Pepsi North America Cup – Harness News Update Picks & Analysis

Over $2.5 million in prize money will be given out over 12 harness races at Woodbine Mohawk Park. on Saturday (June 15). The main event of the evening is the $1 million Pepsi North America Cup. The card also has a star studded undercard and three different Pick 5 wagers that could easily have big paydays attached.

A free program can be found here.

The main event, Pepsi North America Cup is set for race 11. The top pacing three-year-old colts & geldings will battle to put there names forever in the history books. The field for the $1,000,000 Pepsi North America Cup is as follows:

1. Storm Shadow – Bob McClure (15-1)
2. Captain Albano – Todd McCarthy (4-1)
3. Captain Luke – Scott Zeron (15-1)
4. Nijinsky – Louis-Phillipe Roy (9-2)
5. Captains Quarters – Jody Jamieson (5-2)
6. Funtime Bayama – Sylvain Filion (3-1)
7. Ivy Park – Yannick Gingras (15-1)
8. Legendary Hanover – James Macdonald (6-1)
9. Total Stranger – Tim Tetrick (20-1)
10. Janelle Granny – Brett Macdonald (20-1)

AE Mirage Hanover – Tim Tetrick (10-1)

Captain Quarters (Captaintreacherous) won the first elimination and posted the fastest mile in 1:49.1. The mile time is also good enough to be his new lifetime mark and beat his previous best by two-fifths of a second.  It was his second win in three starts this year and he has never finished worse than second. He also has never finished outside the top three in eight career starts. The 2023 Metro Pace winner will look to add more hardware to his and his trainer, Herbert Hollands trophy case.

CAPTAIN QUARTERS REPLAY (ELIMINATION ONE)

The second elimination was won by Funtime Bayama (Hes Watching) in 1:50.1. It was his fourth win of the year and eighth of his career. He was a full second slower than his lifetime mark which he also achieved at Woodbine Mohawk Park. Funtime Bayama has only missed making the winner’s circle once this year and it was a second-place finish. He is one of the toughest to beat as of late. Richard Moreau trains the gelding and will be hoping for a top finish.

FUNTIME BAYAMA REPLAY (ELIMINATION TWO)

The third and slowest elimination went to Nijinksy (Bettors Delight). The winning mile was paced in 1:50.2 but the sophomore colt is capable of going faster. His lifetime mark is 1:49 and was completed earlier this year at Woodbine Mohawk Park. Nijinsky sits perfect four-for-four this year after only winning one race as a two-year-old. Nijinsky is one of two Anthony Beaton-trained pacers in the final heat.

NIJINSKY REPLAY (ELIMINATION THREE)

Ten of the top tier pacing three-year-old or older fillies are the co-main event in the tenth race.  The field for the $305,000 Roses Are Red Finals is as follows:

1. Talky Curdy To Me – Tim Tetrick (20-1)
2. Silver Label – Scott Zeron (5-1)
3. Always B Naughty – Louis-Phillipe Roy (9-2)
4. Twin B Joe Fresh – Dexter Dunn (8-5)
5. Tells On A Roll – Travis Cullen (20-1)
6. Sylvia Hanover – Bob McClure (3-1)
7. Valar Dohaeris – Jody Jamieson (20-1)
8. So Much More – James Macdonald (15-1)
9. Grace Hill – Douglas McNair (10-1)
10. Kobes Gigi – Yannick Gingras (20-1)

AE Dabarndawgswatchin – Trevor Henry (20-1)

Twin B Joe Fresh (Roll With Joe) won the first elimination in 1:50.4 for her second win of the year. In three starts this year, her worst finish was a second place in her season debut. She put up a new lifetime mark of 1:48.2 in the Betsy Ross at Harrah’s Philadelphia. The four-year-old mare has 21 career wins and has earned over $1.5 million in 30 starts. The Chris Ryder-trained pacer has earned her 8-5 morning line odds.

TWINS B JOE FRESH REPLAY (ELIMINATION ONE)

1:49.3 was the faster elimination time, and it was done by Always B Naughty (Always B Miki). It was her fastest win of the year and only the second win of the year, but Always B Naughty has had six starts in 2023. She has never finished outside the top three this year. Her lifetime mark of 1:48.2 was achieved at The Red Mile last year. The last time she faced Twin B Joe Fresh was in the Betsy Ross back in May.

ALWAYS B NAUGHTY REPLAY (ELIMINATION TWO)

Three-year-old pacing fillies have their time to shine in race nine in the Fan Hanover Finals. The field for the $425,000 Fan Hanover Finals is as follows:

1. Its A Love Thing – James Macdonald (4-1)
2. Pass And Stow – Louis-Phillipe Roy (20-1)
3. Canigetalouploup – David Miller (10-1)
4. Reigning Jade – Doug McNair (20-1)
5. Geocentric – Tim Tetrick (5-2)
6. My Girl Ej – Dexter Dunn (3-1)
7. Pass Line – Scott Zeron (6-1)
8. Odds On Platinum – Sylvain Filion (15-1)
9. Caviart Belle – Yannick Gingras (8-1)
10. Flawless – Andrew McCarthy (15-1)

AE Asweetbeachhere – David Miller (20-1)

My Girl Ej (Sweet Lou) stole the first elimination away from a heavy wagered on Geocentric. My Girl Ej stormed to victory in 1:50.1. It was her first win of the year and her sixth of her career. The Ron Burke-trained filly missed matching her lifetime mark by one whole second but the extra effort wasn’t needed.

