Somebeachsomewhere and Graduate set for Saturday
At 0h03, on May 27, 2026 • By Woodbine Mohawk
Woodbine Mohawk Park will offer the $140,500 Somebeachsomewhere Stakes (Grade 3) this Saturday as a final tune up opportunity ahead of the Pepsi North America Cup (Grade 1) eliminations on June 6.
A full field of 10 three-year-old pacers will clash in the Grade 3 event named for the legendary Somebeachsomewhere, winner of the 2008 North America Cup. All 10 entrants are eligible to this year’s Cup.
Graded stakes winner Brandon Blvd headlines the Somebeachsomewhere. The Andrew Harris trainee was a standout at age two, winning seven of 10 starts and taking a mark of 1:48.4 at Woodbine Mohawk Park in a Breeders Crown elimination.
A son of Downbytheseaside, Brandon Blvd made his season debut on May 2 at Plainridge Park, winning the Grade 3 Paul Revere easily in 1:51.1. The Harris student has not raced since, but did qualify on May 15 at The Meadowlands in 1:50.3.
Jason Bartlett lands the opportunity to drive Brandon Blvd this week, as regular driver Dexter Dunn is in Sweden to compete in the Elitloppet. Dunn also drives a top Cup contender in Odds On Mr Mamba.
Brandon Blvd is one of two horses shipping in from out of town for Saturday’s race. Thai Hanover is the other non-local, coming in for trainer Mitchell York and to be driven by Meadows based reinsman Jeremy Indof.
The other eight starters all come from local barns, with seven of them being Ontario sired.
All ten starters likely relish the opportunity to avoid the undefeated Beau Jangles, who did not enter this week’s race and will head into the Pepsi North America Cup off three straight wins to start the season.
The Dan Lagace trained Sweet Lovin Lou is a top prospect for this year’s North America Cup. The son of Sweet Lou will leave from post seven on Saturday with driver James MacDonald. He finished a hard closing third in his season debut on May 16 (final-quarter :26.1).
Sweet Lovin Lou won three of nine starts at two, only missing the top-three once. He notably was third in the $1 million Metro Pace (G1).
The Somebeachsomewhere also features OSS Gold starters No Waitlist, Redland Rocket Man, Borderline Mobby and Tilthecowscomehome. All four raced last Saturday in the first Gold leg of the season, with the Blake MacIntosh trained No Waitlist finishing second to Beau Jangles.
The Somebeachsomewhere Stakes has been carded as Race 5 this Saturday (8:15 p.m.)
Graduate Series Begins for 2026
The Graduate Series for four-year-olds will also be held Saturday evening at Woodbine Mohawk Park.
Both the pace and trot divisions of the Graduate received 11 entrants for the opening leg of the series. The series shifts to The Meadowlands for the remaining legs and final following Saturday’s opener.
The $101,250 Graduate Pace is headlined by Prince Hal Hanover, who is a perfect three for three to start his four-year-old campaign.
Trained by Dr. Ian Moore, Prince Hal Hanover captured the Charles Juravinski Memorial Cup (G2) on May 17 at Flamboro Downs in 1:50. He entered that final off an elimination win and a season debut score over older rivals in the Pacey Mindlin Invite (G3) on May 2 at Miami Valley in Ohio.
Prince Hal Hanover was one of the top pacers in the sport last season, earning over $1.1 million, and has made an immediate impact at age four. His profile includes win in the Adios (G1) and Milstein Memorial (G2).
Todd McCarthy drives Prince Hal Hanover.
Among Prince Hal Hanover’s rivals is Canadian record holder Bruno No No No, who has won five of eight starts this season. The Dave Menary trainee was third in the Juravinski after winning his elimination in a stunning 1:48.1. Doug McNair will steer.
The Menary barn will send out five of the 11 starters.
Ake Svanstedt leads all trainers with three entrants in the $101,250 Graduate Trot.
Mr Mouton, Happy Jack B and Warrior are the three from the Svanstedt barn, with Happy Jack B, last season’s New York Sires Stakes champion, the top earner in the field.
The Andrew Harris barn has the second highest earner in the field with Monserrate, who comes in off a strong bounce back 1:51.4 win on May 15 at The Meadowlands.
Among the local hopefuls is Mr Walner Fashion for trainer Tim Cherwaiko. The Walner gelding has won four of five starts to begin his four-year-old season and racing career for Cherwaiko after racing at two and three in the U.S. for Jim Campbell. Scott Young drives.
Post time for this Saturday’s card is 6:30 p.m.
