It’s My Show super in $1 million North America Cup

It’s My Show (Sweet Lou) made the $1 million Pepsi North America Cup his show, with an authoritative move to the front and a tough stretch drive to win the million-dollar harness racing event on Saturday (Jun. 17) at Woodbine Mohawk Park.

Scott Zeron pushed him forward from post two to claim a pocket spot behind Save America (Yannick Gingras), who blasted out from post nine. It’s My Show re-moved after the quarter in :25.4 and quickly took command.

He completed the half in :54 and felt the first-up bid of Fulton (Dunn), who pressured the leader going to three-quarters in 1:20.4. The top two went into a full-out drive coming down the lane with Save America slogging on at the pylons. Favourite Confederate (Tim Tetrick) surged from the backfield in the last eighth of a mile, providing the last challenge to It’s My Show, who survived to the line and captured the North America Cup in 1:47.4.

Confederate missed by a head. Fulton finished third.

“This is my favourite race, it always has been, and to win it twice now (is amazing),” Zeron said in his post-race interview.

The time of 1:47.4 is tied for the second-fastest time in stakes history. Captain Crunch set the record of 1:47.2 in 2019, and Betting Line and Thinking Out Loud both completed their wins in 1:47.4.

IT’S MY SHOW REPLAY

The win puts It’s My Show to six-for-14 lifetime with $649,965 in earnings. Linda Toscano trains the gelding for owner/breeders Richard and Joanne Young of Boca Raton. It was a new lifetime mark for the gelding, who lowered it to 1:48 in his elimination.

“It means a lot,” said Richard Young. “I’m a Canadian, you may not know that, and I’ve been in the business for 30 some-odd years. His brother won the Meadowlands Pace four years ago and he was in the North America Cup and finished sixth, I think. I haven’t had a horse between them, so coming back and winning this one is almost like back-to-back. So, it feels really cool.”

Along with the 40th edition of the North America Cup, the 13-race card included the $210,000 Armbro Flight, the $250,000 Goodtimes, the $100,000 Mohawk Gold Cup, the $305,000 Roses Are Red, and the $420,000 Fan Hanover.

Below is race-by-race coverage conducted live from Woodbine Mohawk Park with replays and recaps.

Race 5 – $210,000 Armbro Flight – three-year-old and up trotting fillies and mares

Refined (Uncle Peter) upset 1/5 favourite Bella Bellini with a mid-stretch surge to capture the Armbro Flight.

She sat fifth for Doug McNair behind :27 and :56 fractions set by Hp Mama B (Sylvain Filion) and Raised By Lindy (Yannick Gingras) respectively. She moved out onto the back of Bella Bellini (Dexter Dunn) going to three-quarters in 1:24, and Bella Bellini quickly soared to the front.

Gapped several lengths entering the stretch, Refined needed much of the stretch to get going but exploded once she did. She ignited coming into the last 1/16th of a mile and roared up to nip Bella Bellini by a head and prevail in 1:52.

Bella Bellini finished second with Warrawee Xenia (Bob McClure) third.

REFINED REPLAY

Refined’s win increased her earnings to $910,228. It was her 33rd win in 95 lifetime outings. She finished second in her elimination and is now three-for-five this year. Virgil Morgan trains the seven-year-old mare for Joyce McClelland of Zanesville and Larry Willis of Columbus.

“She’s just matured,” Morgan said after the race. “She’s always been good, as far as being on the national scene. But last year, she showed up in the Breeders Crown and did some work. She did really good and finished third, then she finished second in the TVG. So we had some high hopes coming into this year for her. Late, late [in the mile], she’s just so game; she tries so hard. And it showed up tonight.”

Race 7 – $250,000 Goodtimes – three-year-old and up trotting fillies and mares

Southwind Coors (Walner) prevailed in a nail biting photo-finish after a stretch duel with favourite Gaines Hanover (Louis-Philippe Roy) in the $250,00 Goodtimes Stake.

Gaines Hanover (Scott Zeron) pushed wide to take command just past the quarter in :28. Just after the half in :55.4, Southwind Coors pushed out of fourth to begin a first-over march and was encroaching on Gaines Hanover as they approached three-quarters in 1:23.4.

Gaines Hanover held the advantage as they straightened for home, but Southwind Coors pulled level as they battled past the eighth pole. Gaines Hanover fought on into the final stages and forced a tight photo-finish, but Southwind Coors had a short nose in front at the wire and took the victory in 1:52.

Tuscan Prince (Gingras) closed with them and came home third.

