by Greg Blanchard, media/communications, Woodbine Entertainment Group

Campbellville, ON — It has been a slow start to this season for driver Luc Ouellette — at least by his standards. With 95 wins and $1.5 million earned to date, he finds himself sitting fifth in the WEG driver standings and well off his pace of a year ago.

However, a trip back to the Pepsi North America Cup Final this Saturday night at Mohawk has reinvigorated the 42-year-old reinsman who has 7,719 wins to his credit and is part of harness racing’s exclusive $100 million club.

“For sure, these are the types of races you don’t want to be watching from the sidelines,” said Ouellette Thursday evening from the Mohawk paddock. “You always want to be in races like this. It’s what we are in the business for.”

On Saturday night, Ouellette will make his eighth appearance in Canada’s richest race which is being held for the first time in its 24-year history at Mohawk Racetrack in Campbellville. Ouellette won the 2002 edition at Woodbine with Red River Hanover and remembers the night well.

“I left New Jersey that afternoon and I was like a guy going on vacation,” recalled Ouellette. “I felt so confident after driving him the week before. I know I sound really cocky saying that, but I didn’t win the race, the horse did. Just to give you an idea, he just toyed with Mach Three who was a great colt. I don’t think there was a colt in the world who could have beaten him that night.”

It will be a much different scenario this time around as Ouellette will guide longshot Glass Pack for local trainer Mark Steacy. He finished third in his Pepsi NA Cup split last weekend behind Tell All, who was arguably the most impressive of the elimination winners.

It was the first start on Canadian soil for the son of Cole Muffler-Fox Valley Monika and his effort was good enough to make Ouellette optimistic heading into this weekend.

“I was really happy with how my colt performed,” he said. “It was very hot here and the colt had just shipped in from the States, so I just don’t know if he was feeling a hundred percent like himself. I know this week Mark (Steacy-the colt’s trainer) was going to focus on just having him healthy and feeling as good as he can for Saturday. I think he has the ability to go with them.”

As part of all the festivities planned for Saturday night at Mohawk, fans will have a chance to meet Luc Ouellette during a ‘Track Chat’ segment with Greg Blanchard and racing analyst Mike Hamilton from 6:00 p.m. until 6:45 p.m.

There will also be a drivers autograph session, live entertainment, a beer garden and commemorative Pepsi North America Cup hats going out to the first 1,000 customers.

The Pepsi North America Cup and the Goodtimes Stakes Final for 3-year-old colt trotters will be aired nationally on The Score from 8:30 p.m. to 10:00 p.m.

For more information on this year’s Pepsi North America Cup and to vote for who you think will win, visit www.northamericacup.com.