Bulldog Hanover, Perfect Sting shine in NA Cup elims

Bulldog Hanover and Perfect Sting, both odds-on favourites, captured their North America Cup harness racing eliminations on Saturday at Mohawk Park.

Bulldog Hanover grinded out a first-over trip in the first split for his fourth straight win going into the $1,000,000 Pepsi North America Cup final for three-year-old pacers next Saturday.

The Shadow Play colt settled in fifth for Jody Jamieson, following leader Rockyroad Hanover (Dexter Dunn) through a :27.3 first quarter mile. Jamieson guided Bulldog Hanover off cover on the backstretch, and the colt sailed by foes on the outside as they traveled to the half in :56.3.

Bulldog Hanover quickly pulled alongside Rockyroad Hanover, and the pair separated themselves from the rest as they swept into the final turn. The incumbent leader stopped Bulldog Hanover’s advance and edged out a one-length advantage after three-quarters in 1:22.4, but the Jamieson’s charge proved unstoppable on the night. Bulldog Hanover struck the front just past the eighth pole and conserved energy to the line as he won in 1:49.

Desperate Man (Trevor Henry) flew late for second, nipping Rockyroad Hanover, who finished third, late. Southwind Gendry (Yannick Gingras) was well behind in fourth, and Bettor Sun (Doug McNair) locked up the last spot in the final by finishing fifth.

BULLDOG HANOVER REPLAY

John Darling trains Bulldog Hanover for Jack Darling Stables Ltd. of Cambridge and Brad Grant of Milton. The Ontario-sired colt is six-for-eight in 2021 and 10-for-14 lifetime. His earnings now total $577,811. He captured the Somebeachsomewhere Stakes on Aug. 25, the foremost stepping stone to the North America Cup. He won the 2020 Ontario Sires Stakes Super Final for his division and has taken three OSS Golds this year.

Perfect Sting’s rallied back after losing the lead in the stretch to emerge victorious from the second group.

The Always B Miki colt left the start quickest but relented the lead to two outside foes going into the first turn. Whichwaytothebeach (Sylvain Filion) set the first quarter time of :27 before Dave Miller ordered Perfect Sting to the front, which the Breeders Crown champion took with ease. He headed the field through the middle panels of :55.4 and 1:24.

Whichwaytothebeach caught Perfect Sting flat-footed on the final turn, and the former appeared on the way to the winner’s circle as he put a neck in front in mid-stretch. Perfect Sting fought back, though, and surged at the pylons to re-take the lead and secure the win in 1:49.4.

Whichwaytothebeach was three quarters of a length short. Abuckabett Hanover (Andrew McCarthy), the winner’s rival early in the season, got up for third. Simon Says Hanover (Scott Zeron) flew late for fourth. Jimmy Connor B (McNair) was fifth.

PERFECT STING REPLAY

Perfect Sting, who went undefeated in 10 starts at two, is now four-for-nine in 2021. He broke the million dollar mark in earnings with the win, increasing his total to $1,009,000. Joseph Holloway trains the colt and trains him mainly in the United States. He is a homebred for owners Brittany Farms LLC of Versailles and Val Dor Farms of Spring Lake.

The full field of for the 38th Pepsi North America Cup, set for Saturday, Sep. 11, is listed below:

Abuckabett Hanover by Betting Line
Bettor Sun by Sunshine Beach
Bulldog Hanover by Shadow Play
Desperate Man by Shadow Play
Jimmy Connor B by Big Jim
Perfect Sting by Always B Miki
Rockyroad Hanover by Captaintreacherous
Simon Says Hanover by Captaintreacherous
Southwind Gendry by Always B Miki
Whichwaytothebeach by Somebeachsomewhere

For full race results, click here.

by Nicholas Barnsdale, for Harnesslink