Record 4 Eliminations for North America Cup 2009 at Mohawk!!!

This year it will take a top two finish to make it to the Pepsi NA Cup finals on Saturday, June 27th at Mohawk in Ontario. The four elimination races this Saturday June 20th are shaping up to be competitive dashes, and some excellent three year old pacing colts will be showing up in the consolation, as only two third place finishers make it to the grand event.

Here are the four elimination races with post positions and drivers:

5 -- Pace, purse $50,000 (EX, P3, SF, TR)
D-PEPSI NORTH AMERICA CUP XXVI - ELIMINATION - 3 YEAR OLDS.
STARTING FEE $8,000 CDN $7,400 U.S.
Post time: 08:54 P.M. Lasix: 04:39 P.M.
1 Fireintheshark G Brennan J Campbell
2***Lisagain(L) Y Gingras E Miller (cog: no test)
3 Carnivore P Macdonell J Darling
4 Well Said R Pierce S Elliott
5 Chasin Racin(L) J Campbell B Teague
6 Glad To Be Back(L) L Ouellette J Wilkinson
7 Waffles And Cream J Morrill Jr T Brainard
8 Captain Sir J Jamieson C Jamieson
9***Nob Hill High D Miller W Webb (cog: no test)
10 Keep It Real S Condren J Shea
Race 5 - Retention Barn - All horses


The undefeated Keep It Real, the surging Carnivore and the highly regarded Well Said are sure to be the 3 favourites here, but consider including Lisagain or Chasin Racin for a bigger payout possibility. Any entrant could win this elim, but the first three mentioned should all be tough.


6 -- Pace, purse $50,000 (EX, P3, TR)
D-PEPSI NORTH AMERICA CUP XXVI - ELIMINATION - 3 YEAR OLDS.
STARTING FEE $8,000 CDN $7,400 U.S.
Post time: 09:15 P.M. Lasix: 05:00 P.M.
1 Stinger Blue Chip J Campbell C Coleman
2 Dial Or Nodial B Sears J Campbell
3 Ok Boromir L Ouellette F Baker Jr
4 Ideal Race Ma Macdonald T Brainard
5 Johnny Z(L) B Sears B Teague
6 Ideal Danny(L) R Pierce E Miller
7 Mysticism T Tetrick S Elliott
8 Bay Of Sharks M Baillargeon B Wallace
9 Hay Goodlooking G Brunet G Brunet
10 Mighty Me(L) J Moiseyev R Furlong
Race 6 - Retention Barn - All horses


Dial Or No Dial is the likely m/l and post-time fave, but Bay of Sharks, Ideal Danny, Johnny Z, OK Boromir and Stinger Blue Chip should all find significant backers.




8 -- Pace, purse $50,000 (EX, P3, SF, TR)
D-PEPSI NORTH AMERICA CUP XXVI - ELIMINATION - 3 YEAR OLDS.
STARTING FEE $8,000 CDN $7,400 U.S.
Post time: 09:57 P.M. Lasix: 05:42 P.M.
1 Schoolkids To Be Announced T Brainard
2***Sheer Desire D Palone R Burke (cog: no test)
3 Arctic Warrior D Miller B Wallace
4 Shipps Xpectancy J Moiseyev J Kopas
5 If I Can Dream(L) G Brennan T Brainard
6 *Stonebridge Terror M Saftic J Darling (cog: 12-AUG-2009)
7***Barber Pole B Sears B Teague (cog: no test)
8 Manhattan Bluechip Ra Waples M Austin
9 Annieswesterncard R Pierce T Deters
10 Passmaster Hanover T Tetrick B Burgess
Race 8 - Retention Barn - All horses


IF I Can Dream looks well positioned for victory in this group but could see some challenges from colts like Schoolkids on the rail, plus Barber Pole and Stonebridhge Terror in the middle. There is wicked speed on the outside also, and any of the 8, 9, or 10 could win with a fortunate trip and a late brush.



