by Harness Racing Communications, a division of the USTA

A week after finishing fifth as the favorite in the C$1.6 million North America Cup, Georgia Pacific returned to winning form by claiming his American-National elimination race in 1:49.4 at Balmoral Park on June 26. In the other elim, Quik Pulse Mindale remained unbeaten this year by cruising to a 1:51 victory to advance to Saturday’s $230,000 final for three-year-old male pacers. “He raced really well,” trainer Randy Bendis said about Georgia Pacific, who finished fifth in the North America Cup final at Woodbine Racetrack after winning his elimination race in 1:49.4. “I was really happy with him. I couldn’t be any happier with where he is right now.”

Georgia Pacific also won an elimination race for the Provincial Cup, but was fifth-placed-fourth in the final, which was won by Quik Pulse Mindale on May 30 at Windsor Raceway. “I was kidding around with people and saying that we’re pretty good at eliminations, now we’ve got to start cashing in on finals.”

Even before Georgia Pacific’s performance last Saturday — his third 1:49.4 mile in his last four races — Bendis had put the North America Cup out of mind. “You just have to go on,” he said. “When you start worrying about what happened a week or two ago, you miss something you should be worrying about this week.”

Bendis attributed Georgia Pacific’s lack of punch down the stretch in the North America Cup to a “hectic” opening half mile. Although Georgia Pacific ultimately got a second-over trip behind Panspacificflight, “he really didn’t get a great trip,” Bendis said. “He got pinched on the first turn and kind of couldn’t go anywhere. Brian [Sears] gave it his best, he had to bide his time until it was clear, and by then he was parked. We ended up in the right spot [second over], but the first half took a toll. I think what happened in the first eighths caused him not to fire late.”

Quik Pulse Mindale has won all six starts in 2004 and has eight victories in nine lifetime starts. He had been idle since the Provincial Cup, although he had a 1:52.1 qualifier a week ago.

“He’s just kind of a nice horse,” trainer Mike Arnold said. “He doesn’t do much wrong. He trains well and he’s not too excitable. Everything is kind of nice about him. If the horse stays sound, the way he goes, he’s got a shot at pacing [1]:49. He might even beat that if he gets a nice trip. He acts like he can sure go.”

In addition to the three-year-old male pacers, Balmoral will host American-National finals for three-year-old filly pacers and trotters. (Elimination races were not needed for either final). Topping the list of contenders for the filly pacers are Dan Patch Award winner Kikikatie, who won her only start of the year in 1:52.4 at the Meadows on June 18, Artbitration, Nu-Diamond Star, Special Magic and Creative Lass.

Kikikatie and Artbitration staged a memorable duel last year in the She’s A Great Lady at Woodbine Racetrack. Kikikatie, who has won 15 of 16 lifetime starts and earned $800,345, beat Artbitration by a nose in 1:51.3. “It seems like she’s back,” trainer Joe Seekman said last week about Kikikatie. “Everything went good out there [at the Meadows]. It was a good performance by her. It was as expected.”

Below is the field for Saturday night’s $230,000 American-National final for three-year-old male pacers at Balmoral Park. Horses are listed in alphabetical order, with their most recent drivers and trainers.