Pepsi North America Cup sees strong numbers

MILTON, June 19, 2023 – Its My Show’s (Sweet Lou) determined harness racing victory in the 40^th Pepsi North America Cup was the headline moment of an outstanding event for Woodbine Entertainment.

The 13-race card on Saturday, June 17, 2023, generated an all-sources handle of $5,259,010.77, the third highest in event history. The Pepsi North America Cup race brought in $653,652.01, up 13 per cent from 2022 and the highest Cup race handle since 2015.

Last year’s record handle of $6.3 million was led by $1.8 million wagered on a Jackpot Hi-5 mandatory payout. With a carryover half the size of last year’s number, this year’s Hi-5 mandatory payout saw $678,596 wagered.

Excluding Jackpot Hi-5 wagering on Cup cards, this year’s handle came in at $4.5 million, which is the largest in event history.

Here are several key wagering highlights from this year’s Pepsi North America Cup:

• All-sources handle of $5.2 million, third highest in event history.
• $653,652.01 wagered on Cup race, highest since 2015.
• Excluding Jackpot Hi-5 wagering, total of $4.5 million wagered on this year’s card. This is the highest wagering number (excluding Hi-5) in event history. Previous mark was $4.4 million in 2020.
• The non-Cup stakes (five races) generated over $2 million in handle.

As for on the track, several speed records were matched or established throughout the race card. Here is a breakdown of the various marks:

• Warrawee Vital won the Preferred (Race 1) in 1:46.4 to match the Track and Canadian record for fastest mile ever.
• Southwind Coors won the Goodtimes (Race 7) in 1:52.0 to match the Track and Canadian record for a 3-Year-Old Gelded Trotter.
• Grace Hill won the Roses Are Red (Race 9) in 1:47.4 to establish a new Track, Stakes and Canadian record for an Older Mare Pacer.
• Sylvia Hanover won the Fan Hanover (Race 10) in 1:48.2 to match the Track, Stakes and Canadian record for a 3-Year-Old Filly Pacer.
• Its My Show won the Pepsi North America Cup in 1:47.4 to establish a new Track and Canadian record for a 3-Year-Old Gelded Pacer.

The Pepsi North America Cup race was a thriller down to the wire, with Its My Show holding off Confederate to win. Driver Scott Zeron piloted Its My Show to win his second Cup title, while Hall of Fame trainer Linda Toscano scored her first Cup victory.

To view the replay of the Pepsi North America Cup race, click here.

Live racing continues every Monday, Tuesday, Thursday, Friday and Saturday at Woodbine Mohawk Park. Post time each night is 7 p.m.

For the latest information on live racing and events, visit WoodbineMohawkPark.com or follow @WoodbineSB and @WoodbineComms on Twitter.

by Mark McKelvie, for Woodbine Communications