Brian McEvoy handicaps the NA Cup Night card

An incredible night of harness racing takes place Saturday (June 15) at Woodbine Mohawk Park led by the C$1 million North America Cup for 3-yr-old pacing colts. There are over C$2.5 million in purses on the Saturday card. Also on tap are the C$425,000 Fan Hanover for 3-year-old pacing fillies, the $305,000 Roses Are Red for older pacing mares, the C$233,000 Armbro Flight for older trotting mares and the C$225,000 Goodtimes for 3-yes-old male trotters.

The North America Cup looks to be a wide-open race where you can a make a case for almost every horse in the race to win the race. Jody Jamieson states it clearly when he says “You have to be ready for plan A, plan B, and plan C, and hope for the best,” commented Jamieson.

Todd McCarthy put his spin on the race by saying, ‘I am going in with an open mind and take it as it comes. Besides the American horses, the two Canadian horses look very sharp, also.” said Todd.

Here are Brian McEvoy’s selections for the Pepsi North America Cup Night. He also has quotes from some of the leading trainers and drivers in the races. Brian works full-time as the track handicapper at Pocono Downs.

RACE 1- PREFERRED

8-WHEELS ON FIRE is the lukewarm favorite in this wide-open race. His last two races he has been very sharp.

1-POSEIDON SEELSTER was third in the Camluck from the 8 post, throw out the last

10-DRAGONONTHEBEACH is reunited with Tim Tetrick. He is back in class where he can win. He has to overcome the 10 post.

RACE 2 – OPEN

2-LOGAN PARK has started the season with 3 wins and a second. If Gingas forces the action and takes Lexus Kody to the lead he should sit the pocket and ponce later.  He has 27 wins and has banked over $1.1 million in purses.

3-LEXUS KODY likes the front end and has an aggressive driver in Gingras. This race could see a battle for the front end. Lexus Park is not in the class of Logan Park.

6-GAINES HANOVER pulled the upset of Logan Park on May 13.  If the top two get into a fast battle on the front end, Gaines could pull the upset again.

RACE 3

1-ANGOSTURA HANOVER in his last 5 races has been super sharp. She finished third twice to Silver Label in the preferred pace and right behind Sylvia Hanover.

7-HUNTRESS will improve in his third race back. She had 2 bad trips in his first two races back.

4-STYLE FOR A MILE is a very consistent performer. She has raced in the higher class Preferred class most of the year.

RACE 4

6-FAST LOUIE finished a solid third behind Funtime Bayama and Legendary Hanover.  Yannick Gingras is back on board to drive again. Fast Louie has two impressive wins prior to the Somebeach stakes race.  He has the post advantage over Trophy Taker.

9-TROPHY TAKER  has been impressive in his first two races at Woodbine.  He was forth to Nijinsky in the Somebeach. Two races back he was an impressive winner 1.50. Can he overcome the 9 post?

3-WARRAWEEFORLAURA Is 8 times in the money in 9 tries this year. Should the top two falter he has the ability to win this race.

RACE 5 – ARMBRO FLIGHT FINAL BEST BET

6-M-MS DREAM won the elim in easy fashion. She is best trotting mare in the country. She draws the safe 6 post where she can control the race from.  Post 6 is the winningest post at Woodbine.

5-CALL ME GOO lost by a head to M Ms Dream two races back. In the elim she finished a little tired, just lasting in 28.2. She will need a lifetime super effort to beat the top one.

10-TIPSY MONI unfortunately draws the ten post. She finished 2nd to M Ms Dream in the elim. She finished a nose behind Call Me Goo in Versalility om May 4.

David Miller expressed some thoughts on his horse M Ms Dream. “She was quite easy and well within herself in the elimination.  I was telling Ronnie she was much better than in the Versaltity,” said Miler.

“I am going to keep my eye on Call Me Goo as she raced well,” stated Miller.

Tim Tetrick expressed himself on Call Me Goo in the Armbro Flight Final. “She hadn’t had a race in a month and came up a little short in the Versatility.  In the elim she got a little excited at the start of the race and was a little tired at the end.  We got a good draw and are one of the horses to beat, said Tetrick.”

M-M’S DREAM REPLAY

RACE 6 – NORTH AMERICA CUP CONSOLATION

3-MIRAGE HANOVER was a strong first over 4th to Funtime Bayama in the elim.  In his previous two races at the Meadowlands he came home in 25.1 and 25.3.  Mirage Hanover draws a great post 3.

7-ITS SATURDAY NIGHT was a very strong 4th to Nijinsky, only 2 lengths back. In his previous two races he finished third to Captain Albano.

6-CLEVER CODY able to stay flat and get right? He has shown the ability to compete and win at this level.

RACE 7 – GOODTIMES FINAL

7-HIGHLAND KISMET is looking to be something special.  He blew by everyone to win with ease in the elim. He came home in 54.2 and is now three for four in his short career.

8-WINTER SOLDIER did all the work in the 3rd place finish to Highland Kismet.

