by Ashley Mayotte, WEG communications

Campbellville, ON — It turned into an emotional family affair at the C$1.5 million Pepsi North America Cup on Saturday evening (June 18) at Mohawk Racetrack.

Jody Jamieson, driving Up The Credit, gave his father Carl, who trains and co-owns the son of Western Terror, the best Father’s Day gift ever by powering his way to victory in the richest pacing event on the continent.

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Up The Credit was a 1:49.3 winner in the North America Cup.

At the finish of the 3-year-old classic, Up The Credit proved a one length winner over Roll With Joe, with last year’s champion Big Jim closing for third, in 1:49.3.

Sent postward the 2-1 second choice to the 9-5 favorite Big Bad John, Up The Credit came first-over from fifth heading into the far turn, after Big Bad John and driver Brett Miller had taken the field through a half in :55.2.

Up The Credit continued to inch closer to the pacesetter in mid-stretch and eventually motored by for the impressive score, his fifth win in six starts this year and his seventh trip to the winner’s circle overall. Meanwhile, Big Bad John gave it up late to finish fifth, eclipsed by Foreclosure N for fourth.

It was the second Cup win for driver Jamieson, who steered Tell All to victory in 2007, but the first for long time conditioner Carl, who has enjoyed immense success with the Ontario Sires Stakes program, but hadn’t won a race of this magnitude in his 30-year career, although he did win a major prize in 2006, the C$754,500 She’s A Great Lady Stakes with Appleoosa Hanover, with Jody in the bike.

“It’s unbelievable,” said an emotional 34-year-old Jody. “All I’ve got to say is Happy Father’s Day, Dad. You did such a great job. It’s just unbelievable how much he’s worked.

“He (Up The Credit) is just an amazing horse. He’s been proving it all along. I’m so happy for everybody.”

Last week, Up The Credit had taken the slowest of three elims as the favorite in 1:50.4, but just ticks off the other winners, Powerful Mist (1:50.2) and Big Bad John (1:50.3).

But there was no doubt who was the fastest and who went the bravest trip.

“I said (at the post position draw), my horse, on the lead, first-over, second-over, it didn’t matter,” continued Jamieson. “I just needed to have a little bit of luck and make sure he was good. Dad had him great all week. The horse was fabulous. I mean, first-over in (1):49.3. That’s some kind of trip.”

Added Carl Jamieson, a 60-year-old native of Pugwash, Nova Scotia, who now resides in Princeton, Ontario, “Last year, I knew he was a good horse. We just had to wait on him. Second time out last year in (1):51 and change. He’s a lovely horse. He loves his job. Nothing bothers him. And he can go fast. I was a little bit worried coming first up. I really was. But he just kept coming and coming. He loves to win. So it’s great.”

Up The Credit earned C$750,000 for the biggest win of his career and has now banked C$923,440 for his owners, Carl Jamieson, Thomas Kyron, Brian Paquet and Joanne Morrison.

He paid $6.60, $4.20 and $3.20, combining with Roll With Joe ($9.60, $6.80) for an $85.10 (2-7) exactor. A 2-7-1 (Big Jim, $4.40 to show) triactor returned $399.90 while a $1 superfecta [2-7-1-10 – Foreclosure N) was worth $3,145.25.