by Greg Gangle, WEG media

Campbellville, ON — The continent’s finest 3-year-old pacers will go postward Saturday (June 11) at Mohawk Racetrack in three eliminations for the C$1.5 million Pepsi North America Cup, the world’s richest pacing event, on June 18.

The C$50,000 eliminations drew a total of 23 Cup hopefuls on Tuesday. Each elimination will qualify the first three finishers for the final, with one of the fourth-place finishers drawn by lot also advancing. In addition, the elim winners get to select a post position before the balance of the field is drawn on Tuesday, June 14, at Mohawk.

Last year, Sportswriter, driven by Mark MacDonald, finished third in his elim, then blew away a strong field to win the 27th edition of the race in 1:48.3.

The power-packed first elim (race 3), at 7:52 p.m., is headed by Big Jim (post 3, Phil Hudon), Powerful Mist (post 4, Tim Tetrick), Bestofbest Hanover (post 5, Jack Moiseyev) and Custard The Dragon (post 7, Montrell Teague).

A top contender for this year’s richest prize is Big Jim, who has won $1,065,204 for owner James Carr of Hamilton. But, the 3-year-old son of Western Ideal-Bold Pink tasted defeat for the first time this season when he was upended by Up The Credit (post 3, Jody Jamieson) last weekend in his division of the Somebeachsomewhere Stakes. The Carl Jamieson-trainee will headline the second elimination (race 4), which is scheduled for 8:13 p.m.

New Image Media photo

Up The Credit won his division of the Somebeachsomewhere in a stakes record time of 1:49.

“I thought he (Up The Credit) was one of the best horses in there,” Carl Jamieson said about racing in the Somebeachsomewhere Stakes. “I thought he should be top three, but I had a few doubts because I didn’t race him in three weeks prior.”

Jamieson, who raced Santanna Blue Chip in the 2008 edition of the Cup (finished second to Somebeachsomewhere), believes Up The Credit has more speed then the $1.6 million winner.

“I really think he is faster,” he said. “I never had a horse that could go a mile in (1):49 with a last quarter in :25 seconds and change and I don’t think there are too many horses who can do that.”

Jamieson also believes his pupil is a top contender for this year’s Cup.

“If he has a good week, which he should, I think he’s one of the horses to beat coming into the Cup eliminations.”

Up The Credit’s elimination is also headed by Betterthancheddar (post 2, Brett Miller), who finished second in his Somebeachsomewhere Stakes division in 1:49.3. The son of 2001 Cup winner Bettor’s Delight is two for four this year for trainer Casie Coleman, who will look to capture back-to-back Cup victories.

Other contenders include Feel Like A Fool (post 1, Brian Sears), second by a head in the $289,925 Empire Breeders final on May 29 at Tioga Downs, and Shadyshark Hanover (post 8, Brett Miller), a winner in one of three outings this year with $587,066 in lifetime earnings.

The third elimination (race 6, at 8:55 p.m.), includes Mystician (post 1, Jody Jamieson), trained by Jeff Gillis, who recently captured the $510,000 Upper Canada Cup in his most recent outing on May 28 at Georgian Downs. Last year, the son of Camluck earned $780,312 with a victory in the $960,000 Metro Pace. Overall, the six-time winner has career earnings of $1,038,402.

Other contenders are Roll With Joe (post 2, Randy Waples), who surprised at 10-1 in his Somebeachsomewhere Stakes division and Big Bad John (post 7, Brett Miller), who remains undefeated this season from three starts. The $295,318 winner has only tasted defeat twice in his 12 lifetime appearances.

Since 1984, 15 of 27 Cup winners also emerged victorious in their elimination, including 2009 champion Well Said and 2008 winner Somebeachsomewhere. The Burlington (now Somebeachsomewhere) has also proven to be a decent barometer of Cup success, as four of the last 11 Cup winners also won Burlington divisions — Gallo Blue Chip (2000), Red River Hanover (2002), Total Truth (2006) and Somebeachsomewhere (2008).

WEG’s media department caught up with trainer Carl Jamieson after his Somebeachsomewhere Stakes victory with Up The Credit. To watch the video click here.

Here is how the eliminations will line up (with listed drivers):

First Elimination – Race 3:
1. Mach Of Ballykeel (Sylvain Filion)
2. Rock To Glory (David Miller)
3. Big Jim (Phil Hudon)
4. Powerful Mist (Tim Tetrick)
5. Bestofbest Hanover (Jack Moiseyev)
6. Rockabillie (Sylvain Filion)
7. Custard The Dragon (Montrell Teague)

Second Elimination – Race 4:
1. Feel Like A Fool (Brian Sears)
2. Betterthancheddar (Brett Miller)
3. Up The Credit (Jody Jamieson)
4. Grams Legacy (Brian Sears)
5. Eighteen (Paul MacDonell)
6. Lookinforadventure (Brett Miller)
7. Townslight Hanover (Scott Zeron)
8. Shadyshark Hanover (Tim Tetrick)

Third Elimination – Race 6:
1. Mystician (Jody Jamieson)
2. Roll With Joe (Randy Waples)
3. Keystone Velocity (Jody Jamieson)
4. Western Alumni (Randy Waples)
5. Dutch Richman (Tim Tetrick)
6. Wink N Atcha (Brian Sears)
7. Big Bad John (Brett Miller)
8. Foreclosure N (Sylvain Filion)