Roll With Joe ready to rock in Pepsi NA Cup
June 9, 2011,by Greg Gangle, WEG media
Campbellville, ON — Trainer Ed Hart is no stranger to being involved in big races. In the early 2000s, Hart conditioned world champion Four Starzzz Shark to a lucrative career, which included $2.5 million in career earnings with numerous stakes victories and a 1:47.4 lifetime best.
Hart would return to the spotlight in 2004 as Village Jolt captured the $663,200 Breeders Crown and $432,000 Woodrow Wilson, while finishing second in the $933,086 Metro Pace.
Now the New York based conditioner will be looking to walk back into the limelight as Roll With Joe looks to be crowned this year’s C$1.5 million Pepsi North America Cup champion, the richest race for sophomore pacers.
The 3-year-old son of Cam’s Card Shark-Classic Wish is a full brother to Bettor’s Delight ($2,581,461) who captured the 2001 edition.
After scoring an impressive 1:49.3 victory in his division of the Somebeachsomewhere Stakes this past Saturday, Roll With Joe will begin from post two in his North America Cup elimination on Saturday (June 11) at Mohawk.
Following last week’s victory, Hart remains optimistic about his charge’s chances in this year’s rich edition.
“After (Saturday) night’s (Somebeachsomewhere Stakes) win, I think he’s a contender this year for the North America Cup,” Hart explained. “Some horses haven’t come up from the States yet, but we will know a lot more on elimination night.”
Driven for the first time by Randy Waples, Roll With Joe sat in the pocket for most of the mile before unleashing a :26.3 final quarter to beat top North America Cup prospect Bettorthancheddar in his Somebeachsomewhere Stakes division.
“I feel kind of silly because I never really heard of him, but I heard of him now,” Waples offered following the victory. “I didn’t really know a whole lot about Ed’s horse, other than his racelines. Before the race, I would have been happy finishing second.”
Although Waples has not won the Cup, he believes Roll With Joe could take him to the winner’s circle for the first time.
“Yeah, I think he has a shot (to win the Cup), you could make a case for a bunch of them,” he offered. “It seems some horses get the press and some don’t, but a horse like Roll With Joe could come from out of the clouds and win it all.”
After earning $155,377 last season, Roll With Joe was not a top threat amongst the top Grand Circuit 2-year-olds, but Hart remained hopeful coming into this season.
“Coming into this season, he trained down perfect. He’s a nice, average sized horse who is very slick gaited,” said Hart.
Things were shaping up well as Roll With Joe was nearly ready to qualify until a minor injury occurred.
“In April, he was kicking because he was feeling so good and cut his ankle, which required 10 stitches. The injury wasn’t serious, we just had to give him the appropriate time off, but that’s in the past now.
“We gave him three qualifiers by design and his first start of the year, he was tremendous. He’s well staked this year so hopefully things go according to plan.”
This Saturday, Roll With Joe will be looking to follow in his big brother’s footsteps for owners Blue Chip Bloodstock, Winbak Farm, Stephen Demeter and Not To Worry Stable.
After Saturday’s Somebeachsomewhere Stakes division, Randy Waples spoke with WEG’s media department. To watch the interview, visit www.NorthAmericaCup.com.
Here is how the eliminations will line up, with listed drivers and trainers.
Elim One: 1. Mach Of Ballykeel, Ra. Waples, C. McKnight; 2. Rock To Glory, D. Miller, C. Coleman; 3. Big Jim, P. Hudon, J. Dean; 4. Powerful Mist, T. Tetrick, M. Givens; 5. Bestofbest Hanover, J. Moiseyev, D. Martin; 6. Rockabillie, S. Filion, I. Moore; 7. Custard The Dragon, M. Teague, G. Teague, Jr.
Elim Two: 1. Feel Like A Fool, B. Sears, G. Teague, Jr.; 2. Betterthancheddar, B. Miller, C. Coleman; 3. Up The Credit, J. Jamieson, C. Jamieson; 4. Grams Legacy, D. Miller, J. Takter; 5. Eighteen, P. MacDonell, I. Moore; 6. Lookinforadventure, B. Miller, B. Saunders; 7. Townslight Hanover, S. Zeron, A. Lambert; 8. Shadyshark Hanover, T. Tetrick, E. Miller.
Elim Three: 1. Mystician, J. Jamieson, J. Gillis; 2. Roll With Joe, Ra. Waples, E. Hart; 3. Keystone Velocity, TBA, F. Kamine; 4. Western Alumni, D. Miller, B. Goit; 5. Dutch Richman, T. Tetrick, E. Miller; 6. Wink N Atcha, B. Sears, G. Teague, Jr.; 7. Big Bad John, B. Miller, R. Potter; 8. Foreclosure N, S. Filion, M. Steacy.
- Big Jim looks to bounce back in North America Cup elims (Tuesday, June 07, 2011)
- North America Cup elims drawn (Tuesday, June 07, 2011)
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.
- Big Bad John heads to Canada (Tuesday, June 07, 2011)
Little Brown Jug contender Big Bad John will leave his hometown of Delaware, Ohio, on Friday morning to travel to Mohawk Racetrack in Campbellville, Ontario, to compete in Saturday’s eliminations for next week’s C$1.5 million Pepsi North America Cup.
- No NA Cup for Fashion Delight (Tuesday, June 07, 2011)
According to trainer Jim Campbell, he decided not to enter the six-time winner due to a minor injury.
- Coleman seeks North America Cup repeat (Wednesday, June 08, 2011)
Casie Coleman won last year’s Pepsi North America Cup with Sportswriter. This year, she sends two pacers — Betterthancheddar and Rock To Glory — into Saturday’s Cup eliminations at Mohawk Racetrack as she attempts to become the first trainer since Bill Robinson in 1993-94 to win the race in consecutive years.
- Moore hopes Eighteen is lucky number in NA Cup (Wednesday, June 08, 2011)
The colt Eighteen starts from post No. 5 with Paul MacDonell driving for trainer Dr. Ian Moore in the second of Saturday’s three eliminations for the Pepsi North America Cup at Mohawk Racetrack.
- Mystician keeps making a believer of Gillis (Wednesday, June 08, 2011)
Jeff Gillis thought Mystician would be a nice horse on the Ontario Sire Stakes circuit. Beyond that, he had few expectations. But after Mystician won last year’s Metro Pace and this season’s Upper Canada Cup at Georgian Downs, the trainer is a believer.