5-TOP MAST won his elim in 153.4 in only his second start of the year.  In his first race back this year he went a big trip from the ten post.

RACE – 8 MOHAWK GOLD CUP INVITATIONAL

8-OAKWOOD ARDAN IR has been incredible in the three starts back this year at the Meadowlands.  His May 18 race showed him pace home a back-half of 52.4, last 1/4 in 25.3, under no urging.

3-ABUCKABETT HANOVER when he is on his game is tough too beat.  Which horse shows up tonight?  He  made a couple of moves before powering home in convincing win.

5-TAURASI had a bad trip in his last race. He got roughed up in the first half and pinched in doing the stretch home. Taurasi loves this track having won 11 in a row over the Woodbine oval.

OAKWOOD ADRIAN IR REPLAY

RACE 9 – FAN HANOVER FINAL

5-GEOCENTRIC has had an amazing career so far.  She won 10 of 11 races last year.  She ran out of room and just missed winning last week’s elim. Tetrick will be closer or on the lead tonight.

6-MY GIRL EJ was gutsy in hanging on for the win last week.  On paper this looks like a two-horse race.  She made multiple moves in a hot pace.  She won the Breeders Crown with ease last year.

1-IT’S A LOVE THING raced on the outside most of the race last week. He was 4 wide at the top of the stretch.  He will need some luck and the performance of his life to beat the top 2.

‘How much better does she need to be, she has one blemish on her record in two years, said Tetrick.”  Tetrick would comment more on last week’s eliminatioin race. ” She was racing on the right line a little and we will fix that.  A couple more yards and we win the race,” commented Tetrick.

Dexter Dunn has some comments on My Girl E J.  “She wasn’t quite right in her first two qualifiers of the year, but Ronnie got her straighten out and she was great the other night,” said Dunn.  “She was really great at the end holding off Geocentric.”

MY GIRL EJ REPLAY

RACE 10 – ROSES ARE RED FINAL

4-TWIN B JOE FRESH  has shown incredible speed to win her last two races.  In the Betsy Ross she paced a jaw dropping mile in 148.2 with ease.  If you are concerned with the 29 last quarter in the elim, don’t be.  Todd McCarthy explained there was a strong head wind in the third quarter back stretch.  Twin B Joe Fresh paced to the three quarter in 121.4

6-SYLVIA HANOVER has not shown her best form yet this year. If the mile gets contested on the front end it could set up her to use her closing kick to victory.

3-ALWAYS B NAUGHTY was great in her elim win. It will be tough to beat Twin B as she was 6 lengths back to her in Betsy Ross.

“I was doing it pretty comfortably and saving her for next week,” commented Dunn on last week’s elim race.  ‘There was a very strong headwind going into the third quarter and she went to the 3/4 in 121.4.”

TWIN B JOE FRESH REPLAY

RACE 11 – $1M NORTH AMERICA CUP FINAL

2-CAPTAIN ALBANO  You can make a case for almost every horse in the is field to win the big money. It is going to be a highly contested mile with lots of action.  A good trip and smart drive will be essential to get a victory.  Captain Albano was a tough hard second in the elims.  The elim race should tighten him up for a better race this week.

5-CAPTAINS QUARTERS  wore down Captain Albano to victory in the elimination race.  He was able to get a perfect second over trip. I would look for him to be a slight favorite. He also should be stronger this week after getting three races under his belt.

4-NIJINSKY has been the most improved three-year-old this year.  He is a perfect 4 for 4 this year It would not surprise me if he wins this race.  He was in the easiest division last week and used a second over cover trip to victory.

Todd McCarthy had some thoughts on his horse Captain Albano.  “He was a little immature last year, Noel has done a great job with him,” said McCarthy.

“I was really pleased with the post position draw, stated Todd.  It is a long way to the finish when you pull your horse at the 3/4’s. We should be better this week because of that race,” commented McCarthy.

Anthony Beaton trains two very good contenders in this race. “I have two very different horses. Lengendary Hanover is a big horse that takes a while to get that engine going, but when he does, he has strong speed.  Nijinsky is a smaller quicker horse with high speed. I think they both have an equal chance to win,” commented Beaton.

Jody Jamieson speaks out about the probably favorite in the race. “She was a lot stronger last week than in the Somebeach.  I am hoping a decent trip is in the cards,” stated Jamieson.

CAPTAINS QUARTERS REPLAY

RACE 12 

1-STONE CARVER takes a big drop in class. He has winning mile this year in 150.  He moves from 9 post to rail

7-RESPECT OUR FLAG  Has been racing against much better all year.  He showed he can win at this level on May 4 victory.

2-WRY has raced respectfully at the $50,000

RACE 13

4–JABBERWOCKY has some good miles in upper-level conditions.

2-AMERICAN HISTORY has some fast miles this year. he drops a peg in class

8-DREAMFAIR ARNIE B made a class jump in last race and performed well

by Brian McEvoy, for Harnesslink