NA Cup 2009 EARLY Advance Odds; Shadow Play trains in 2:04 at farm in PEI

Doc Moore has reported that Shadow Play has trained in 2:04 on a decent PEI spring eveing:

"After working the track for an hour Wednesday at 11 am, I was able to go a 1+1/2 mile training session with Shadow, last 1/2 in 1:09. I did that because I only had a 1/2 hour before I had to go and catch a plane. He was jogged 6 miles the remaining days of the week and after my arrival back home about 5:45 Saturday evening and listening to the weather forecast (yes - but only 10 more cm of snow and freezing rain and rain Monday + Tuesday also), I decided to train him an evening session along with 2 other 3 year olds I have. This depressing Spring on PEI has enticed me to do things that I have rarely ever done before.


However, I got 2 singles in before dark on a much improved track, with Shadow strong in 2:04 off a half in 1:03 and three quarters in 1:35. He did it with ease in the middle of my track and seemed very happy after.


We left the barn at 9pm as the now freezing rain was on its way down."


Look for Shadow Play to face Dali, Mister Big and hopefully Ramegade Bruiser for dominance this summer.










It's going to be very tough to match the excitement generated by the 3 year old pacing division last year, when Beach, Shadow, Art Official, Dali and others battled in the top races. Here is a VERY PRELIMINARY look at some of the top three year old pacing colts eligible for this year's 2009 Pepsi North America Cup:

Rank - Horse - Advance Odds by Joe Trainor

1 - Major In Art - 8-1
2 - Well Said - 9-1
3 - Art Colony - 10-1
4 - Dial Or Nodial - 12-1
5 - Sheer Desire - 12-1
6 - Nebupanezzar - 15-1
7 - Drop Red 18-1
8 - Captain Sir - 18-1
9 - Glad To Be Back - 20-1
10 - Carnivore - 22-1
11 - Annieswesterncard - 25-1
12 - Schoolkids - 25-1
13 - Chasin Racin - 30-1
14 - OK Boromir - 35-1
15 - Lifesong - 40-1

I'll try and expand this list to about 20-25 in the next few weeks. Some names to watch in April and May include Mr. Wiggles, Pangiorno, Estero Bay, Allamerican Motive, Western Posse, Arctic warrior, Allamerican Improv, Deep Finesse, Trail Boss, Lisagain, Fire In The Shark and Aintnofoolsgold.

Here is the complete list of three year old pacers eligible for the 2009 Pepsi North Cup standardbred stakes race on June 27, 2009 at Mohawk Raceway:

