Elims complete for North America Cup, Fan Hanover, Ambro Flight

The stage is nearly set for Canada’s biggest race following four harness racing eliminations for the $1 million Pepsi North America Cup on Saturday (Jun. 10) at Woodbine Mohawk Park.

Eliminations for the Armbro Flight and Fan Hanover Stakes, undercard were also held on the card.

The finals for all three stakes are set for Saturday, Jun. 17.

Below is race-by-race coverage of the night’s action with replays.

Race 1 – Armbro Flight first elimination – three-year-old and up trotting fillies and mares

Raised By Lindy (Walner) was too tough on the front end, battling off a first-over attacker and a late charge to win the first elimination.

She was fastest off the car and cut a :28.2 first panel and came under pressure from Warrawee Xenia out of third approaching the half in :56.2. Warrawee Xenia (Bob McClure) continued to press through three-quarters in 1:24, but Raised By Lindy began to put her away at the top of the stretch.

Raised By Lindy trotted strongly down the stretch, but Refined (Doug McNair) launched a late rally to chase the leader home. Refined closed the gap considerably in the final eighth of a mile, but Raised By Lindy reached the line in time to win in 1:51.1.

Refined hustled for second over Hp Mama B (Sylvain Filion). Warrawee Xenia was fourth and Swans Eye (Dexter Dunn) finished fifth.

RAISED BY LINDY REPLAY

Raised By Lindy is now 10-for-24 lifetime and has a bankroll of $779,086. Domenico Cecere trains the four-year-old homebred mare for Lindy Farms of Connecticut.

Race 2 – Armbro Flight first elimination – three-year-old and up trotting fillies and mares

Bella Bellini (Bar Hopping, Dexter Dunn) proved much the best in the second division, gliding to an easy victory from the pocket.

She followed leader Adare Castle (James MacDonald) through :27.4, :56.3, and 1:24.3 fractions. Entering the stretch, Bella Bellini shifted out from behind Adare Castle and blew by her, rolling to a 1:51.1 victory.

Adare Castle held second over Mischevious Rose (Louis-Philippe Roy). Call Me Dani (Filion) took fourth and Disclosure (Todd McCarthy) finished fifth.

BELLA BELLINI REPLAY

Bella Bellini, trained by Nifty Norman, is perfect through two this season. David MacDuffee of Delray Beach owns and bred the five-year-old mare, who is now 21-for-49 lifetime with $2,178,980.

Race 3 – North America Cup first elimination – three-year-old pacing colts and geldings

Christchurch (Always B Miki, Dexter Dunn) held off Voukefalas (Jordan Stratton) to take the first North America Cup elimination.

Christchurch sat third through :27.1 and :55 first-half panels before pulling first up in front of Voukefalas entering the final turn. Christchurch fought past pacesetter Ervin Hanover (Yannick Gingras) while Voukefalas closed to the outside of him. The pair battled home together, and Christchurch hung on to win in 1:48.4.

Voukefalas kept second after an inquiry into his first-turn conduct. Moment Is Here (MacDonald) finished third.

CHRISTCHURCH REPLAY

It was the second win in two this season for Christchurch. The colt has four wins in nine tries and has earned $42,275. Nancy Takter trains the sophomore for Diamond Creek Racing of Wellsville, Fahri Standardbreds of London, and Spreydon Racing of Lexington.

Race 4 – Fan Hanover first elimination – three-year-old pacing fillies

Twin B Joe Fresh (Roll With Joe) went all the way to make it a grand slam for driver Dunn in the first elimination.

Dunn pushed Twin B Joe Fresh to take the lead going through the first turn, setting a :27.2 first panel. She was unpressured through :55.1 and 1:21.4 middle panels and cruised down the stretch to score in 1:49.

Cultured (Scott Zeron) beat Zanatta (Joe Bongiorno) for second. Lyons Bettorday (Louis-Philippe Roy) finished fourth, and One Last Wish (Paul MacDonell) was fifth.

TWIN B JOE FRESH REPLAY

It was the ninth career win in 12 starts for Twin B Joe Fresh. The Chris Ryder-trained filly has earned $615,662. Ryder co-owns her with Dunn, Peter Trebotica of Bordentown, and Barry Spak of Thornton.

Race 5 – North America Cup second elimination – three-year-old pacing colts and geldings

Dexter Dunn made it five-for-five as he got Fulton (Heston Blue Chip) home to take the second division.

Fulton blitzed the first quarter in :25.4 while claiming the lead and provided :53.4 and 1:21 speed through the middle half. Redwood Hanover (MacDonald) came knocking as they swung for home, but Fulton shrugged him off and completed the victory under mild urging in 1:48.2.

