by John Siscos, media relations, Woodbine Entertainment Group

Campbellville, ON — A field of 27 3-year-old pacers will line up in three C$50,000 eliminations on Saturday (June 7) at Mohawk Racetrack, in order to determine the field for the C$1.5 million Pepsi North America Cup, the richest harness race on the continent, on June 14.

Somebeachsomewhere, Dali and Keystone Horatio, all victorious in divisions of the Burlington Stakes last Saturday, have drawn into separate eliminations. The top three in each elim, plus one fourth-place finisher drawn by lot, will qualify for the 25th edition of the Cup, with the winners also getting the opportunity to select a post position before the balance of the field is drawn.

Schooner Stables’ Somebeachsomewhere, undefeated and as yet untested in seven career outings, drew post four in the second elimination, scheduled as race five at 8:54 p.m. To be driven as usual by Paul MacDonell, Somebeachsomewhere, a son of Mach Three, made his eagerly-awaited seasonal debut in the Burlington, coasting home by 1-1/2 lengths over Breeders Crown winner Santanna Blue Chip in 1:51.3.

Trained and co-owned by Brent MacGrath, the bay colt suffered a foot injury earlier in May which delayed his debut and forced him to have just one official qualifier prior to the Burlington. Last year, Somebeachsomewhere was acclaimed the top 2-year-old colt pacer in both Canada and the United States, going six-for-six, including a world record 1:49.3 clocking in the rich Metro Pace, en route to banking $773,296 for his Bible Hill, Nova Scotia owners.

His eight rivals include Art Official (post one, Tyler Buter), who finished a fast-closing second to Dali in the Burlington and On the Brink (post seven, Luc Ouellette), who was third to Somebeachsomewhere last Saturday.

The first elimination, slated as race four at 8:33 p.m., appears to be the toughest, with Keystone Horatio (post three, Randall Waples), Santanna Blue Chip (post two, Jody Jamieson) and Badlands Nitro (post one, Brian Sears) expected to duke it out.

Keystone Horatio swept by the pacesetters in deep stretch in his Burlington division, scoring by one length over Deuce Seelster and Lonestar Legend in 1:51.4. It was the second win in three starts this year for the Rustler Hanover colt, trained by John Kopas for owner George Hempt of Camp Hill, Pennsylvania.

Santanna Blue Chip, trained and co-owned by Carl Jamieson, earned $931,223 last year, with a good chunk of it coming in the Breeders Crown last November at the Meadowlands, when the Art Major colt nosed out Sand Shooter for the victory, his fifth win in nine starts in 2007. Last Saturday, he chased Somebeachsomewhere around the track in the Burlington, finishing a comfortable second.

Badlands Nitro, trained and co-owned by Brenda Teague, won the Hempt final at Pocono Downs on May 24 in his last start, getting the mile in a quick 1:50, the fastest time of any Cup elimination entrant in 2008. The son of Badlands Hanover is unbeaten in three starts this year after going six for eight in 2007.

The third elim, carded as race seven at 9:36 p.m., is topped by Dali (post two, Luc Ouellette), who also made an impressive seasonal debut in the Burlington, wiring the field while winning the fastest of three divisions in 1:50.3. Last year, the son of Real Artist took five of his 10 outings, including the Woodrow Wilson, while pocketing $457,765 for owner Uncirculated Stable of Brantford and trainer Duane Marfisi.

His rivals include 2007 Breeders Crown runner-up Sand Shooter (post four, David Miller), who faded to fourth behind Dali last weekend; Deuce Seelster (post eight, John Campbell), who was second to Keystone Horatio in the Burlington, after winning nine of 12 starts and $639,241 last year; Rudy Rednose (post three, Brian Sears), a Red River Hanover gelding trained by Brenda Teague, who recently finished second in the May 31 New Jersey Classic at the Meadowlands; and the Casie Coleman-trained Lennon Blue Chip (post nine, Mark MacDonald), a winner in two of four starts this year.

Since 1984, 13 of 24 Cup winners also emerged victorious in their elimination, including last year’s winner, Tell All. The Burlington
has also proven to be a decent barometer of Cup success, as three of the last eight Cup winners also won Burlington divisions — Gallo Blue Chip (2000), Red River Hanover (2002) and Total Truth (2006).