Lather Up wins Pepsi North America Cup
June 16, 2018,by Mark McKelvie, WEG Communications
Milton, ON — Lather Up proved he was a step above his competition by capturing the 35th edition of the C$1 million Pepsi North America Cup on Saturday night (June 16) at Woodbine Mohawk Park.
Trained by Clyde Francis, Lather Up and driver Montrell Teague powered forward from the beginning and took no prisoners en route to a four length score in 1:48.1.
“It’s a sensational feeling,” said co-owner and breeder Gary Iles. “To come away with a win, it doesn’t get any better than this.”
The win was sweet redemption for trainer Francis and driver Teague after they came up just short in the 2015 edition with Wiggle It Jiggleit.
Lather Up fired from post four to the early lead, but was overtaken at the opening quarter (:26.3) by Done Well and driver Tim Tetrick. Teague wasted little time retaking the lead in the second quarter and had his charge showing the way through a :54.1 opening half.
“I definitely wanted to retake,” said Teague. “(Tetrick) could have went on and taken a bigger fraction for the half but I was trying to go back to the front and back the half down as much as I could.”
Nutcracker Sweet and driver David Miller were first-up rounding the far turn, supplying cover for a perfectly placed second-over Stay Hungry and driver Doug McNair.
Lather Up reached three-quarters in a sizzling 1:21.3 to lead into the lane. Two-hole sitter Done Well and an off-cover Stay Hungry fired their best shot in the stretch, but were no match for the 4-5 mutuel favorite.
Lather Up powered home in :26.3 for his biggest victory and sixth win in as many starts this season. Done Well finished second, while Lost In Time and driver Scott Zeron rallied from eighth, placed fourth-over at three-quarters, to grab third. Stay Hungry finished fourth.
“It didn’t go the way I thought it was going to be,” said Teague. “I thought everyone was going to be a lot more aggressive for a million-dollar race and I would come off cover, but there was only about three of them left out there and I was one of them.”
Owned and bred by Gary and Barbara Iles, Lather Up’s beginning comes from a semen mix-up during breeding season and a near-death experience during birth. The true underdog is sired by-then Ohio stallion I’m Gorgeous, who has since returned to racing.
Lather Up made big noise during his rookie season, mainly in Ohio with the Francis trainee taking four of seven starts, including a stunning track record performance of 1:51.1 at Scioto Downs.
The talented colt wasted no time making an impact this season, posting a 1:50 track record mile at Miami Valley in his second start of the campaign on May 6.
Lather Up now holds a career record of 10 wins in 13 starts. The C$1 million classic victory increases his seasonal earnings to C$593,000 and career earnings to C$667,100.
Winning trainer Francis is part of the George Teague Stable operation, which won the Pepsi North America Cup in 2006 with Total Truth.
A $2 win ticket on Lather Up returned $3.20. The $2 exacta with Done Well returned $17.20, while the trifecta with Lost In Time paid $133.20. A $1 winning-superfecta (Stay Hungry) returned $220.15.
- Three-peat for Hannelore Hanover in Armbro Flight (Saturday, June 16, 2018)
Hannelore Hanover captured her third consecutive Armbro Flight Stakes on Saturday’s (June 16) Pepsi North America Cup undercard at Woodbine Mohawk Park. The reigning Canadian and American Horse of the Year was untouchable in the C$250,000 event for trotting mares, as she completed a front-end mission with a :27.2 final-quarter to win by 3-3/4 lengths in 1:52.
- Sintra soars in Mohawk Gold Cup (Saturday, June 16, 2018)
Sintra converted off a perfect second-over trip from driver Jody Jamieson to win the C$100,000 Mohawk Gold Cup on Saturday’s (June 16) Pepsi North America Cup undercard at Woodbine Mohawk Park. New Image Media photo.
- Wolfgang dominates in Goodtimes (Saturday, June 16, 2018)
Jimmy Takter trainee Wolfgang has stamped himself as a top dog in the 3-year-old trotting division following a strong 1:52.1 victory in Saturday’s (June 16) C$266,000 Goodtimes Stakes at Woodbine Mohawk Park.
- Shower Play cleans up in Fan Hanover (Saturday, June 16, 2018)
Shower Play arrived on the scene late to score with a wide-rally in Saturday’s (June 16) C$415,000 Fan Hanover at Woodbine Mohawk Park. Trained by Rene Dion and in rein to Louis Phillipe Roy, the Ontario-sired daughter of Shadow Play picked up her first major career score following a strong second in last week’s elimination to Kissin In The Sand.
- Shartin N blossoms in Roses Are Red (Sunday, June 17, 2018)
Shartin N, who made a break but recovered to finish fourth in last week’s eliminations, redeemed herself with a prominent effort in the C$370,000 Roses Are Red final on Saturday night (June 16) at Woodbine Mohawk Park.
- Lather Up to skip Meadowlands Pace (Monday, July 02, 2018)
After watching Lather Up’s first loss of the season in Saturday’s Max Hempt Memorial, George Teague Jr. is hopeful his team can get the 3-year-old male pacer back to the form that saw him begin the year with seven consecutive wins, including the North America Cup. Lather Up, the 1-9 favorite in the $500,000 Hempt, went off stride on the final turn as he tried to pass leader Dorsoduro Hanover following a first-over march from fourth place.