by John Siscos, for the Woodbine Entertainment Group

Toronto, ON — An impressive group of 90 horses has been nominated to the 27th edition of the C$1.5 million Pepsi North America Cup, one of Standardbred racing’s most prestigious events, set for Saturday, June 26, at Mohawk Racetrack.

Headlining this year’s group of nominees is 2009 O’Brien and Dan Patch Award 2-year-old champion Sportswriter. The Casie Coleman trainee won seven of eight races en route to the titles.

All Speed Hanover, the only horse to beat Sportswriter (at the Breeders Crown at Woodbine) is also on the list and clearly one of the early favorites for the race.

Woodstock, another of the continent’s top 2-year-olds in 2009, is also nominated. Also named is recent sensation Ideal Matters, who rocketed to a 1:53.3 mark at the Meadowlands in his first career race late last month.

The Pepsi North America Cup eliminations are set for Saturday, June 19.

Sustaining payments will be due on March 15, April 15 and May 15.

All the latest news on Canada’s premier race will be available at www.NorthAmericaCup.com.

Here is a complete list of this year’s Pepsi NA Cup eligibles:

Affleck
All Speed Hanover
Allthatgltrsisgold
Art N Charm
Art Professor
Art’s Last Stand
As Tuff As Nails
B M O C
Beignet
Bettor Again
Blue Rock
BP Chimo
Cambassador
Can You Fly
Code Word
Deception Point
Delmarvalous
Dr Dreamy
Dreamlands Art
Echo Of Thunder
Elm Grove Joker
Fancyfreeshark
Forego The Cigar
Foreign Officer
Fort Ord
Four Starz Alex
Four Starz Trace
Fred And Ginger
Future Million
Go Get Em
Golden Terror
Grin For Money
Haul Away
Hendrick Hanover
Iam Bonasera
Ideal Matters
I’m Gorgeous
Iron Train
Jackets Required
Keystone Raptor
Kyle Major
Little Gold Ring
Lord Terror
Lyons Danny
Mach Dreamer
Malicious
Mavericky
Mcaracas
Morgan Shark
Mysoontobe
Native Son
New York Terror
Northern Haze
OK Commander
One More Laugh
Payne’s Landing
Perrito Caliente
Piece Of The Rock
Pike Hanover
Political Terror
Power Of A Moment
Red Bugler
Rock Me Please
Rock N Roll Heaven
Rockin Image
Shipps Xtravganza
Shoobees Place
Sleek Hunter
Some Hearts
Spine Tingling
Sportswriter
Star On The Beach
Stonebridge Design
Stonebridge Tonic
Strike Three
The Scottish Vet
Think Back
Trader Blue Chip
Triple Major
Twin B Warrior
Urgent Action
Valentino
Warrawee Legend
We Will See
Western Thorn
What The Sheik
Willie’s Place
Windfall Blue Chip
Woodstock
Zarachino