MY GIRL EJ REPLAY (ELIMINAITON ONE)

Canigetalouploup (Sweet Lou) was a bigger surprise winning the second elimination at 28-1. She completed the mile in 1:51.1 which also is a whole second slower than her lifetime mark. She has won two of her three starts this year but hasn’t received much recognition from the betting public. She is also trained by Ron Burke and will be eyeing her sixth career win on Saturday.

CANIGETALOUPLOUP REPLAY (ELIMINAITON TWO)

Race seven and the Goodtimes Final is for three-year-old trotting colts & geldings. The field for the $225,000 Goodtimes Final is as follows:

1. Pick Pocket – James Macdonald (10-1)
2. Finite – Chris Christoforou (20-1)
3. Private Access – Louis-Phillipe Roy (9-2)
4. Goober Smack – Tyler Borth (12-1)
5. Top Mast – Sylvain Filion (8-1)
6. Highland Kismet –  Bob McClure (6-5)
7. Myretirementdream – Jody Jamieson (20-1)
8. Winter Soldier – Dexter Dunn (5-1)
9. Shermont – Trevor Henry (15-1)
10. Griff – Douglas McNair (15-1)

AE R Peaky Blinders – Douglas McNair (20-1)

At 7-1, Top Mast (Walner) upset the first elimination and also posted a new lifetime mark of 1:53.4 in the process. He heads into the final with similar morning line odds even with the big win under his belt. The last of faith from the odds maker is likely due to it being his only win this year. Top Mast did accumulate three wins last year and finished in the top three in seven of his ten starts. The three-year-old colt is the only Desiree Jones-trained horse on the entire Saturday card.

TOP MAST REPLAY (ELIMINATION ONE)

It will be hard to beat Highland Kismet (Father Patrick) who has three wins in four starts this year and has yet to finish worse than second. He never raced as a two-year-old but he hasn’t shown any lack of experience. His elimination time was slightly slower at 1:54 but his lifetime mark is 1:53.1. Mark Etsell trains the colt and only has one other horse on Saturday’s card.

HIGHLAND KISMET REPLAY (ELIMINATION TWO)

Trotting fillies three-year-old or older are the first stake race of the night in the Armbro Flight Final. The field for the Armbro Flight Final is as follows:

1. Rose Run Yolanda – Dexter Dunn (20-1)
2. Tactical Mound – Scott Zeron (10-1)
3. Chake – Todd McCarthy (15-1)
4. Refined – Doug McNair (6-1)
5. Call Me Goo – Tim Tetrick (9-2)
6. M Ms Dream – David Miller (4-5)
7. Adare Castle – James Macdonald (20-1)
8. Warrawee Xenia – Bob McClure (15-1)
9. Hp Mama B – Louis-Phillipe Roy (15-1)
10. Tipsy Moni – Yannick Gingras (12-1)

AE Forceful Power – Sylvain Filion (20-1)

M Ms Dream (Swan For All) is looking to stay perfect and pick up her fifth win of the year. The five-year-old mare has already earned over $1.5 million in prize money and has a lifetime mark of 1:50. Her fastest mile of 2024 is 1:51.1 which she achieved at Hoosier Park. She won her elimination in a slightly slower 1:52.4 time but didn’t need to exert herself down the stretch. M Ms Dream is one of five horses racing for Ron Burke on Saturday.

M MS DREAM REPLAY (ELIMINATION ONE)

 After a scratch, all five in the second elimination clinched a spot in the finals. However, that didn’t stop Call Me Goo (Googoo Gaagaa) from winning in a huge wire-to-wire effort. The timer stops at 1:53.3 for her third win of the year. The four-year-old trotter has won 19 times in her career and has over $500,000 in earnings. Her lifetime mark is 1:52.2 and she’s been clocked at 1:52.3 this year. Jason Skinner trains the mare and she is his only entry on the card.

CALL ME GOO REPLAY (ELIMINATION TWO)

 

My Picks

Race 1

Wheels On Fire (8)

Control Heaven (4)

Codename Cigar Box (5)

 

Race 2

Logan Park (3)

Lexus Kody (2)

Osceola (1)

 

Race 3

Angostura Hanover (1)

Huntress (7)

Glenboro (9)

 

Race 4

Fast Louie (6)

Trophy Taker (9)

Warraweeforlaura (3)

 

Race 5

M Ms Dream (6)

Call Me Goo (5)

Refined (4)

Tactical Mounds (2)

 

Pick 5

8,4,5/3,2/1,7,9/6,9/ 6,5

 

Race 6

Clever Cody (6)

Mirage Hanover (3)

Better Is Nice (9)

 

Race 7

Top Mast (5)

Highland Kismet (6)

Private Access (3)

Winter Soldier (8)

 

Race 8

Abuckabett Hanover (3)

Oakwood Ardan Ir (8)

Taurasi (5)

Allywag Hanover (10)

 

Race 9

Geocentric (5)

My Girl Ej (6)

It’s A Love Thing (1)

Pass Line (7)

 

Race 10

Twin B Joe Fresh (4)

Always B Naughty (3)

Sylvia Hanover (6)

Silver Label (2)

 

Race 11

Nijinsky (4)

Captains Quarters (5)

Funtime Bayama (6)

Captain Albano (2)

 

Pick 5

5,6/3,8/5,6/4,3,6/4,5,6

 

Race 12

Stone Carver (1)

Rockme Rollme (5)

Respect The Flag (7)

 

Race 13

Jabberwocky (4)

Ron (5)

American History (2)

Pick 5

5,6/4,3,6/4,5,6/1,5,7/4,5

 

For more on al the stake action at Woodbine Mohawk Park watch the latest episode of Harness News Update.

The first race kicks off at 6:30 p.m. EST.

by Trey Colbeck, for Harnesslink