Mohawk Raceway Gets Second Summer
Somebeachsomewhere, 2007 Co-Horse of the Year, Leads Nominees
Mohawk Raceway will host the Pepsi North America Cup for Standardbred racing for the second straight season. Somebeachsomewhere leads the field of 92 nominees.
Ontario, Canada's switch from Woodbine to Mohawk Raceway for the prominent Pepsi North America Cup Standardbred races was a success story. Mohawk got the nod for the second straight summer to host the Cup after its inaugural event in 2007.
Previously, Woodbine had held the Cup races for 13 seasons.
Harness racing's biggest race day will feature elimination rounds in pacing and trotting on June 7. Championship finals are scheduled for June 14. Included on the card besides the main event are the Classic Distaff for Fillies and Mares at Pace, the Trotting Classic for Older Horses, the Elegantimage Stakes, the Goodtimes Stakes, the Classic Oaks for Fillies and Mares at Trot, the Pacing Classic for Older Horses, and the Cup Consolation.
Somebeachsomewhere, Canada's Two-Year-Old Co-Horse of the Year and Two-Year-Old Pacing Colt of the Year in 2007, will lead 92 nominees into the race for final contention.
Stories of Somebeachsomewhere's sale have been denied by owner Jerry Silva, but pitchman Brent MacGrath of Schooner Stables persists with offers to purchase the three-year-old champion. Winner of last year's Metro Pace, Somebeachsomewhere is based in Truro, Nova Scotia, and is 2008's leader of the experimental ratings. His projected time is 1:47.3.
Other prominent nominees for the Pepsi NA Cup are Moon Beam, Duneside Perch, Duece Seelster, and O'Brien Award finalist Santana Blue Chip.
In its 13 seasons at Woodbine, the NA Cup produced its largest number of winners from post position five. Four hopefuls went to the winner's circle from that spot.
The biggest margin of victory in all of the 13-year history at Woodbine was just 4-1/2 lengths. Bettors Delight took the honors in 2001. On the other end of margins, Arizona Jack won by a mere nose in 1996. Two or more lengths was the margin of triumph attained by only four of the 13 Cup finalists.
Yankee Cruiser scored the biggest close ever in the Cup, coming from 5-1/2 lengths back at the top of the stretch in 2003.
Just two of the Woodbine 13 led at the half mile marker and went on to win.
Here are the Woodbine 13 Cup champions:
No.13 --- Total Truth --- 2006 --- Post Postion - 5 --- by 1 length --- in 1:49.1
No.12 --- Rocknroll Hanover --- 2005 --- PP - 5 --- 1 length --- 1:49.4
No.11 --- Mantacular --- 2004 --- PP - 6 --- a head --- 1:51.2
No.10 --- Yankee Cruiser --- 2003 --- PP - 3 --- 1/2 length --- 1:49.3
No. 9 --- Red River Hanover --- 2002 --- PP - 6 --- 2 lengths --- 1:48.4
No. 8 --- Bettors Delight --- 2001 --- PP - 3 --- 4-1/2 lengths --- 1:50
No. 7 --- Gallo Blue Chip --- 2000 --- PP - 6 --- 1-1/2 lengths ---1:50.1
No. 6 --- The Panderosa --- 1999 --- PP - 9 --- 1-1/2 lengths --- 1:49.4
No. 5 --- Straight Path --- 1998 --- PP - 7 --- 3/4 length --- 1:51.2
No. 4 --- Gothic Dream --- 1997 --- PP - 5 --- 2 lengths --- 1:50.4
No. 3 --- Arizona Jack --- 1996 --- PP - 7 --- a nose --- 1:55.1
No. 2 --- Davids Pass --- 1995 --- PP - 5 --- 2-1/4 lengths --- 1:52.1
No. 1 --- Cams Card Shark --- 1994 -- PP - 1 --- 1-1/2 lengths --- 1:51.4
In 1984 the North America Cup was renamed. Previously, it had been run under the title of Queen City Pace. Cam Fella won the event in 1982 and went on to sire four additional Cup champions, Goalie Jeff, Precious Bunny, Presidential Ball, and Cams Card Shark, the first Woodbine winner. The 2001 Woodbine champ, Bettors Delight, is a Cam Fella grandson.
Last season's champion, Tell All, was the first Mohawk titleist. He was trained by Blair Burgess, and raced out of the MY Desire Stable in Versailles, Kentucky.
