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King's Plate entries Sorrento Stakes Clement Hirsch Stakes Eddie Read Stakes Woodbine Oaks Day |
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 Driver James MacDonald celebrates after winning his first North America Cup with Odds On Mr Mamba. |
The 43rd running of the $1 million Pepsi North America Cup (G1), Canada's richest harness race, was contested on Saturday night at Woodbine Mohawk Park featuring the best 3-year-old pacing males in North America going the standard 1 mile trip around the 7/8 mile stonedust oval in Campbellville, Ontario, in a major prep for the Pacing Triple Crown. Conditions were typical for mid June in Southern Ontario, with partly cloudy skies and a post time temperature of 25 C (77 F).
Ontario Sires Stakes winner Beau Jangles was sent off as the 7-10 favorite in the full field of 10 despite finishing third in his elimination. In to challenge him included 2-1 second choice Odds On Mr Mamba, off wins in the Indiana Sires Stakes his Cup elimination, and 13-2 third choice Brandon Blvd,
 Odds On Mr Mamba (far outside) rallies in the stretch |
102-1 longshot No Waitlist was quickest away through an opening quarter in 26 1/5 before Beau Jangles took over down the backstretch through a half in 54 1/5 and 3/4 n 1:21 1/5 while pressed by 42-1 Al Papi and stalked by Brandon Blvd. Beau Jangles continued to lead to midstretch but Odds On Mr Mamba, 6th early with James MacDonald and wide throughout, rallied on the outside to outfinish Brandon Blvd to win by 1/2 a length in 1:48 1/5. It was a neck back to favorite Beau Jangles third.
 Odds On Mr Mamba wins the North America Cup. |
Pgm Horse Driver Win Place Show 3 Odds On Mr Mamba MacDonald 6.10 4.30 2.10 10 Brandon Blvd Dunn 7.90 2.90 5 Beau Jangles McClure 2.10 Winning Time: 1:48 1/5 $2 Exacta 3-10 35.00 $2 Trifecta 3-10-5 67.00 $1 Superfecta 3-10-5-8 246.00
Results chart Race 11
Left: Odds On Mr Mamba in the winner's circle. Winning trainer Melanie Wrenn, celebrating her first North America Cup win with her second starter said, "I was so nervous. I mean, I knew he was in a good spot at that point, but I mean, he was in with so many nice horses, and he's just amazing. I love him. I knew we were going to give it a heck of a try, and he never quits when they're coming to the wire. He's always gaining on them. So, we had a pretty good shot."
Right: The connections with the trophy.
Left: Odds On Mr Mamba heads out for the post parade. Winning driver James MacDonald, celebrating his first North America Cup win in his 7th drive said, "I was so confident I just thought the way the draw set up, I thought I was going to get a great trip, and it was a dream come true. I watched my brother win this race with Sportswriter, and I was at Kawartha Downs, never thinking I was ever going to ever going to do anything like this on this kind of stage. So, it's pretty special for me, and I'm just so thankful I got the drive, and so, so lucky to be here. I'm so proud of the horse, so happy for Melanie and the connections, and it's just time to party."
Right: Odds On Mr Mamba returns after the race.
Left: Odds On Mr Mamba was a bit rambunctious as he warmed up earlier in the evening. Winning owner Dana Parham said, "It was something that we pointed this horse to, and but there's so many other good horses, and so many other things that can go wrong. But for this year it went right for us, and maybe not quite perfect for some of the others. I do want to thank Pepsi and Mohawk for putting on this great event. I think they should be recognized, so I want to thank all of them."
Right: Owner Dana Parham, trainer Melanie Wrenn, and driver James MacDonald with the trophy.
Left: Second place finisher Brandon Blvd warms up before the race. The Andrew Harris trainee improved his record to 9 wins, 4 second, and 0 thirds in 14 starts, earning $938,737 for owner Punisher 11 Stable.
Right: Third place finisher and beaten favorite Beau Jangles heads out for the post parade. The Dr. Ian Moore trainee improved his record to 15 wins, 0 seconds, and 2 thirds in 17 starts, earning $1,962,987 for owners Graham Grace Stables, Kiwi Stables, and Bolton Stables.
Kicking off the Saturday stakes action, the $240,000 Goodtimes Stakes (G2) featured a field of ten 3-year-old trotters. 55-1 Royal Captain was quickest away through an opening quarter in 26 3/5 before 13-2 third choice Touchedbyanangel took over through a half in 55 4/5 and 3/4 in 1:24 2/5. Into the lane 3-5 favorite Magic Punk swept to the lead but 5-2 second choice Neighver Punt, 7th early, rallied late to win going away by 1 3/4 lengths in 1:52. It was another 1/2 length back t 17-2 fourth choice Strobe Lite third.
Results chart Race 3
Left: Neighver Punt in the winner's circle. Winning driver Dexter Dunn said, "We just had no early go there. He was a little shy [of the starter]. We got away back, but we were following two favorites so I knew we would get a good drag into it. I had nurse him on the last turn quite a bit but he really exploded off a helmet up the straight."
