by Ken Weingartner, Harness Racing Communications

Ken Weingartner

Freehold, NJ — Jeff Gillis thought Mystician would be a nice horse on the Ontario Sire Stakes circuit. Beyond that, he had few expectations. But after Mystician won last year’s Metro Pace and this season’s Upper Canada Cup at Georgian Downs, the trainer is a believer.

“Each time he wins he convinces me a little bit more,” Gillis said with a chuckle. “I’d be lying if I said training down I thought he was going to win the Metro. I thought we had a nice (Ontario Sire Stakes) Gold colt. I thought he could make a nice profit for us, but I didn’t envision him being Grand Circuit.”

Mystician will start from post No. 1 in the third of Saturday’s three North America Cup eliminations at Mohawk Racetrack. Jody Jamieson will handle the driving for Gillis, who owns the colt with Ken Henwood, Mac Nichol and Gerald Stay. The C$1.5 million North America Cup final is June 18.

New Image Media photo

Metro Pace champion Mystician heads into Saturday’s North America Cup eliminations with $1.03 million to his credit.

Gillis bought Mystician, a son of Camluck-Mystic Mistress, for $45,000 at the Canadian Open Yearling Sale. He is a full brother to multiple-stakes-winners Camystic and Lucks Mistress.

Mystician has won six of 14 career races and $1.03 million. He has finished second on four occasions.

“I knew the family a little bit,” Gillis said. “(Mystic Mistress) is a proven mare and he’s a full brother to some very legitimate horses. He resembled some of the foals that were successful. The video on him, he had a presence about him. He had a free-and-easy gait. I liked that. I was quite happy to get him at ($45,000).”

Mystician was eligible to last week’s Somebeachsomewhere Stakes, but Gillis gave the colt the week off after winning the $510,000 Upper Canada Cup on May 28.

“The schedule shook out, it would have made the North America Cup final potentially his fifth start in five weeks,” Gillis said. “I thought he would be better off fresh.”

Gillis said Mystician’s season got off to a shaky start.

“We were a little nervous the first time we qualified him; he was flat,” he said. “It turned out he scoped with a little bit of mucous so we took a little time there to get him straightened away. Since then, he’s been very good.”

Mystician is trying to join Sportswriter, Somebeachsomewhere, Rocknroll Hanover, Gothic Dream and Presidential Ball as horses to win the million-dollar Metro and North America Cup. Even with the Metro to his credit, the colt seems to be coming into the North America Cup somewhat under the radar.

“That’s fine by me,” Gillis said, laughing. “We’re not after the headlines. That doesn’t pay the bills. We’ll take the cash and let everyone else have the hype.”

Here is how the eliminations will line up, with listed drivers and trainers.

Elim One: 1. Mach Of Ballykeel, Ra. Waples, C. McKnight; 2. Rock To Glory, D. Miller, C. Coleman; 3. Big Jim, P. Hudon, J. Dean; 4. Powerful Mist, T. Tetrick, M. Givens; 5. Bestofbest Hanover, J. Moiseyev, D. Martin; 6. Rockabillie, S. Filion, I. Moore; 7. Custard The Dragon, M. Teague, G. Teague, Jr.

Elim Two: 1. Feel Like A Fool, B. Sears, G. Teague, Jr.; 2. Betterthancheddar, B. Miller, C. Coleman; 3. Up The Credit, J. Jamieson, C. Jamieson; 4. Grams Legacy, D. Miller, J. Takter; 5. Eighteen, P. MacDonell, I. Moore; 6. Lookinforadventure, B. Miller, B. Saunders; 7. Townslight Hanover, S. Zeron, A. Lambert; 8. Shadyshark Hanover, T. Tetrick, E. Miller.

Elim Three: 1. Mystician, J. Jamieson, J. Gillis; 2. Roll With Joe, Ra. Waples, E. Hart; 3. Keystone Velocity, TBA, F. Kamine; 4. Western Alumni, D. Miller, B. Goit; 5. Dutch Richman, T. Tetrick, E. Miller; 6. Wink N Atcha, B. Sears, G. Teague, Jr.; 7. Big Bad John, B. Miller, R. Potter; 8. Foreclosure N, S. Filion, M. Steacy.