SOUTHWIND COORS REPLAY

It was the first major stakes victory for Southwind Coors, who is now three-for-16 lifetime. The win will more than double his earnings to $234,960. He previously raced mainly in conditioned races at Woodbine Mohawk Park. He took a new lifetime mark of 1:52 in the win. Matt Bax trains the gelding for Bax Stable of Campbellville, Glengate Farms of Erin, David Hudson of Dallas, and Craig Wilson of Burlington.

“It’s been a long trip with him, he was a little nervous, green,” Bax said after the win. “I have to give a lot of credit to Mike Saftic last year, he really managed him. He wouldn’t be here where he is now without that. He’s been coming off trips, he likes coming off a helmet and this year he’s really turned a corner and coming into tonight he’s never been better.”

It was the first Goodtimes Stake since the passing of the race’s namesake at 31 years old in December. He was owned by the Bax family, who has now won the race twice.

Race 8 – $100,000 Mohawk Gold Cup – Invitational

Abuckabett Hanover (Betting Line, Andrew McCarthy) won the Mohawk Gold Cup amid an accident at the top of the stretch.

Abuckabett Hanover was stepping around leader Billy Clyde (Mark MacDonald) after a three-wide move to take the lead, when the latter broke stride and backed into Wheels On Fire (Doug McNair). Wheels On Fire then stumbled and fell, causing a chain reaction that resulted in Whichwaytothebeach and Travis Cullen falling and much of the field being scattered.

Abuckabett Hanover went on to take the win. Tattoo Artist (Dunn) finished second, and Linedrive Hanover (James MacDonald) was third.

Both horses walked off the track with only minor injuries. McNair and Cullen reportedly also walked off, but Cullen was taken by the ambulance for examination by paramedics.

Abuckabett Hanover’s win was his 14th lifetime in 47 starts. He has now earned $1,123,980. Andrew Harris trains the five-year-old stallion and co-owns him with William Pollock and Bruce Areman of Freehold.

Race 9 – $305,000 Roses Are Red – three-year-old and up trotting fillies and mares

McNair rebounded from the eighth-race fall by driving Grace Hill (Always B Miki) to a stakes, track, and Canadian record performance in the Roses Are Red.

Grace Hill brushed to the front after a :25.4 opening quarter cut by Silver Label (Todd McCarthy). She hustled to the half in :53.4 and kept the pedal down to three-quarters in 1:21.1 as Kobes Gigi (Dave Miller) pressured first-over.

Grace Hill shrugged off Kobes Gigi coming into the stretch and was never in danger as she stormed home under moderate urging from McNair. She crossed the line a winner in 1:47.4, and McNair raised the whip in triumph.

Silver Label proved clearly second-best. So Much More (MacDonald) finished third.

“15, 20 minutes ago I’m laying on the track not knowing what’s going on,” McNair said after the race. “Next thing you know, I’m standing in the winner’s circle for the Roses Are Red on one of the greatest mares to ever see through a bridle, I think.”

GRACE HILL REPLAY

Grace Hill is undefeated in five starts this season and 24-for-51 lifetime. It was the second big victory of the day for Morgan, who conditions the five-year-old mare for Tom Hill of Hamilton. Grace Hill has now earned $1,465,130.

Race 10 – $420,000 Fan Hanover – three-year-old pacing fillies

Sylvia Hanover (Always B Miki) tied the stakes, track, and Canadian record in an outstanding victory in the Fan Hanover.

She tucked in third through a :26.4 first quarter set by Beach Cowgirl (Joe Bongiorno) and went on the march down the backstretch. She struck the front just past the half in :55 and got a brief reprieve before Twin B Joe Fresh (Dunn), another giant of the division, brought the fight to her on the final turn.

Three-quarters went in 1:51.3, and Twin B Joe Fresh maintained the attack until Sylvia Hanover found another gear in the stretch and rebuffed her. Sylvia Hanover then thundered home to score in 1:48.2.

Charleston (Tim Tetrick) closed late for second, and the fading Twin B Joe Fresh held third.

She equaled the record set in 2012 by American Jewel. It is the fourth-longest-standing track record and Canadian record for a mile/seventh-eighths track.

“No, I’ve never sat behind anything like her before,” said McClure in his post-race interview.

SYLVIA HANOVER REPLAY

Sylvia Hanover has lost only one of her 12 career starts, including wins in the Breeders Crown, She’s A Great Lady, and Champlain Stakes. The victory made her harness racing’s newest millionaire, increasing her earnings to $1,141,800. Shawn Steacy trains the filly for Hudson Standardbred Stable of Hudson.

“She’s lights out so far, she’s an amazing animal,” said Steacy after the victory. ” I don’t think she knows how to get tired, she’s incredible, I don’t know how else to put it. She can do things most normal horses can’t do.”

For complete race results, click here.

by Nicholas Barnsdale, for Harnesslink