by Mark McKelvie, Woodbine Communications

Milton, ON — The stacked Pepsi North America Cup undercard is set following Saturday’s (June 9) eliminations for the Fan Hanover and Roses Are Red at Woodbine Mohawk Park. Both events required two eliminations on Saturday, with 16 3-year-old pacing fillies competing in the Fan Hanover and 19 older pacing mares in the Roses Are Red.

Kissin In The Sand won her division of the Fan Hanover in 1:51.1.

Sudden Passing found room late to get up and defeat race-favourite Alexis Faith at the line in the first C$35,000 Fan Hanover elimination. Driven by Jody Jamieson, Sudden Passing got away second in the early-stages and was situated as the third-horse along the rail when the field reached three-quarters. Alexis Faith rushed from fourth to first at the half and led by the third marker in 1:23.

In the stretch, Alexis Faith pulled ahead of her rivals and appeared to have victory in sight, but Jamieson was able to stickhandle into some open room late and shoot through to win by a neck. Sudden Passing’s victory wasn’t called official immediately, as the judges reviewed the final turn for a possible pylon infraction, but deemed there was no violation.

Alexis Faith had to settle for second, while Reign On Me was third and Just Her Luck fourth. The final horse to qualify for the final from the first split was Big Thong.

Sudden Passing is trained by Gregg McNair for owners Lindsey and Connie Rankin. The Mach Three filly was two for three on the season coming into Saturday’s contest, with her most recent win coming in an Ontario Sires Stakes Grassroots event.

Winless in five starts at age two, Sudden Passing now has three wins and over C$112,000 earned in her young career. She paid $8.20 to win.

The second elimination saw Kissin In The Sand convert off a second-over trip from driver Scott Zeron to win in 1:51.1. Race favorite Youaremycandygirl was stretched out by early leader Ubettergo Go to the half in :54.4 before carrying the lead around the far turn. OSS champion Percy Bluechip came first-up from fourth and supplied cover for Kissin In The Sand.

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Tequila Monday won her Roses Are Red elimination by 1-3/4 lengths.

Youaremycandygirl reached three-quarters in 1:23.2 and was still the leader with an eighth of a mile to go, but didn’t have enough left in the tank. Kissin In The Sand fired by rivals to win by a 1-1/4 lengths in 1:51.1. Im Trigger Happy and Shower Play rallied to finish in a dead-heat for second, while Kendall Seelster came up the rail to get fourth. Ubettergo Go finished fifth, which meant standouts Youaremycandygirl and Percy Bluechip failed to make the final.

A daughter of Somebeachsomewhere, Kissin In The Sand was making her second start of the season after finishing second in her season debut. The Nancy Johansson trainee won seven of 14 starts as a rookie and now has eight wins and career earnings of over C$275,000 for owners Marvin Katz and Hatfield Stables.

Kissin In The Sand paid $12.20 to win.

The Roses Are Red eliminations kicked off with Blazin Britches completing a front-end mission with a 1:51 victory for driver David Miller. The Brian Brown trained 4-year-old was making her second start of the season and got to call the shots.

Blazin Britches and Miller posted fractions of :27.2, :56.1 and 1:24.1, before pacing home in :26.4 to win easy by 3-1/2 lengths. L A Delight finished second, while Lyons River Pride was third. The top-five was rounded out by Blue Moon Stride and Shartin N.

A daughter of Rock N Roll Heaven, Blazin Britches was facing Grand Circuit mares for the first time Saturday. The Brown trainee had an incredible 3-year-old season, winning 11 of 15 starts and banking over C$500,000.

A homebred for Emerald Highlands Farm, Blazin Britches is now a 12-time winner with over C$550,000 in career earnings. She paid $14 to win.

Tequila Monday captured the second Roses Are Red elimination to make it a 4-year-old sweep. Driver Brett Miller circled from second to first after the opening quarter and Tequila Monday never looked back. The Hunter Oakes trainee posted fractions of :55.4 and 1:23.3, before pacing home in :26.3 to win by 1-3/4 lengths. The Joy Luck Club finished second, while Nike Franco N was third. The final two spots in next week’s final were secured by Firebby A and Artistic Madison.

A daughter of American Ideal, Tequila Monday is now three-for-five in her 4-year-old season. She is a career winner of more than C$670,000 and Saturday’s victory was the 15th of her career.

Tequila Monday is owned by Northfork Racing Stable and Chuck Pompey. She paid $5.70 to win.

The post-position draws for the C$415,000 Fan Hanover and C$370,000 Roses Are Red took place following Saturday’s eliminations here.

Below are the fields for each final:

C$415,000 Fan Hanover

1. Just Her Luck
2. Sudden Passing
3. Kissin In The Sand
4. Shower Play
5. Kendall Seelster
6. Alexis Faith
7. Reign On Me
8. Im Trigger Happy
9. Ubettergo Go
10. Big Thong
AE: Youaremycandygirl

C$370,000 Roses Are Red

1. Nike Franco N
2. Lyons River Pride
3. Tequila Monday
4. Blazin Britches
5. Blue Moon Stride
6. Artistic Madison
7. Shartin N
8. Firebby A
9. L A Delight
10. The Joy Luck Club
AE: Pure Country