Right: Neighver Punt returns after the race. Dunn added, "He was struggling a little bit with his gait [being shoeless], but they had the pulldown blind on him tonight. I pulled them down going around the last turn and got him up on the bit. In the home straight, when I really asked him, he was gold."
A full field of 10 older trotting fillies and mares faced the starter in the $215,000 Armbro Flight Stakes (G2). Driver Scott Zeron sent 94-1 Champagne Problems to the lead first time by through fractions of 26 1/5, 55 seconds, and 1:23 2/5 while pressed by 43-1 Bourbonista and stalked by 41-1 Nelsonbriteagle No. Into the stretch Champagne Problems tired allowing 3-5 favorite Warrawee Michelle to gain the lead but Bourbonista S with Dexter Dunn in the bike rallied by to win going away by 4 1/4 lengths over 7-2 second choice Yo Tillie in 1:50 4/5. It was another 1/4 length back to 13-2 fourth choice Miracle Maven third. However after an inquiry Yo Tillie was disqualified and placed 10th for causing interference.
Results chart Race 7
Left: Bourbonista S in the winner's circle. Winning trainer Marcus Melander said, "She showed a lot of potential in Sweden as a 4-year-old before she was brought over here. We just put her in our program for about three months and then qualified and just started to race her. She's been building up nicely – last time at The Meadowlands we pulled the shoes for the first time and today was the second time, so she got a lot quicker when we did that."
Right: Bourbonista S returns after the race. Winning driver Dexter Dunn said, "We left out pretty hot in the first quarter but she travelled great the whole way. If the first quarter wasn't so hard I might've looked to remove her – we burned a lot of gas there getting out from the wide draw. I didn't like my spot coming off the turn, though. I was in a bit of trouble, but we got lucky and she really exploded once she got clear. She's big and strong, and she's been getting better and better. There was no reason for me not to be confident with her."
A full field of 10 faced the starter in the $320,000 Roses are Red Stakes (G1) for older pacing fillies and mares. Driver Todd McCarthy sent 49-1 Skywalker Sea to the lead first time by through fractions of 26 seconds, 54 1/5, and 1:21 1/5 while pressed by 69-1 Grit N Grace and stalked by 17-2 The Last Martini. Turning for home Skywalker Sea tired badly as 8-5 favorite Miki and Minnie, 5th early with James MacDonald, rallied to win by 3/4 length over The Last Martini in 1:48 1/5. It was another 3/4 length back to 2-1 second choice Louies Girl N third.
Results chart Race 8
Left: Miki and Minnie in the winner's circle. Winning trainer Chris Ryder said, "I didn't have any qualms about her going against the older horses. She's done it before. We laid her off and brought her back, and she's just an easy horse to train. She's just a terrific filly."
Right: Miki and Minnie heads back to the barn. Winning driver James MacDonald said, "Like I said to Chris before, when you have a great horse, I find they find good trips on their own. She's such a special mare, and it's just been a privilege to get to sit behind her. It's one thing to see them race and do it all the time, but another thing to sit behind them. I knew she probably would kick back on, but I knew I had two good ones chasing her, and I was just really happy that she kept digging."
A field of 10 faced the starter in the $100,000 Mohawk Gold Cup Invitational (G3) for older pacers. Driver Doug McNair sent 15-2 third choice Lou Hill to the lead first time by through fractions of 25 4/5, 54 2/5, and 1:21 2/5 while pressed by 11-1 Bythemissal and stalked by 15-1 Voukefalas. Turning for home Lou Hill continued to lead but even-money favorite Ervin Hanover, 8th early and wide throughout, rallied to get up by a head in 1:48 2/5. It was another 1/2 length back to 3-1 second choice Prince Hal Hanover third.
Results chart Race 9
Left: Ervin Hanover in the winner's circle. Winning trainer Dave Menary said, "I knew he was gong to have to work hard to get there [from post nine], probably race from off the pace, there's so much speed. But we ended up where we wanted to be. He's just bigger and stronger than ever. He's a little studier, a little cockier. Last year, we were maybe travelling a little bit too much too early. We're happy to start off at home. We're getting ready to go on the road now."
Right: Ervin Hanover returns after the race. Winning driver Dexter Dunn said, "This horse gives you all the confidence. He just knows how to take the line and just keeps coming. So coming off the last turn I was really confident with him. You're on one of the better horses you obviously don't want to get away last so you've got to push forward."
Results chart Race 10
Left: Loua Dipa in the winner's circle. Winning trainer Ron Burke said, "And that's (best filly he ever trained) saying a lot, because I can name a ton of other ones, but she's special. She does things other horses can't do. I think we've yet to see even the best of what she can do. I don't think ever in her career she's had to go to the inside. so that's something new for her, and she fought all the way and got her head in front. But I give that other filly credit – she didn't quit fighting. She was going right along with her so I was happy to get up."
Right: Loua Dipa heads back to the barn after the race. Winning driver Ronnie Wrenn Jr. said, "I wanted to sit one-two and as long as Dexter (Dunn with Be Perfect BG) had to use his horse a little bit to clear me, I was happy to sit the two-hole. I got lucky, shook loose late; she's a true champion. Raced great. I was very confident in the horse, she knows how to win. I know she's as tough as nails. She knows where the wire is and dug in late."
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