionably owned this event, notching his fifth Cup win - more than any other driver. It also marks the first Confederation Cup win for trainer Brent MacGrath, breeder Stephanie Smith and sire Mach Three.
Somebeachsomewhere (Mach Three - Wheres The Beach) is now 14-for-15 lifetime with over $2.3 million earned for his owners in the Schooner Stables of Bible Hill, N.S.
For the lines from Flamboro's Confederation Cup card, click here.