Desperate Man soars late to win $1,000,000 North America Cup

Desperate Man surged by both favourites in the stretch to capture the $1,000,000 Pepsi North America Cup for local harness racing connections on Saturday at Woodbine Mohawk Park.

The Shadow Play gelding dropped in fifth as 3/5 chalk Bulldog Hanover (Jody Jamieson) stepped to the front with a first-turn sweep. The latter hit the quarter mile pole in :27.3, and driver Trevor Henry put Desperate Man in play with a move to the outside after three-eighths.

Desperate Man caught cover going to the half in :55.1, and he followed Perfect Sting (Dave Miller) as they moved on the leader to three-quarters in 1:22. Bulldog Hanover, Perfect Sting, and Desperate Man warred three-across the track coming through the lane. Perfect Sting put the former leader away after the eighth pole, but Desperate Man uncorked his remaining pace and pulled past both to win Canada’s most prestigious race in 1:49.3.

Perfect Sting was tenacious in his second-place finish. Whichwaytothebeach (Sylvain Filion) gobbled up ground late for third. Desperate Man paid $17.20 to win.

“I had to get away better than what I did last week,” Henry said post-race. “I had to have him forwardly placed. He’s a little tricky behind the car. He’s funny: Last week, he kind of run behind the gate; I got him back pacing and I didn’t want to rush him off his feet. I was just interested in making the final. Tonight, I said we’ve got to have him closer, so you know, if he makes a mistake, he makes a mistake. But we’ve got to have him closer.”

DESPERATE MAN REPLAY

Trainer Kathy Cecchin owns with John Cecchin, Nicole Davies, and Paul Davies. All are residents of Arthur, a small town of about 2,500 people in central Ontario. They purchased the gelding for $20,000 from the Lexington Select sale in 2019. He has now won five of 15 career starts and has earned $853,014. Most of the gelding’s races have come in Ontario Sires Stakes contests; he has won four Gold divisions to date.

Henry, a friend of the Cecchin family, was happy for the winning connections with a long history in the game.

“It feels great. Like these people deserve it: They’ve been in the business a long time, had some hard times, and got lucky to get this horse,” Henry said. “You know, I started at the bottom and now I won the biggest one, so it’s been great.” 

For full race results, click here.

by Nicholas Barnsdale, for Harnesslink