by Harness Racing Communications, a division of the USTA
Chris Ryder tried to remain philosophical when looking at Saturday’s fourth elimination race for the C$1.6 million North America Cup.
The elim features two Burlington Stakes division winners — Ryder’s Metropolitan and Randy Bendis’ Georgia Pacific — in addition to unbeaten Modern Art, Hoosier Cup winner Skydancer Hanover and once-beaten Droppin’thehammer, not to mention 2003 Governor’s Cup runner-up The Preacher Pan.
“It’s tough, but the final will be tough, too,” Ryder said. “If you can’t handle the eliminations, you don’t belong. I’ve gotten all worked up before [other races] and it never does any good. I’m just trying to take it all in stride.”
Ryder laughed, giving the impression that taking “it all in stride” was more difficult in practice than theory. Metropolitan has won two of three starts this year and earned $47,000. He won his Burlington division by two-and-a-half lengths in 1:51.1 last week at Mohawk. Ryder’s Western Prince is in the third elimination.
“Everything is good,” Ryder said. “We’re very happy with [Metropolitan]. There’s no problems with either of them. That’s all you can do. Just hope things work. Western Prince is doing fine. It’s just a matter of maybe needing a little good position, a little racing luck to go his way.”
Of the nine horses in the fourth elimination, five have won at least $47,000 this year and three have reached six figures in purses. The third elimination comes nearest to matching that group, with three horses over $47,000 and two with more than $100,000.
Five horses in the fourth elim have records of 1:51.3 or faster this year; none of the other three elims have more than two horses with marks equal to 1:51.3 or quicker. The top two finishers in each elimination race plus two third-place finishers drawn by lot will reach the final.
“It’s a bit of a shame,” Ryder said. “There are probably some good horses that are going to be prevented from getting to the finals. But that’s the way it is.”
Joe Holloway, who trains Modern Art, agreed with Ryder. Of course, winning an elimination historically is a good harbinger because six of the last seven Cup winners were elim victors.
“What are you going to do? They’re not going to give away that kind of money,” Holloway said. “That’s the luck of the draw.”
Modern Art, who was second to sidelined I Am A Fool for divisional honors last year, won the New Jersey Classic on May 29 by a neck over Dr No in 1:50.2. He was off last week.
“Everything has been by plan,” Holloway said. “The horse is super. He’s in a tough position, but there are always good horses on your back. If I don’t have bad racing luck, my horse will be there.”
The first North America Cup elim features Burlington division winner Village Hero N, who beat Rapid Dialing by nearly two lengths in 1:51.2 last week.
“He seems to be like a flawless horse,” trainer Jerry Silverman said. “He does his job. He’s a very easy horse in the barn, a cheerful kind of colt. Most important, he’s a good doer. We’re going to take our chances with him in the North America Cup. We need a lot of luck and a good draw. I think this is a terrific bunch of very, very good colts. It’s been a while since we’ve had so many good colts.”
Also in the first elim is Berry’s Creek winner Brandon’s Cowboy and Mantacular, who won eight of 13 races and $232,974 last year but is winless in five starts in 2004
Burlington division winner Panspacificflight headlines the second elimination race. Panspacificflight was parked the mile last week but won by two lengths in 1:50.3.
“This is a wide open three-year-old division,” owner Bob Glazer said. “If there’s one thing we’ve learned year to year, it’s that the picture can change from week to week. There’s an awfully long season ahead of us. It’s a long road.”
Camelot Hall, who won the Metro at Woodbine last year, returned to the races last week in the Burlington and finished eighth behind Georgia Pacific, who was clocked in 1:49.4. Camelot Hall had last raced in the Governor’s Cup on October 18, 2003.
Spirit Of A Shark, who was third in both the Berry’s Creek and New Jersey Classic, is the top money-winner in the third elimination, with $126,165 this season. Rogue Hall, who was third in the Provincial Cup, has won four of six starts and banked $100,188. Wizsell has the most starts this year, 16, of any of the 35 horses in the four elims. He has won once and earned $59,818 this year.
- North America Cup elims held at Woodbine (Saturday, June 12, 2004)
The field for next Saturday’s C$1.6 million Pepsi North America Cup has been finalized after four eliminations were contested tonight at Woodbine.