Posts drawn for strong 41st Pepsi North America Cup
At 8h58, on June 12, 2024 • By Mark McKelvie, Woodbine Communications
The field for the 41st Pepsi North America Cup is now slotted in for Saturday’s $1 million race at Woodbine Mohawk Park.
The post position draw for Canada’s most prestigious harness race took place Tuesday evening.
Elimination winners Captains Quarters, Funtime Bayama and Nijinsky were guaranteed to land a post anywhere from two to six. Captains Quarters landed post-five, Funtime Bayama got post-six and Nijinsky post-four.
“I’m thinking as (they’re) drawing the posts, how many times that I’ve actually been here to experience it and it just never gets old,” said Jody Jamieson, who will drive Captains Quarters for trainer Herb Holland. “Herb and Carolyn (MacIsaac) had him just on his toes (n the elimination) and I expect them to be able to maybe even have him a touch better this week and makes it all that more exciting.”
Captains Quarters, who won last year’s Metro Pace, won his elimination in a career best 1:49.1 for his fourth win in eight career starts. The son of Captaintreacherous is owned by Rich Stiles.
Funtime Bayama races for Yves Filion’s Bayama Farms, trainer Richard Moreau and driver Sylvain Filion. Sylvain will look to follow his father to an NA Cup win, as Yves won the 1988 edition with Runnymede Lobell.
“That was amazing. All the family was there, and we were so anxious it was unbelievable,” said Sylvain of the 1988 NA Cup win. “(Funtime Bayama) has been pretty good the whole year…he’s good and strong, and hopefully he’ll be good Saturday. If he’s as good as I think he is, we have a good shot”
Funtime Bayama is four for five this season, including a 1:50.1 elimination score. The gelded son of Hes Watching has won eight of 12 career starts, never finishing outside the top-three in any of those outings.
Nijinsky is one of two starters for trainer Anthony Beaton. The son of Bettors Delight won his elimination in 1:50.2 to remain undefeated in four starts this season after winning just once in 10 as a two-year-old. Louis-Philippe Roy will drive Nijinsky for owners West Wins Stable, John Fielding and Mark Dumain.
The other Beaton Cup starter is 2023 O’Brien Award winner Legendary Hanover. The son of Huntsville finished second by a head to Funtime Bayama in his elimination for his first loss of 2024.
“It’s such a deep field of horses,” said James MacDonald, who drives Legendary Hanover from post-eight. “It looks like, usually there’s two or three that can probably legitimately win, and this year it looks like there’s probably eight or nine. It’s an unbelievable field.”
Legendary Hanover has won eight of 13 career starts for owners Eric Good, West Wins Stable and Mark Dumain.
Trainer Nancy Takter will send out two Cup starters in search of his third victory in the event. Ivy Park leaves from post-seven with 2020 Cup winning driver Yannick Gingras, while Total Stranger goes from post-nine with two-time Cup winning driver Tim Tetrick.
Captain Albano, who has won nine-times and never been outside the top-two in 12 starts, goes from post-two for 2022 Cup winning duo of driver Todd McCarthy and trainer Noel Daley.
Captain Luke also has past Cup winning connections. Driver Scott Zeron is looking to go back-to-back after winning last year with Its My Show, while trainer Tony Alagna won in 2013 with Captaintreacherous. Captain Luke is a 3-time winner and starts from post-three.
Trainer Dr. Ian Moore and driver Bob McClure team with Storm Shadow from the rail starting spot. The same duo finished second in 2020 with Tattoo Artist.
The outside starter from post-ten is Janelle Granny. The Ohio standout will race for local father-son duo of trainer Ron and driver Brett MacDonald. Both will be making their Cup debut.
The stakes record is 1:47.2, established in 2019 by Captain Crunch.
The Pepsi North America Cup is scheduled as Race 11 (10:40 p.m.).
The $1 million Pepsi North America Cup is the feature race on a $2.5 million card of racing. The $425,000 Fan Hanover, $305,000 Roses Are Red, $233,000 Armbro Flight, $225,000 Goodtimes and $100,000 Mohawk Gold Cup are all part of the rich program.