AHEAD OFTHE CURVE
AINTNOFOOLSGOLD
ALLAMERICAN BARON
ALLAMERICAN CHIEF
ALLAMERICAN IMPROV
ALLAMERICAN MOTIVE
AMAZON ART
ANNIESWESTERNCARD
ARCTIC WARRIOR
ARE YOU COMING
ART COLONY
ARTNERS IN CRIME
AZOREANSAILOR
BARBER POLE
BAY OF SHARKS
BEST DREAM SEEKER
BETTINGANDWINNING
BLAZING SON
BLENDED WHISKEY
BORN TO ROCKN ROLL
BUFFALO ROME
BUILT TO DRIVE
BUNKMEISTER
CAMS WESTERN
CAPTAIN SIR
CARNIVORE
CHASIN RACIN
CHATHAM HEAT
CHIEF OF THE BEACH
CIVIL YANKEE
COMANCHE HALL
COUNT ON ART
DEEP FINESSE
DIAL OR NODIAL
DONT GIVE UP
DRINK UP
DROP RED
EL CUMANCHERO
ELECTRIC ENERGY
ESTERO BAY
FAST PAY
FIRE ON THE WATER
FIREINTHESHARK
FOOLISH GEM
FOUR STARZ TWINS
GET IT NOW
GIDDY UP DELIGHT
GLAD TO BE BACK
GOING NATIVE
GOOD CHI
GRANDMA JANS MAX
GYPSY ARTISAN
HAY GOODLOOKING
HOMERUN BABY
IAMPERFECTRIGHT
IDEAL DANNY
IDEAL RACE
IF I CAN DREAM
IN SIGHT
J CRUISE
JOHNNY Z
KEEP IT REAL
LAKERS VETT
LIFESONG
LIGHT UP THE SKY
LIGHTNING ELVIS
LIGHTNING MOON
LISAGAIN
LISDEAN
M A SAILOR
MAJOR IN ART
MAJOR INDISCRETION
MANHATTAN BLUECHIP
MCLAREN
MIGHTY ME
MILLIONAIRE CAM
MONKEY OFF MY BACK
MR BIBA FRA
MR TERROR
MR TERRY FRA
MR WIGGLES
MYSTICISM
NEBUPANEZZAR
NEVER A FOOL
NICHOLAS C HANOVER
NITTANY LINEBACKER
NOB HILL HIGH
OK BOROMIR
ONE MORE DRINK
OR
OVERWHELMING SHARE
PAIR A DICE
PANGIORNO
PANMUNJOM
PASSMASTER HANOVER
PRECIOUS MEDAL
PRIMARY PURPOSE
REAL JOKE
REAL SHOWDOWN
REDNECK RIVIERA
ROGERS PLACE
RUNAWAY ENERGY
SCHOOLKIDS
SEER OF PATMOS
SHEER DESIRE
SHIPPS XPECTANCY
SHORTSTACKED
SOMBRERO BLUE CHIP
SPECIAL ART
STANDUPNKISSME
STINGER BLUE CHIP
STONEBRIDGE TERROR
STRAIGHT SHOOTING
SUPER ENDING
SUPRIZEMEAGAIN
TRAIL BOSS
TWIN B SURFER
UP FRONT ELI
UPFRONT HOOSIERBOY
VERTIGO HANOVER
VIGOROUS
VINTAGE MASTER
WAFFLES AND CREAM
WAMBAM SAM
WELL SAID
WESTERN AVENUE
WESTERN POSSE
WILFRED SANDS
WORLD AWAY
WORLDLY DOMINATION
YANZHOU
YOUNG SPIRIT
ZEE BARBER

2009 Pepsi North America Cup; Harness Horses to Watch

The 2009 Pepsi North America Cup Spring Book is featured in Trot Magazine's April 2009 edition, the Horseplayer's Issue, and the top 10 horses in the '09 North America Cup Spring Book are listed below.

Rank - Horse - Odds

1 - Well Said - 6-1
2 - Art Colony - 7-1
3 - Major In Art - 10-1
4 - Dial Or Nodial - 11-1
5 - Sheer Desire - 12-1
6 - Nebupanezzar - 18-1
7 - Captain Sir - 20-1
8 - Carnivore - 22-1
9 - Annieswesterncard - 24-1
10 - Schoolkids - 25-1


Here are some other contenders for 2009 Pepsi North Cup standardbred stakes race for 3 year old colts. This is a very preliminary list and I will add more names based on performances in April and May. Thanks to Ken Middleton's list of 2009 NA Cup contenders and longhots for valuable insight and updates.

GLAD TO BE BACK - Finished 2nd by 1/2 length in 1.52.1 on April 4th

LIFESONG - Fourth in the same Apr 04 race as GLAD TO BE BACK, timed in 1.52.

DROP RED - Won his April 2nd qualifier at the Meadowlands in 1.52.4 after placing in 1.55 his first time out; tighteing nicely.


ESTERO BAY - Won qualifier in 1.57.1 and won first start in 1.57.3 and just getting rolling.


ALLAMERICAN MOTIVE - 2nd in his April 3rd start, race-timed in 1.55.3


OK BOROMIR - Won qualifier in 1.53.4 while finishing 15 lengths ahead of 2nd place finisher, fellow NA Cup eligible colt Sombrero Blue Chip.


WESTERN POSSE finished 7th in his qualifier but still paced his own mile in 1.54.1.


ARCTIC WARRIOR won his opening qualifier in 1.59.3 and the Blissfall Hall winner of 6 of 10 last year looks ready to go faster.


ALLAMERICAN IMPROV - Qualified in 1.56.3 victory first time out after posting 5 for 9, 128k freshman season.


AINTNOFOOLSGOLD - Fourth in qualifier but race-timed in 1.55.3

Electric Stena daughter Esmeralda Semalu sets world-record 5/8ths; 1.49.4!!!

Joe Pavia Stable enjoys success with world champion Esmeralda Semalu

Electric Stena daughter Esmeralda Semalu sets world-record for older mares on 5/8ths; 1.49.4!!!

