NEW REVISED Top 50 Contenders Pepsi NA Cup 2009

After last night's Upper Canada Cup and Hempt eliminations and New Jersey Sires Stakes events, there has been some shifting in the prospects for various 3 year old colts. Also, though his trainer said he wasn't aiming him for the NA Cup, many still felt Nebupanezzar was a favourite, but now that he has a slight injury his ETA is August rather than July, so I have taken him off the list.

Top 50 favorites and contenders for the 2009 Pepsi North America Cup at Mohawk Raceway (unofficial advance odds by HarnessHorses.info as of 17may09).

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


1 - Major In Art*** - 8-1

1 - Dial Or Nodial - 8-1

1 - Well Said - 8-1

4 - Art Colony - 12-1

4 - Chasin Racin - 12-1

4 - Drop Red 12-1

4 - Sheer Desire - 12-1

8 - Glad To Be Back - 15-1

8 - Annieswesterncard - 15-1

10 - Redneck Riviera - 16-1

10 - Captain Sir - 16-1

10 - OK Boromir - 16-1

13 - Arctic Warrior - 18-1

13 - Johnny Z 18-1

13 - Vertigo Hanover - 18-1

13 - Good Chi - 18-1

13 - Lifesong - 18-1

13 - Western Posse - 18-1

19 - Carnivore - 20-1

19 - Barber Pole - 20-1

19 - Panmunjom - 20-1

19 - Mr. Wiggles - 20-1

23 - Allamerican Motive - 22-1

23 - Vintage Hanover - 22-1

23 - Stonebridge Terror 22-1

26 - Lisagain 25-1

26 - Schoolkids - 25-1

26 - Trail Boss - 25-1

29 - Built To Drive 30-1

29 - Primary Purpose 30-1

31 - Bunkmeister 35-1

31 - Stinger Blue Chip 35-1

33 - Pair A Dice 40-1

33 - Fast Pay 40-1

33 - Vertical Horizon 40-1

33 - Waffles and Cream 40-1

33 - Estero Bay 40-1

38 - Fire In The Shark 45-1

38 - Fire On The Water 45-1

38 - Chiefofthebeach 45-1

41 - Deep Finesse 50-1

41 - Pangiorno 50-1

41 - Millionaire Cam 50-1

41 - Allamerican Improv - 50-1

41 - Aintnofoolsgold 50-1

46 - Four Starz Twins 55-1

46 - Blended Whiskey 55-1

48 - If I Can Dream 60-1

48 - Vintage Master 60-1

50 - Special Art 65-1

*** Major In Art will be removed from next list as his connections announced an injury that is sending him back to the farm, and he is not expected to start until mid-summer at earliest.

More top 3 year old NA Cup-eligible colts to keep an eye on t5he next few weeks:

Mysticism

Suprizemeagain

Upfront Hoosierboy

Star Party

Unbeaten Somebeachsomewhere facing stiff competition in 2008 Pepsi North America Cup Final

I made it out to Mohawk Raceway last night to see Somebeachsomewhere win his 8th straight to stay undefeated, and to see Tug River Princess keep her streak alive (13 wins in 13 lifetime starts) in an elimination for the Fan Hanover Stakes for 3 year old pacing fillies.

Somebeachsomewhere paced to a personal best 1.49 (just 1/5 off the track record for 3 year old colts, held by Blissed Out), never really being challenged and appearing to have more in the tank for next week.

In the elimination races for the Pepsi North America Cup 2008 Final, the major horses in each division made the top 3, with all of my top 8 making the final, and Mucho Sleazy racing his way into a much deserved slot. One more horse will be drawn in from the 4th place finishers, with Lennon Blue Chip being the most threatening, but we'll see where the ball bounces. The top 4 in each division were:

1  Badlands Nitro       1  3/2     1@/1    1/1H    1/H      1/1Q    1:50.1  28   B Sears        
3  Keystone Horatio     3  1/Q     3/3Q    3/3Q    3/1H     2/1Q    1:50.2  27.3 Ra Waples      
2  Santanna Blue Chip   2  2@/Q    2/1     2/1H    2/H      3/1T    1:50.3  28.1 J Jamieson     
7  Upfront Hannahsboy   7  7/12    7@/8Q   I6@@/9T 5/4T     4/3T    1:51    26.4 T Tetrick       

4  Somebeachsomewhere   4  3/3H    1/2     1/1T    1/1T     1/2     1:49    27.1 P Macdonell    
1  Art Official         1  5/8T    4@/6T   3@/2    2/1T     2/2     1:49.2  27.1 Ty Buter       
5  Mucho Sleazy         5  1/1H    2/2     2/1T    3/2H     3/3Q    1:49.3  27.2 Ma Macdonald  
6  Frankyluvsmeatbals   6  2/1H    3/4     5/4     5/5      4/5T    1:50.1  27.3 L Plano       



8  Deuce Seelster    7  2/1T    4/6     3@/2H   3/1H     1/NK    1:50.3  28   J Campbell     
2  Dali              2  4/3H    1/2     1/H     1/1      2/NK    1:50.3  28.2 L Ouellette    
4  Sand Shooter      3  3@/2T   2/2     2@/H    2/1      3/3T    1:51.2  29.1 D Miller       
9  Lennon Blue Chip  8  1/1T    3/4     4/2T    4/3H     4/5H    1:51.3  28.4 Ma Macdonald   

Full results for Pepsi North America Cup eliminations, 2008 Fan Hanover stakes, Goodtimes stakes trotting elimination races

Pre-post position draw advance odds for the 2008 North America Cup harness race:

1. Somebeachsomewhere 7-5

2. Badlands Nitro 5-2

3. Dali 4-1

4. Keystone Horatio 6-1

5. Santanna Blue Chip 8-1

6. Deuce Seelster 8-1

7. Art Official 12-1

8. Sand Shooter 18-1

9. Mucho Sleazy 20-1

Possibly Also Eligible:

10. Lennon Blue Chip 25-1