from WEG Communications

Campbellville, ON — Betting Line and Boston Red Rocks head into next Saturday’s C$1 million Pepsi North America Cup final after defeating the finest 3-year-old pacers on the continent in a pair of eliminations on Saturday night (June 11) at Mohawk Racetrack.

Betting Line used a first-over trip to capture the first C$50,000 elimination in 1:49.1.

Betting Line captured the first elimination in 1:49.1.

The Casie Coleman trainee, who was the 8-5 second choice, tracked from fifth in the early going, then made a bid for lead at the midway point as Lyons Snyder took the field to the quarter in :27.2, half in :55.2 and three-quarters in 1:22.2.

Into the stretch, Lyons Snyder veered off the rail and gave a pocket-sitting Racing Hill room to sneak up the inside, but Betting Line was on the outside and used a :26.2 final quarter kick to breeze by his rivals and score the victory by three-quarters of a length. Lyons Snyder finished second, while Racing Hill was third. Also advancing is fourth-place finisher Control The Moment and Beast Mode, who finished fifth.

“I have been fortunate enough to have some unbelievably great horses over the years, but he never usually gets a good trip,” Coleman added. “I don’t know why, but he always seems to not be in the right place and he just keeps digging — first-over, on front with tough fractions from way off, like he’s done it every way. I can’t wait to get that second-over tow into it coming down the lane.”

Betting Line notched his third victory of the season from four outings and ninth lifetime triumph. With the win, the son of Bettor’s Delight and Heather’s Western lifted his career earnings to C$619,922 for owners West Wins Stable, Christine Calhoun and Mac Nichol.

Betting Line paid $5.00, $3.20 and $2.40, combining with Lyons Synder ($4.10, $3.50) for a $15.10 (6-4) exactor. A 6-4-9 (Racing Hill, $8) triactor returned $120.40, while a $1 superfecta (6-4-9-3) was worth $205.40.

In the second elimination, the Steve Elliott pupil Boston Red Rocks used an off-the-pace trip to win by a half-length in 1:50.3.

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Boston Red Rocks took the second elimination in 1:50.3.

Boston Red Rocks and driver Tim Tetrick followed from fourth as Nvestment Bluechip posted the opening panel in :26.4 and Nocturnal Bluechip clocked the half in :54.4. While the sophomores were passing the three-quarter marker in 1:22.4, Boston Red Rocks had advanced first-up and was stalking Nocturnal Bluechip from second.

When the pacers entered the stretch, Boston Red Rocks, the 3-5 favorite, struck the front and held off a late surge from Big Top Hanover, who finished second and third-place finisher Michael’s Victory. Magnum J, who went from last to fourth and fifth-place finisher Manhattan Beach also advance to the final.

“I’m a firm believer in this horse,” said Tetrick. “I know he’s a nice horse. Every time he got beat, he got beat by a head, a nose. He got beat, but he raced good enough to win. Just horses sitting in the pocket beat him. He’s a little lazy and he kind of loses focus sometimes and you got to stay after him, but he got the job done. He finds ways to win so that’s what I like about him.”

Boston Red Rocks scored his second triumph of the season from four outings and sixth career victory. With the win, the son of the late Rocknroll Hanover and McGibson lifted his career earnings to C$735,418 for Peter Blood and Rick Berks.

Boston Red Rocks paid $3.50, $2.80 and $2.10, combining with Big Top Hanover ($5.60, $3.10) for a $15.70 (2-6) exactor. A 2-6-5 (Michael’s Victory, $3.20) triactor returned $53, while a $1 superfecta (2-6-5-9) was worth $221.60.

The top five finishers in each C$50,000 elimination advance to the 33rd edition of the C$1 million final on Saturday (June 18). Each winner earns his connections the right to select a post position before the balance of field is drawn at a press conference on Tuesday.