Electric Stena is a 2 x 4 Most Happy Fella cross:

Click the folowing link to see full online pedigree of standarbred stallion sire Electirc Stena.

Esmeralda Semalu, a bay daughter of Electric Stena-Anemone Semalu, set a world record for older pacing mares on a five-eighths-mile track when she won an Open handicap for fillies and mares at Pompano Park in 1:49.4 for her trainer/driver Joe Pavia, Jr.

Full online article about Esmeralda Semalu world record at US Trotting website

March Standardbred News; Harness Racing Roundup

Here are some stories from today, the past week and the month of March 2009 to keep pacing and trotting fans informed as the stakes season approaches.

Standardbred Racing Recap - March 2009

Shadow Play trained down to 2.15 despite rough weather in PEI

Wildcat Shoes (68,000), Space Walk ($66,000) and Chief Karen ($64,000) top Flamboro's March Madness sale

Legendary sire Beach Towel dies in New Zealand at 27

Mr Feelgood wins Inter Dominion in Australia

Ramegade Bruiser wins opening round of Spring Pacing Championship

Michel Lachance enjoyed winter off, readying for return to stakes racing

Blueridge Western dominates in Levy Memorial Pacing Series opener

Chancey Lady wins fastest division of Blue Chip Matchmaker at Yonkers

Pocono Downs to host Breeders Crown in 2010, Woodbine in 2011

Newfoundland's Brad Forward edges Guy Gagnon to win NDC at Fraser Downs

View Online videos of all 8 National Driving Championship races at Fraser Downs


From the StandardbredCanada.ca website:

Eight of Canada's best drivers converged at Fraser Downs on Saturday afternoon for a chance to represent our country in the World Driving Championship and with two wins, a second and three thirds, Brad Forward earned the 2009 National Driving Championship title with a total of 65 points.

Going into the final leg, representatives from each region including Gilles Barrieau, Brad Forward, Guy Gagnon and Kelly Hoerdt had earned enough points to remain in the running for the NDC title.

In the last race, Forward secured the title with a win in rein to Kg Mattattack, who survived a first-over journey to triumph in 1:55.4 ahead of Geraint Hanover (Daniel Potvin) in a photo finish while Popular Demand (Guy Gagnon) rounded out the top three.

Forward said he tried not to look at the scoreboard during the challenge and he did not know that he had won the title after the final leg.

“I'm really stuck for words,” said Forward following the official NDC presentation. “It's been an amazing experience. I don’t think I’d be where I am today without the support of my family.”

Fifteen members of Forward’s family including his wife, Sandra, and three daughters, Kaitlyn, Melissa and Jessica, were in attendance to cheer him on throughout the eight-race challenge. Forward’s parents, siblings and nephews travelled across the country from Newfoundland to support the Ontario representative.

Forward will represent Canada in the World Driving Championship scheduled in Norway from May 14-20.

Full article on NDC at Fraser Downs including videos of all the races at www.standardbredcanada.ca

Somebeachsomewhere - Fastest Harness Horse Ever?

Considering that Beach raced against the best in the world and was only beaten once (by a rough trip), he is certainly a candidate for the best pacer ever. Here are some of the many online articles and web tributes:

Online tribute to and photos of pacer Somebeachsomewhere
Courtesy of www.HarnessHorses.info 11-30-2008

Somebeachsomewhere named Horse of the Year
Courtesy of USTA 2-5-2009

O'Brien Awards ceremony becomes a "Beach party"
Courtesy of USTA 01-31-2009

Somebeachsomewhere Voted 2008 Cam Fella Award Recipient
Courtesy of Stanadardbred Canada 01-05-2009

Somebeachsomewhere On CBC
Courtesy of Harness Edge 12-30-2008

Perkins Names 'Beach' Canada's Best Performer
Courtesy of Standardbred Canada 12-27-2008

Somebeachsomewhere Breaks Earnings Record
Courtesy of Standardbred Canada 11-29-2008

No spoiling the 'Beach' party in Breeders Crown
Courtesy of USTA 11-29-2008

Online Photographic Essay on Somebeachsomewhere
Courtesy of Harness Edge 11-19-2008

More Praise For 'The Beach'
Courtesy of Standardbred Canada 11-13-2008

Mainstream TV Features On 'The Beach'
Courtesy of Standardbred Canada 11-13-2008

Somebeachsomewhere wins Messenger Stakes
Courtesy of USTA 10-25-2008

Hanover Shoe Farms lands Somebeachsomewhere for stallion roster
Article about Somebeachsomewhere--Courtesy of USTA 10-8-2008

Somebeachsomewhere Best 6 Racelines, fastest harness horse ever:


27 September 2008 Red Mile Bluegrass $134 000 1/7H 1:46.4 27.2

World record mark, fastest time ever over any track by a 3 year old.



