by Jeff Renton, media/communications, the Woodbine Entertainment Group

TORONTO, June 11…The field for next Saturday’s C$1.5 million Pepsi North America Cup, Canada’s richest harness race, is now set after several blistering eliminations Saturday evening at Woodbine.

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Rocknroll Hanover won his elim in 1:50, to stamp himseld the solid favorite in the final.

However, based on the performance of Rocknroll Hanover, the 22nd edition of the Cup, which attracts the continent’s finest three-year-old pacers, has its solid favourite. With Brian Sears at the controls, Rocknroll Hanover, the odds-on 1-2 choice in his elim, took over from Load The Dice after a slow opening quarter of 28 seconds, then rolled around the course, reaching the half in :56:3, then the three-quarters in 1:23.2.

From there, the result was a given, as the son of Western Ideal motored home in 1:50, two lengths in front of Load The Dice, with Leading X Ample a further two and three-quarter lengths back in third. It was the fourth win in four starts this year for the Brett Pelling trainee, as he came his back-half (last half-mile) in a stunning :53.2.

Last year, Rocknroll Hanover, co-owned by Jeffrey Snyder of New York and Lothlorien Equestrian Centre of Mississauga, had his coming out party in the rich Metro Pace, when, at 31-1, he set a world record mile of 1:49.4 at Woodbine. It was the last time he was that price.

In October, though, after finishing second in his Breeders Crown elim, he was scratched from the final due to sickness and thus lost a chance to be the divisional champion, as the horse he upset in the Metro, Village Jolt, took the crown.

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The first elimination went to Runover Feeling and driver Luc Ouellette, who tipped out in mid-stretch after a pocket trip, overpowered pacesetter Four Starz Sisco and cruised home in 1:50 flat.

“He’s come back good this year,” said Pelling. “He’s covered himself up.

He’s a big-framed horse and he’s just got a lot of power. This year, he’s even better gaited, he’s handled himself a lot better and he’s getting more and more professional as we go along.”

Rocknroll Hanover had come into his elim from an easy victory in the New Jersey Classic, May 28 at the Meadowlands, but his trainer chose to give him a week off rather than contest last Saturday’s Burlington.

“The Jersey Classic was a big race and we caught two dirty (wet) nights there,” continued Pelling.

The fastest elim went to the Bob McIntosh-trained and co-owned Stonebridge Regal, who zipped his mile in 1:49.4, as the even money choice took control after the first quarter. With Jack Moiseyev driving, Stonebridge Regal has been heavily campaigned this year, but has held up well, as the elim was his ninth victory in 12 starts in 2005 after being unraced as a two-year-old.

At the wire, Stonebridge Regal was three and a half lengths in front of a closing Cams Fool, with American Ideal third. He had been challenged by P Forty Seven down the backside, but wouldn’t let him by and eventually put the Burlington division winner away.

Stonebridge Regal had been off since a disappointing sixth place finish as the 4-5 choice in the Provincial Cup at Windsor, May 29. McIntosh chose to give him a week off before his Cup elim.

“It was kind of a no brainer,” said McIntosh, who also has I Zee in the Cup final after his second place finish to Runover Feeling. “He’d been racing tough. He came out of the Windsor race and we were all a little mystified. I just don’t think he liked the racetrack, to tell the truth. It was very slippery. He wasn’t getting a hold of it, he wasn’t himself so I decided to take the cautious route and give him a week off. Trained him up big for this one.”

“I’ll admit I was nervous tonight, since I hoped to see the real ‘Regal’ back. And here he is. (Driver) Jack (Moiseyev) doesn’t tell me how to train and I don’t tell him how to drive. Stonebridge Regal likes the dog fights. If you want to go toe-to-toe, he’ll go toe-to-toe with you.”

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The fastest elim went to the Bob McIntosh-trained and co-owned Stonebridge Regal, who zipped his mile in 1:49.4.

The son of Artsplace also owns the fastest mile of the year for three-year-old pacers in Canada, a 1:49.3 clocking set at Woodbine in the Diplomat Pacing Series, May 6.

The first elimination went to the 2-1 second choice Runover Feeling and driver Luc Ouellette, who tipped out in mid-stretch after a pocket trip, overpowered pacesetter Four Starz Sisco and cruised home in 1:50 flat, a life mark and two-fifths of a second faster than his win last week in a division of the Burlington Stakes. Finishing second, one and one-half lengths behind, was I Zee, with Gold Dust Beach third.

Runover Feeling had been gunned to the lead from the outside post eight but was overhauled by Four Starz Sisco just past the half, which was reached in :54.1. Ouellette was content to follow the pacemaker until turning for home, when he moved out, wrested command and pulled away.

“He reminds me of Red River Hanover,” said Ouellette, who steered ‘Red River’ to victory in the 2002 Cup, “(except he’s) just 400 pounds lighter.

He got placed right away. You can see on his program he’s better when he follows. He was real comfortable (at the wire). It makes a big difference winning, because you know you’re going to have a good draw. I wasn’t worried about the wind too much tonight.”

Last year, Runover Feeling, a son of Western Hanover, won seven of eight starts, with a second place finish as well for Ohio-based trainer Kelly O’Donnell. This year, he’s now won two of three starts, with a third place finish in his opener at The Meadows.

The big disappointment was Village Jolt, last year’s Breeders Crown champion and O’Brien Award winner, who went postward the 8-5 favorite. However, after moving to challenge the leaders turning for home, the son of 1994 Cup winner Cam’s Card Shark faded down the lane, ultimately finishing seventh, eight and three-quarter lengths in arrears.

The top three finishers in each elim, plus a fourth place finisher drawn by lot (Tidewater, who finished fourth to Runover Feeling), advanced to the final. The three winners will select their positions before the rest of the field is drawn on Tuesday.

Field for the C$565,600 Elegantimage Stakes drawn

Last night at Woodbine, after three C$35,000 eliminations for the Elegantimage Stakes for three-year-old trotting fillies were contested, the draw for the C$565,600 final was conducted.

The post positions for the June 18 final are as follows:

PP – Horse – Listed Driver

1 – Sensual Hall – T. Kerwood
2 – Jersey Gal – L. Ouellette
3 – Magenta Hall – M. Lachance
4 – Blur – T. Smedshammer
5 – Ja El Ginger – J. Jamieson
6 – Merry Rules – M. Saftic
7 – Four Starz DLH – E. Ledford
8 – Third Reef – M. Lachance
9 – Ladymatic – C. Manzi
10 – Vyingforthecrown – L. Ouellette
AE1 – Lady Power – C. Manzi

NOTES: Merry Rules was the fourth-place finisher that drew in by lot and the connections of elimination victors Jersey Gal, Blur and Magenta Hall were able to select their respective post positions.