Ammo (Dave Miller) came on for second. Redwood Hanover finished third.

FULTON REPLAY

Fulton, who finished second in his Somebeachsomewhere Stakes division last week, is now 9-for-13 lifetime with earnings of $351,178. Let It Ride Stables and Bottom Line Racing own the colt, whom they have given to Linda Toscano to train.

Race 7 – North America Cup third elimination – three-year-old pacing colts and geldings

It’s My Show (Sweet Lou) made the third elimination his show, setting the fastest time of the night and tying a track record in a third elimination victory.

Scott Zeron managed the tough task of getting the lead from post one at Woodbine Mohawk Park and cut :26.4, :55, and 1:21.3 panels on top. He had to fight off Seven Colors (Tim Tetrick) turning for home but edged back out entering the lane. A host of challengers chased It’s My Show home, but the gelding was too strong and closed out the mile in 1:48.

Save America (Yannick Gingras) and Stockade Seelster (Jody Jamieson) closed to finish second and third, respectively.

IT’S MY SHOW REPLAY

The time of 1:48 tied the track record for a three-year-old pacing gelding, set by Wakizashi Hanover in his 2015 North America Cup win.

With the win, It’s My Show now has five career victories and his earnings now total $149,965 through 13 starts. The gelding is perfect through five this season for trainer Linda Toscano. Richard Young of Boca Raton and Joanne Young of Coconut Creek own and bred the sophomore.

Race 8 – Fan Hanover second elimination – three-year-old pacing fillies

Sylvia Hanover (Always B Miki) won for Canadian connections, striding to the top in the stretch to win the second elimination.

She found a spot first as Beach Cowgirl (Joe Bongiorno) took the field to the quarter in :26.4. Sylvia Hanover pulled first-up down the backstretch and advanced into :56 and 1:22.3 fractions.  She was abreast the leader as they swung into the lane and out-dueled Beach Cowgirl to take the victory in 1:49.2.

SYLVIA HANOVER REPLAY

Sylvia Hanover is now 10-for-11 lifetime with $931,800 in earnings. Shawn Steacy trains the Breeders Crown-winning filly for Hudson Standardbred Stable.

Race 9 – North America Cup fourth elimination – three-year-old colts and geldings

Confederate (Sweet Lou) captured the final elimination from the front as expected by the betting public who made him 1/9.

The colt rocketed into the first turn to slide over onto the lead, providing a :26.4 first quarter. He went to the half in :54.4 and met the challenge of Lyons Surfing (Andrew McCarthy) through three-quarters in 1:22.1.

Confederate brushed him off entering the stretch and was strong on the front to the finish, allowing only marginal gains from rivals as he closed out the mile in 1:48.4.

Lyons Surfing finished a solid second, while longshot Hungry Angel Boy (Todd McCarthy) was third.

CONFEDERATE REPLAY

It was Confederate’s second win in two this season. He was the Kentucky Championship Series winner at two and finished second in the Breeders Crown. The colt is now seven-for-nine lifetime and has raked in $527,825. Brett Pelling trains him for Diamond Creek Racing.

The top two from each North America Cup elimination made the final, plus two third-place finishers. The field, in alphabetical order, to be drawn on Tuesday, is:

Ammo (Sweet Lou)

Christchurch (Always B Miki)

Confederate (Sweet Lou)

Fulton (Heston Blue Chip)

It’s My Show (Sweet Lou)

Lyons Surfing (Stay Hungry)

Moment Is Here (All Bets Off)

Redwood Hanover (Stay Hungry)

Save America (Captaintreacherous)

Voukefalas (Lazarus N)

Below is the draw for the $420,000 Fan Hanover final;

1 – Lyons Bettorday (Bettor’s Delight)
2 – Ucandoit Blue Chip (Keystone Velocity)
3 – Twin B Joe Fresh (Roll With Joe)
4 – Zanatta (Stay Hungry)
5 – Sylvia Hanover (Always B Miki)
6 – Charleston (Downbytheseaside)
7 – One Last Wish (Bettor’s Delight)
8 – Beach Cowgirl (Captaintreacherous)
9 – Cultured (Captaintreacherous)
10 – Vivians Dream (American Ideal)

Below is the field for the $210,000 Armbro Flight final:

1 – Refined (Uncle Peter)
2 – Disclosure (Trixton)
3 – Raised By Lindy (Walner)
4 – Warrawee Xenia (Walner)
5 – Bella Bellini (Bar Hopping)
6 – Adare Castle (Muscle Mass)
7 – Call Me Dani (Dover Dan)
8 – HP Mama B (Royalty For Life)
9 – Swans Eye (Swan For All)
10 – Mischevious Rose (Muscle Mass)