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Canada Day Festival O'Neill wins$nbso;#3000 North America Cup results Belmont Stakes Resuults Eclipse Stakes Day |
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 Nijinsky winning the 2024 North America Cup. |
Date: 06/09/2025
The 42nd running of the Pepsi North America Cup (G1) at Woodbine Mohawk Park, one of the most important races on the continent for three-year-old pacers, will be run Saturday night June 14. Sponsored by Pepsi since 2001 and with a purse of $1 million (Canadian) it is the richest harness race in Canada and a key prep for the Pacing Triple Crown as well as the Breeders Crown which will be run here in October. Michael Copeland, CEO Woodbine Entertainment expressed his gratitude for the dedication of the racing community. "We're very proud of the racing program here. A lot of hard work from a lot of great people makes it happen. But it all culminates on the night that we're all going to have on Saturday. Thank you to the owners, the drivers, the trainers, all of the connections for everything that you do. Congratulations on having the opportunity to race on Saturday night and best of luck to all of you."
First run in 1984 at Greenwood Raceway, the race has featured a who's who of pacing history, with such winners as Jate Lobell, Precious Bunny, Gallo Blue Chip, Cam's Card Shark and Somebeachsomewhere. The late Cam Fella won the race in 1982 (when it was still called the Queen City Pace), and went on to sire four North America Cup winners: Goalie Jeff, Precious Bunny, Presidential Ball and Cam's Card Shark. 1987 winner Jate Lobell went on to sire three winners of his own: Safely Kept, David's Pass, and Gothic Dream. Last year's winner was Nijinsky, with Louis-Philippe Roy in the bike for trainer Tony Beaton.
 Mark McKelvie and racing secretary Jim Gillespie draw the posts. |
Unlike in thoroughbred racing, almost all harness races are run at a mile and entry into the finals of major stakes races involves eliminations the week before. For the North America Cup, 23 horses made final entry so three elimination races were run on Saturday, June 7th, and were won by Captain Optimistic, Lite Up the World, and Louprint. The top three finishers in each elimination automatically make the final, while one of the three 4th place finishers were randomly drawn to complete the field of 10, with one more to serve as the also-eligible. .
Trainer Dr. Ian Moore looks to win his first NA Cup and has 2 horses in the race, 8-1 Prince Hal Hanover from post 9 with driver David Miller, and 20-1 longshot Joel and the Jets from post 3 with Louis-Philippe Roy in the bike. Moore said, "I love David [Miller]. He's a great guy, and I'm sure he'll help a lot to overcome that nine-hole that Prince Hal has. They're all going to be leaving in that race going for a million dollars, so hopefully they can work out a trip, and still have some left at the end."
 Ashley Bako, Jared Bako, James MacDonald, Anthony Beaton, ?, Dr. Ian Moore, and ? pose with the trophy after the draw. |
Lite Up the World won the fastest elimination with a time of 1:48 3/5, and drew post 5 for trainer Anthony Beaton. Driver James MacDonald said of his 4-1 second choice, "I think anyone that watched him early last year knew he (Lite Up The World) was a top horse. He was trending in the direction to be maybe a Louprint or that kind of horse, and it just didn't work out last year, but he's fresh. He's been finishing well every time he's raced. He's done it from the front, and he's done it from dead last now."
The morning line favorite at 7-5 is Louprint from post 4 for trainer Ron Burke. Last year's U.S. champion 2-year-old pacer won the third elimination race in 1:49 1/5. Driver Ronnie Wrenn Jr. said, "It was closer than I wanted it to be, but he had the ear plugs in and he was really strong finishing, so I was happy with him tonight. This horse is the best horse I’ve ever driven, and he’s a great horse to drive. And you know, I’m just enjoying it."
The race is the 11th on Saturday and goes to post at 10:45pm ET. It will be shown on the Game+ Network in Canada from 10-11pm, or you can watch it online at the Woodbine Mohawk Park website. The North America Cup is part of an excellent card of racing with five additional stakes races, including the $390,000 Fan Hanover (G1), the distaff counterpart to the Cup for 3-year-old fillies as well as the $270,000 Goodtimes (G2), the trotting equivalent. You can view the full card of entries here and the full card past performance program will be here. Below are the entries for the 2025 Pepsi North America Cup.
| Post | Horse | Driver | Trainer | Odds |
| 1 | Fast Choice | Scott Zeron | Jared Bako | 20-1 |
| 2 | Dandy Ideal | Jason Bartlett | Hunter Oakes | 12-1 |
| 3 | Joel And The Jets | Louis-Philippe Roy | Dr. Ian Moore | 20-1 |
| 4 | Louprint | Ronnie Wrenn Jr. | Ron Burke | 7-5 |
| 5 | Lite Up The World | James MacDonald | Anthony Beaton | 4-1 |
| 6 | Captain Optimistic | Dexter Dunn | Nancy Takter | 9-2 |
| 7 | Swingtown | Yannick Gingras | Ron Burke | 15-1 |
| 8 | Crack Shot | Doug McNair | Gregg McNair | 6-1 |
| 9 | Prince Hal Hanover | David Miller | Dr. Ian Moore | 8-1 |
| 10 | Madden Oaks | Braxten Boyd | Cameron Capone | 20-1 |
| 11-AE | Pants On Fire | Dexter Dunn | Brian Brown | 20-1 |
 The North America Cup Trophy |
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