"People don't know what it's like when you own the sire, you own the dam, you have the foal and they get to a race like this it's a true pleasure and an honour."
Hurrikane Emperor (PP9, Dan Dube, 15-1) has won ten of his 13 career races heading into the 2019 Pepsi North America Cup final and has affirmed himself as a player for trainer John McDermott. Hurrikane Emperor uncorked a first-over move in his Cup elimination and held the lead into the stretch. He ended up drifting out in the lane, which allowed the pocket-riding Bettor Wish to pounce for the win, but he was still strong, finished fourth, and was individually timed in 1:50. (Click here to watch/hide the video replay.)
The bay son of Hurrikane Kingcole - Hurrikane Schmumma made his qualifying debut this season in 1:51.4 and romped in his three New Jersey Sire Stakes races that followed. He captured each of his aforementioned NJSS tests by double-digit lengths – the most dominant of which was a 1:52 tally in which he won by 26 and a half lengths. The colt has banked $318,000 to date and is owned by Jonathan Klee Racing (Mineola, NY), Kuhen Racing LLC (Yardley, PA), Pegasis Investment Group (Boca Raton, FL) and William Garofalo (Fairfield, NJ).
McDermott spoke on his prized pupil's pacing prowess at Tuesday's North America Cup Post Draw and felt confident in his horse's ability to surprise on Saturday night.
"He's really made to come off on a trip, and I really think it's interesting to have Captain Crunch and Stag Party on each side of me. They're two great horses and before all this started, they were the two best horses in my mind.
"Stag Party's had a few rough goes of it but I know Casie [Coleman]'s going to have him at the top of his game. Between those two, around my colt, I really think it's going to get him into the race somehow."
The interview with McDermott and TROT Magazine's Rachel Oenema is available below.
The 36th edition of the Pepsi North America Cup will go postward at 10:14 p.m. (EDT) and will be broadcast live on TSN5 from 10-10:30 p.m. The full field for the 2019 Pepsi North America Cup is as follows:
2019 Pepsi North America Cup
(Post – Horse – Driver – Morning Line Odds)
1 – Aflame Hanover – Andrew McCarthy – 20-1
2 – De Los Cielos Deo – David Miller – 9-2
3 – Bettors Wish – Dexter Dunn – 7-2
4 – Workin Ona Mystery – Tim Tetrick – 2-1
5 – Captain Victorious – Yannick Gingras – 15-1
6 – Tyga Hanover – Sylvain Filion – 12-1
7 – Best In Show – Bob McClure – 15-1
8 – Captain Crunch – Scott Zeron – 5-2
9 – Hurrikane Emperor – Dan Dube – 15-1
10 – Stag Party – Brian Sears – 12-1
The winner of the Pepsi North America Cup earns $500,000. This year marks the 19th anniversary of Pepsi’s sponsorship of the race.
The Pepsi North America Cup undercard features the $454,000 Fan Hanover, $330,000 Roses Are Red, $256,000 Armbro Flight, $247,000 Goodtimes and $100,000 Mohawk Gold Cup.
The Cup card wagering menu will feature a $100,000 guaranteed Pick-5, $100,000 All-Stakes Pick-4 and the usual $50,000 Early Pick-4.
Post time for the first of 15 races on the Pepsi North America Cup card is 6:30 p.m. To view entries for Saturday's card, click on one of the following links:
Entries || Program Pages (TrackIT)