9 -- Pace, purse $50,000 (EX, P3, TR)
D-PEPSI NORTH AMERICA CUP XXVI - ELIMINATION - 3 YEAR OLDS.
STARTING FEE $8,000 CDN $7,400 U.S.
Post time: 10:18 P.M. Lasix: 06:03 P.M.
1 Fire On The Water P Macdonell M Brethour
2 Fast Pay P Macdonell D Menary
3 Vintage Master D Dube J Takter
4 Drop Red G Brennan R Horowitz
5 Straight Shooting T Tetrick T Brainard
6 Sombrero Blue Chip S Condren R Laarman
7 Art Colony J Campbell C Coleman
8 Millionaire Cam J Jamieson T Osullivan
9 Mr Wiggles(L) C Callahan B Teague
10 Chief Of The Beach S Filion B Wallace
Race 9 - Retention Barn - All horses


Art Colony is facing mostly pacers that have disappointed of late, and of all 40 entrants he may be best positioned to make it to the final. Challengers will include Drop Red, Vintage Master, Millionaire Cam, Straight Shooting and Chief Of The Beach.


Here is analysis from StandardbredCanada.ca on these races:

Race 5:

Coming in off a Burlington victory in which driver Paul MacDonell found daylight late, Jack Darling-trained Real Desire colt Carnivore (PP3, P. MacDonell) will be looking to gain entrance to the Cup via the first elim. Last season's Breeders Crown winner Well Said (PP4, R. Pierce) has drawn mid-gate for conditioner Steve Elliott. Upstart Real Artist colt Keep It Real (PP10, S. Condren) will be looking to keep his career unbeaten streak intact for trainer Joey Shea. The bay continued to roll right along last week in the Burlington Stakes, but will have a tall task ahead of him from the 10-hole.


Race 6:

After having just missed by a half length last weekend in the New Jersey Classic at the Meadowlands, Western Ideal gelding Dial Or No Dial (PP2, B. Sears) will be representing trainer Jim Campbell in the second of the Cup elims. OK Boromir (PP3, L. Ouellette), the No Pan Intended colt that posted a minor upset in the Burlington, has drawn a favourable post for conditioner Frank Baker, Jr. Ideal Danny (PP6, R. Pierce), representing the Erv Miller barn in the third elim, will also be looking to build upon his Burlington victory.


Race 8:

After going down to Yonkers Raceway and capturing the Art Rooney Memorial by open lengths, Western Hanover colt If I Can Dream (PP5, G. Brennan) has drawn mid-gate for trainer Tracy Brainard in the third elim. Courtesy of a 1:49 mile, three-year-old North American season's leader Barber Pole (PP7, B. Sears) will be looking to improve on a disappointing off-the-board finish in the Rooney. Fresh off victory in the Jersey Classic, Blair Burgess-trained Cams Card Shark colt Passmaster Hanover (PP10, T. Tetrick) will have to overcome a disadvantaged post position if he is to make it to the Cup finale.


Race 9:

Having recently captured an Ontario Sires Stakes Gold final at Rideau Carleton Raceway, Western Terror colt Fast Pay (PP2, P. MacDonell) has drawn favourable in the fourth elimination for trainer Dave Menary. Vintage Master (PP3, D. Dube) almost converted a tough overland trip in the Jersey Classic into pay dirt for trainer Jimmy Takter, but the Western Ideal colt settled for a second-place finish by a mere head. Having finished a neck back in second to Carnivore in the Burlington, Art Colony (PP7, J. Campbell) will be looking to get the job done for trainer Casie Coleman.


More Mohawk Racing on Saturday June 20th:

In addition to the Cup elims, Mohawk Racetrack will also be showcasing some of the continent's top three-year-old pacing fillies in eliminations for the Fan Hanover Stakes. The $35,000 elims have been carded as Races 3, 7 and 10.

Three-year-old trotters are sure to be a draw Saturday at 'The Hawk,' as a trio of $30,000 Goodtimes Stakes elims will also head postward. The Goodtimes elims have been slotted as Races 1, 2 and 4.


Full Entries for Saturday June 20, 2009 Mohawk

Burlington Stakes Upset Winners create new TOP 30 NA Cup Contenders

My hypothetical wagers from last night returned zilch, and though they were lotto-style bets, I had expected at least a couple of them to cash. The outstanding performances by Carnivore over Art Colony, Keep It Real over a wicked field, plus Bay of Sharks and Barn Art each getting up for 2nd killed all 4 of my imaginary tickets.

Before people get too excited about the other division winners, keep in mind what I wrote yesterday (see below; that the 6th or 7th finisher in Race 5 could win a NA Cup elim next week). Well Said was 4th but still a few ticks faster than the other winners, and Stonebridge Terror in 7th TIED THE FASTEST of the other winners, Ideal Danny.

