Milton, ON – Top contenders Odds On Mr Mamba, Sweet Lovin Lou and Beau Jangles will start in posts 3 through 5 in Saturday’s (June 13) C$1 million Grade 1 Pepsi North America Cup at Woodbine Mohawk Park.
Elimination winners Odds On Mr Mamba and Sweet Lovin Lou were guaranteed to land a post anywhere from 2 through 6. Odds On Mr Mamba will start from post 3 and Sweet Lovin Lou from post 4.
It was a dramatic face-off last Saturday when Odds On Mr Mamba handed Beau Jangles his first loss in the second Cup elimination. Trainer Melanie Wrenn was pleasantly surprised by Odds On Mr Mamba’s victory.
“I knew he was a super nice colt, but I truly didn’t think we were gonna win,” Wrenn said. “Beau Jangles is pretty massive, and it was a big surprise for me. I knew he was fast, but he’s really fast.”
James MacDonald, the driver of both Odds On Mr Mamba and Sweet Lovin Lou in their eliminations, selected to drive Odds On Mr Mamba in the final for Wrenn and owner Odds On Racing.
“It’s always tough when you bring a horse along at 2, you baby race them, you fall in love with them, and it’s always hard to make a decision like that,” MacDonald said, referring to Sweet Lovin Lou.
“I think the North America Cup is one of the premier races in the world. It’s going to be a big crowd, and they can’t wait to see the great racing, and (the Cup) is going to be a war.”
Odds On Mr Mamba, the fastest 2-year-old of all-time (1:47.4), enters Saturday with nine wins and 10 starts.
“He (Odds On Mr Mamba) clearly was drifting a little bit, as everyone saw, but Melanie and Pete (Wrenn) were confident they could have him steering better, and I think no matter how the race goes, it’s good to have that kick,” MacDonald said. “Hopefully, I can work a trip out and do something productive, because he’s a special horse.”
Sweet Lovin Lou had a powerful performance to win last Saturday’s first elimination for trainer/co-owner Dan Lagace and partners. Lagace announced Scott Zeron will drive, a decision he came to easily.
“Even when I raced Lou last year in Kentucky, I listed James down first, but I put Scott down as an alternative if James wasn’t going to make it,” Lagace said. “I think they both have the same style and fit the horse great.”
Reigning Horse of the Year Beau Jangles drew post 5. The superstar went into his elimination undefeated in 15 races, including last year’s Metro Pace and Breeders Crown. He suffered his first loss on Saturday, but he will look to rebound for trainer Dr. Ian Moore.
“We figured (a loss) was going to happen at some point in time,” Moore said. “It might have happened at the wrong time, hopefully not, but I still think he raced very well under the circumstances, and he seems to be fine. I jogged him today after a couple days off. So, hopefully, we’ll have him ready to go on Saturday. I don’t think we’ve ever drawn inside of 8 in this before. So, it was good to see that 5, for sure, and that is my lucky number.”
Ron Burke trains three of Saturday’s Cup contenders: Melillo, Lindy Dragonwater, and Al Papi. Burke goes for his third North America Cup win after winning last year’s edition with Louprint and in 2014 with JK Endofanera.
Melillo, to be driven by 2025 Cup winner Ronnie Wrenn Jr., drew post 1. Lindy Dragonwater, the 2025 Ohio Sire Stakes champion, has post 6, and Al Papi drew post 8.
With seven wins in 13 starts, Azrael Blue Chip will see the Cup debut for trainer Besim Odza. Driven by Andrew McCarthy, Azrael Blue Chip will start from post 7.
Brandon Blvd, winner of the Grade 3 Somebeachsomewhere Stakes, is one of the major players in the Cup, but had no luck in the draw, landing post 10. The Andrew Harris trainee has nine wins in 13 starts.
“Brandon Blvd has done a lot of firsts, I mean, last year as a 2-year-old, he was the first 1:48.4 pacer here at Woodbine, and last week he was the first horse to go by Beau Jangles, so if there are any first out there he can accomplish, maybe this is it,” Harris said.
Local hopeful No Waitlist drew post 9 for owner Tim Dickerson, trainer Blake MacIntosh, and driver Doug McNair.
Redland Rocket Man will be looking for the upset from post 2 for first-time Cup trainer John Pentland and Cup-winning driver Louis-Philippe Roy.
The field for the 43rd Pepsi North America Cup:
Post – Horse – Driver – Trainer
1. Melillo – Ronnie Wrenn Jr. – Ron Burke
2. Redland Rocket Man – Louis-Philippe Roy – John Pentland
3. Odds On Mr Mamba – James MacDonald – Melanie Wrenn
4. Sweet Lovin Lou – Scott Zeron – Daniel Lagace
5. Beau Jangles – Bob McClure – Dr. Ian Moore
6. Lindy Dragonwater – Jason Bartlett – Ron Burke
7. Azrael Blue Chip – Andrew McCarthy – Besim Odza
8. Al Papi – Yannick Gingras – Ron Burke
9. No Waitlist – Doug McNair – Blake MacIntosh
10. Brandon Blvd – Dexter Dunn – Andrew Harris
Michael Copeland, CEO of Woodbine Entertainment, also spoke at the draw.
“We’re very proud of the racing here at Woodbine Mohawk Park, and we’re thankful for the people that give so much time and energy to make this one of the best Standardbred racing facilities in the world,” Copeland said. “We’re happy to share that with you this Saturday night.”
The stakes record for the Pepsi North America Cup is 1:47.1, set last year by Louprint.
The Pepsi North America Cup is scheduled as Race 11 (10:45 p.m. EDT).
The C$1 million Pepsi North America Cup is the feature race on a C$2.5 million card of racing. The Grade 1 Fan Hanover, Grade 1 Roses Are Red, Grade 2 Armbro Flight, Grade 2 Goodtimes and Grade 3 Mohawk Gold Cup are all part of the rich program.
First-race post time is 6:30 p.m. (EDT). Admission and parking are free.
For event information, visit WoodbineMohawkPark.com.