19 July 2008 Meadowlands M Pace F $1 100 000 2/NK 1:47.0 27.4

Tied for 2nd fastest race time ever (at the time, fastest ever) by a 3 year old with race winner Art Official. His over-long trip probably added three lengths or more to the journey, so this was one of if not the very best race of Beach's career. Ironic that it's considered his only "loss", when he set a world record and gave the greatest performance I've ever witnessed in harness racing.



4 October 2008 Red Mile Tattersalls $293 000 1/3H 1:47.4 26.2

Tied Stakes record with world record 3rd time under 1.48. One week after setting 3 year old world record.



29 November 2008 Meadowlands BC Final $500 000 1 1:48.3 26.3

Stakes Record (shattering the previous record by 1 1/5 seconds!) Breeders Crown 2008 Championship win by 1 3/4 lengths over Shadow Play capped a brilliant career record of 20 wins and one 2nd in 21 lifetime starts. 3 Year Old (All Ages??) World record FIFTH RACE in 1.48.3 or faster, and world record EIGHTH TIME in 1.49.0 or faster!!!



17 August 2008 Flamboro Confed F $493 000 1/4 1:49.2 26.3

2nd heat and same-day final Beach sets world record on half mile track of 1.49.2 over 4 turns!!!



1 September 2007 Mohawk D-Metro $1 000 000 1/2 1:49.3 27.4

In the Metro Pace final last year Somebeachsomewhere set a 2 year old pacing world record of 1.49.3, setting the stage for 2008's world-beating performance.


Beach as a 2 year old:

Somebeachsomewhere winning 2007 Metro Pace Final online video


Beach as a 3 year old:

5 minute video of Somebeachsomewhere winning 2008 North America Cup

6 min. video Somebeachsomewhere victory 2008 Pepsi North America Cup

Somebeachsomewhere video winning 2008 Confederation Cup 1.49.2

First heat elimination win 2008 Confederation Cup, Somebeachsomewhere video


2009 Fundraiser for Moncton Horsemen's Association:

Somebeachsomewhere's leather halter from Tattersalls / Bluegrass races in Kentucky auction on ebay

Birthday Tribute to Somebeachsomewhere videos of all his races online

Paul Macdonell, Marc Campbell, Bill Davis compete in National Driving Championship at Fraser Downs

Canada's top harness racing drivers compete in BC today

March 21, 2009

BY YVONNE ZACHARIAS, VANCOUVER SUN

When most of us hear the words “some beach somewhere,” we think of palm trees, silky white sand and a seamless vista of blue — blue water and blue sky.

Not Paul McDonell. Canada’s top harness driver thinks of the trusty steed called Somebeachsomewhere, who has carried him to victory after victory.

With more than $90 million in lifetime earnings as a harness driver, the mild-mannered man from Guelph, Ont., has soared to riches and fame in the dusty, insular world of the race track, although the average Canadian wouldn’t know it. Harness driving is one of those niche sports that largely flies below the radar in this country, unless you live in the Maritimes or parts of Ontario.

Ironically, Canada is recognized worldwide for producing hardworking drivers and prowess in the sport.

Vancouverites will get a chance to see McDonell — as well as seven other top harness drivers, who have flown here from across the country — at the 2009 national driving championship at Fraser Downs in Surrey today. It marks the first time the seminal competition will be held in B.C. The winner will represent Canada at the world championship in Norway in May.

Full online article on Canada's Nationa Driving Championship for standardbred horses


National Driving Championship Harness Driver Profiles

• Gilles Barrieau
• Marc Campbell
• Bill Davis
• Brad Forward
• Guy Gagnon
• Kelly Hoerdt
• Paul MacDonell
• Daniel Potvin