Here is a revised TOP 30 Horses eligible for the 2009 Pepsi North America Cup at Woodbine:

1 - Dial Or Nodial - 5-1

2 - Keep It Real - 6-1
2 - Art Colony - 6-1
2 - Well Said - 6-1

5 - If I Can Dream - 10-1
5 - Schoolkids - 10-1
5 - Carnivore - 10-1
5 - Chasin Racin - 10-1
5 - Ideal Danny - 10-1

10 - Redneck Riviera - 12-1
10 - Passmaster Hanover - 12-1
10 - Johnny Z - 12-1
10 - Drop Red 12-1


14 - Bay Of Sharks - 15-1
14 - Vintage Master - 15-1
14 - Barber Pole 15-1
14 - Sheer Desire - 15-1
14 - OK Boromir - 15-1

19 - Arctic Warrior - 18-1
19 - Glad To Be Back - 18-1
19 - Stonebridge Terror - 18-1
19 - Lisagain - 18-1
19 - Estero Bay - 18-1

24 - Millionaire Cam - 20-1
24 - Barn Art - 20-1
24 - Stinger Blue Chip - 20-1
24 - Annieswesterncard - 20-1

28 - Straight Shooting - 25-1
28 - Manhattan Blue Chip - 25-1

30 - Nob Hill High - 30-1
30 - Chief of The Beach - 30-1

A few more 3 year old colts to watch for in the North America Cup eliminations next week:

Mr. Wiggles, Ideal Race, Captain Sir, Fast Pay, Western Posse, Bunkmeister, Panmunjom, Built To Drive, Waffles and Cream

Top 50 Colts Eligible for Pepsi 2009 NA Cup, unofficial advance odds

Here is an updated list of my top 50 contenders for the 2009 North America Cup at Mohawk Raceway (unofficial advance odds by HarnessHorses.info as of 11may09).

Key Pepsi North America Cup Eligible Horses to watch in May and June:

1 - Well Said - 8-1

1 - Major In Art - 8-1

3 - Art Colony - 10-1

3 - Dial Or Nodial - 10-1

3 - Chasin Racin - 10-1

3 - Barber Pole - 10-1

7 - Sheer Desire - 12-1

7 - Drop Red 12-1

7 - Glad To Be Back - 12-1

10 - Nebupanezzar - 15-1

10 - Annieswesterncard - 15-1

10 - Captain Sir - 15-1

13 - Arctic Warrior - 16-1

13 - Johnny Z 16-1

13 - Vertigo Hanover - 16-1

13 - Good Chi - 16-1

17 - Redneck Riviera - 18-1

17 - Lifesong - 18-1

17 - Trail Boss - 18-1

20 - Carnivore - 20-1

20 - Western Posse - 20-1

20 - Schoolkids - 20-1

20 - OK Boromir - 20-1

24 - Fast Pay 22-1

24 - Mr. Wiggles - 22-1

24 - Allamerican Motive - 22-1

24 - Vintage Hanover - 22-1

28 - Allamerican Improv - 25-1

28 - Mr. Terror - 25-1

30 - Lisagain 30-1

30 - Built To Drive 30-1

32 - Bunkmeister 35-1

32 - Stinger Blue Chip 35-1

34 - Blended Whiskey 40-1

34 - Fire In The Shark 40-1

36 - Fire On The Water 45-1

36 - Chiefofthebeach 45-1

38 - Deep Finesse 50-1

38 - Pair A Dice 50-1

38 - Pangiorno 50-1

38 - Estero Bay 50-1

42 - Aintnofoolsgold 55-1

42 - Four Starz Twins 55-1

42 - Vertical Horizon 55-1

42 - World Away 55-1

43 - If I Can Dream 60-1

43 - Waffles and Cream 60-1

43 - Millionaire Cam 60-1

46 - Special Art 65-1

46 - Star Party 65-1

48 - Mysticism 70-1

48 - Primary Purpose 70-1

50 - Suprizemeagain 80-1

50 - Pieraz 80-1


More top NA Cup eligible colts to watch in May and June:

Straight Shooter






Full list of 3 year old pacing colts eligible for 2009 Pepsi North America Cup